Vedic Metre in its Historical Development c12.125

c12.125

163. There remain for consideration a number of final vowels of which the quantity is regularly short, both according to the metre and the text: but they appear frequently in certain positions in which the long quantity is otherwise favoured. It is difficult to decide to what extent these variations are the result of metrical laxity, or are due to some reminiscence of archaic long quantity or other phonetic cause. It is however clear that there are certain positions in the verse to which long final vowels are admitted more readily than other long syllables, and those which belong to certain endings more readily than other long final vowels. The special positions may be termed positions of protraction, and the special endings described as capable of protraction. Endings capable of protraction fall into two groups.