Vedic Metre in its Historical Development c12.3

c12.3

All the rules which prescribe the quantities of syllables in different positions in the verse, such as those given in §§ 31—47, admit of exceptions: and therefore no safe conclusion can be drawn from the occasional appearance of a particular syllable in a position in which long or short quantity is generally required. But the *general use* of a syllable which recurs with any frequency must necessarily reveal its quantity, in accordance with the principle of quantitative evidence explained in § 9. Short syllables must on the whole be placed in positions which favour short quantity or are indifferent: and long syllables in positions which favour long quantity or are indifferent. If any syllable is used indifferently in all positions in the verse, it must be because its quantity was regarded as indifferently long or short.