Vedic Metre in its Historical Development c12.s3.94

c12.s3.94

sometimes it represents a modification of final -ā or a in an adverb, which has the effect of making the final syllable exempt both from combination and from shortening where a vowel follows, this use being almost restricted to the later parts of the Rigveda: and lastly, it is used as a textual correction of -a or -ā in forms of all kinds, with the intention of disguising hiatus or consecutive short syllables in the second and third places. The combination -ā u represents occasionally final -ai, -au, or -āḥ, in all positions in the verse.