Vedic Metre in its Historical Development c13.115

c13.115

194. In the epic Anuṣṭubh of the popular Rigveda, whether pure or mixed, the opening of the odd verses is similar to that of the early Anuṣṭubh, the iambic opening being twice as common as the two syncopated forms together. This reversion to a rhythm which appears in the interval to have gone out of use is remarkable. It seems unlikely that there is any conscious imitation of older forms, for the whole growth of the epic Anuṣṭubh rhythms is so gradual that the idea of deliberate choice seems to be excluded. The renewed favour given to the iambic form in the opening must therefore be due to the instinctive reaction resulting from the growing tendency to exclude this form from the semi-cadence and the re-opening.