Vedic Metre in its Historical Development c13.141

c13.141

This group is remarkably large, considering the small size of its separate members. It is of course difficult to define the rhythm of the single fragments, although their general character as constituting a transition to epic Anustubh is clear. The only fragments in which the iambic opening occurs more than once are i 133 2-4, 170 2-4, vi 51 16, x 19, 87 22-25. Many of the single verses are free from irregularities of cadence, but this is not remarkable, seeing that in the whole group the iambic cadence is still shewn in two-thirds of the verses. Fragments containing more than one stanza, and always shewing regular cadence, are i 93 1-3¹, vi 16 47, 48, x 87 22-25. The last fragment therefore agrees with the early Anustubh rhythm in both points.