Vedic Metre in its Historical Development c13.152

c13.152

The amount of matter in Anuṣṭubh verse in the intermediate groups between III and X is so small that we cannot satisfactorily determine the rhythm used. The Vasiṣṭha family has no hymns in this metre. The Kaṇvas use it in i 45, 49, viii 8, 9 16–18, 34 1–15: the rhythm of the opening might be either early or late, but that of the re-opening rather resembles the late metre. Divodāsa has only a few verses in Maṇḍala iv; the prevalence of syncopation in both openings seems to shew that the metre is influenced by Gāyatrī. The group viii 39–42 also favours syncopation: but viii 47 1–12 appears to be later, whilst x 131–134 agree with the earliest hymns, except in the regularity of the cadence. The Kuśika hymns i 10, 11 agree in rhythm with the earliest period, whilst the few verses in bk iii agree with the Divodāsa hymns in character. The hymns of the cretic period, however, shew a distinct approximation to those of the popular Rigveda in all points: they are i 28 1–6, 29, 105, 142; iii 8; x 62, 176.