Vedic Metre in its Historical Development c13.171

c13.171

(ix) Throughout this chapter the theories of hiatus and syllabic and quantitative restoration explained in Chapters IV–VI have been assumed. Critics who are disposed to adhere more closely to the text will of course find a larger proportion of irregularities throughout the Rigveda. But as these will be found to occur most freely in the archaic period, the general conclusion that that period is characterized by some degree of irregularity will rather be strengthened by such a view. On the other hand the irregularities recorded in this chapter may be on the whole regarded as irremediable by any process of restoration, and therefore specially valuable as evidence.