Vedic Metre in its Historical Development c13.172

c13.172

(x) The view of P. von Bradke¹, that the Rigveda represents the period of decay of the old Indian lyric poetry, is not borne out by the analysis of the metre. On the contrary, we seem to have specimens of composition in various styles, leading up from the rude early metres to the perfect form of the Bṛhatī-Sato-bṛhatī hymns of the strophic period. The sudden disappearance of this kind of composition coincides with a fresh elaboration of the rhythm of single verses: and the latest metrical schemes of the Rigveda, even if less attractive to the European ear, can hardly be described as intrinsically less beautiful in design or less perfect in execution than their predecessors.