Vedic Metre in its Historical Development c13.20

c13.20

In the semi-cadence of epic Anuṣṭubh the iambic form is still the most common, whilst the trochaic form is among the rarest: the rhythm therefore has little or nothing in common with Trochaic Gāyatrī. But whilst every possible form is permitted, the most common after the iambic form is ◡ - - ◡, and next to it - - - ◡; that is, the two forms in which both the sixth and seventh syllables are long.