Vedic Metre in its Historical Development c13.47

c13.47

189. The irregularities in the opening are about 350 in number. In one-third of the instances the second syllable contains a short final vowel, or -a as representing final -aḥ or -e; but only in some 20 instances is the third syllable of this character. In several instances the text gives a long final vowel in the second place, or substitutes -o for final -a (§ 171 iv). In addition there are about 50 instances of uncertain or ‘protracted’ final vowels (§§ 162, 163) in the second place where the third syllable is short.