Dathavamsa: Appendix on the Metres

The metres employed in Dāṭhāvaṁsa are defined according to Classical standards, and are so regular that it is even possible to correct the text using only the metre as a guide (as has been done here on occasion). A short analysis and description follows:

syllables:	metre name:	verse numbers:	total:
12	Vaṁsaṭṭhaṁ	1 to 60	60
8	Siloka	63 to 184	121
11	Upajāti	187 to 282	96
15	Mālinī	284 to 338	55
14	Vasantatilakā	340 to 407 & 409 to 415	75
21	Saddharā	61, 62, 408	3
17	Mandakkantā	185, 186	2
17	Sikhariṇī	283	1
19	Saddūlavikkīḷita	339	1

In these verses all conjunct consonants make position (i.e. make the previous syllable heavy), e.g. hutvā and abravi in this pādayuga:

There is sometimes sandhi across the pādayuga, there is then no pause between the lines, and the last syllable is therefore regarded as light providing the syllable itself is light, e.g.

−−⏑−¦⏑⏑⏑−⏑⏑¦−⏑−⏑ Vasantatilakā
Saddhādhanena sakhilena ca Dhammakitti-

−−⏑−¦⏑⏑⏑−⏑⏑¦−⏑−−
nāmena rājagarunācariyena eso

−−⏑−¦⏑⏑⏑−⏑⏑¦−⏑−⏑
sotuppasādajanano Jinadantadhātu-

−−⏑−¦⏑⏑⏑−⏑⏑¦−⏑−−
vaṁso kato nikhiladassipabhāvadīpo. [414] [6-6]

There are 242 Siloka lines mainly showing the Pathyā form of the metre (217 lines, 90%), which is quite normal for the Classical period. The variations that occur are as follows:

There are 96 Upajāti verses, all of which consist of Indavajirā and Upendavajirā lines in one combination or another. All of these combinations have been given special names in the prosodies, which have been recorded here. The frequency of the variations is as follows (in the schemes given here I = Indavijrā lines, U = Upindravajirā lines. When there are 4 Indravajrā lines in a verse, the whole verse is known by that name (similarly with Upindravajirā, of course):

All the other metres have fixed quantities, except in the last syllable, which is normally anceps, i.e. counted as heavy no matter what its actual weight.

There are 60 Vaṁsaṭṭhaṁ verses, all of which conform to the Clasical profile: ⏑−⏑−¦−⏑⏑¦−⏑−⏑−. The lines written in this metre never run across the pādayuga.

There are a total of 75 verses written in this metre, in the last chapter and the verses identifying the writer that follow it. The profile for the metre is −−⏑−¦⏑⏑⏑−⏑⏑¦−⏑−−, which is only deviated from when a compound crosses the seam of the pādayuga, as at 340ab; 343cd; 351ab; 360ab; 371ab; 380ab, cd; 400ab; 409cd; 412cd; 413cd; 414ab, cd. Interestingly enough all of these lines have a short syllable in the last position of the first line, except for 371ab, which I am inclined to think should read kāri-.

55 verses are written in this difficult metre. The ideal scheme for the metre is ⏑⏑⏑⏑⏑⏑−−,−⏑−−⏑−− with a caesura after the 8th syllable. Of the 220 lines 192 actually achieve this (87%), but 28 fail in this regard.

This metre has 21 syllables to the line. Two verses close Chapter 1; and one verse closes Chapter 5. The scheme is −−−−⏑−−,⏑⏑⏑⏑⏑⏑−,−⏑−−⏑−−, which all but one of the lines achieves.

This metre closes the 2nd chapter. The profile for the metre is −−−−,⏑⏑⏑⏑⏑−,−⏑−−⏑−− which occurs in all the lines.

One verse in this metre closes Chapter 3. The profile is ⏑−−−−−,⏑⏑⏑⏑⏑−−⏑⏑⏑−.

One verse is found at the close of Chapter 4. The scheme is as follows: −−−⏑⏑−⏑−⏑⏑⏑−,−−⏑−−⏑−.