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Two: Description of the Metres

2.4 Siloka Variations

The cadence at the end of the even lines ÛÜÛé is very well established and normally adhered to, but occasionally other patterns show up in this position, like ÛÜÜé, which may be a pathyà odd line in even position. Others cadences are probably always corrupt.

In the odd lines 7 variations (vipulà) occur, besides the normal structure, they are:

There is normally a caesura (word break) after the fifth syllable in the mavipulà, and after the fourth syllable in the ravipulà.

Occasionally other patterns show up in the opening of the na - and bha-vipulàs such as ÅÛÜÜ, but only rarely. As can be seen in the descriptions above, resolution of the first syllable is quite common and acceptable. The 6th & 4th are occasionally resolved, and apparently the 3rd, 5th, & 7th can be also, but not the 2nd or the 8th. By applying the rule of resolution described in 1.15 above, it is possible to help identify the underlying structure of a vipulà, take the case of an odd line showing the following structure:

if the caesura occurs after the fourth syllable, it is ravipulà:

if the caesura occurs after the 5th syllable, it is pathyà: