Two: Description of the Metres

 

2.8 Upajàti, Vaüsaññhà (Vaüèasthà), and Rucirà

These are the fixed metres in the Canon that have been derived from Tuññhubha and Jagatã, their profile looks like this:

i) Upajàti (from Tuññhubha):

ÅÜÛÜÐÜÛÛÐÜÛÜé

ii) Vaüsaññhà (from Jagatã):

ÅÜÛÜÐÜÛÛÐÜÛÜÛé

As can be seen these are the "normal" forms of their respective metres, but now allowing only little flexibility.

iii) Rucirà (from Jagatã, with resolution of the 5th syllable, giving a 13 syllable line):

ÅÜÛÜÐÛÛÛÛÐÜÛÜÛé

Examples: Upajàti and Vaüsaññhà are used to great effect, both mixed and independently in Tàlaputta's gàthàs Th 1091-1145. Vaüsaññhà and Rucirà both appear as independent metres in Lakkhaõasuttanta DN.30 (see 2.24)

Example Upajàti/Vaüsaññhà, Th 1091-2:

ÛÜÛÜÐÜÛÛÐÜÛÜÜ   Upajàti
Kadà nuhaü pabbatakandaràsu,

ÜÜÛÜÐÜÛÛÐÜÛÜÜ   Upajàti
ekàkiyo addutiyo vihassaü,

ÛÜÛÜÐÜÛÛÐÜÛÜÜ   Upajàti
aniccato sabbabhavaü vipassaü,

ÜÜÛÜÐÜÛÛÐÜÛÜÛÜ   Vaüsaññhà
taü me idaü taü nu kadà bhavissati?

 

ÛÜÛÜÐÜÛÛÐÜÛÜÛÜ   Vaüsaññhà
Kadà nuhaü bhinnapañandharo muni,

ÜÜÛÜÐÜÛÛÐÜÛÜÛÜ   Vaüsaññhà
kàsàvavattho amamo niràsayo,

ÜÜÛÜÐÜÛÛÐÜÛÜÜ   Upajàti
ràgaÿ-ca dosaÿ-ca tatheva mohaü

ÜÜÛÜÐÛÛÛÛÐÜÛÜÜ   Upajàti
hantvà, sukhã pavanagato vihassaü? 01

 

Rucirà from Lakkhaõasuttanta (D. 30. 2. 9):

ÛÜÛÜ,ÐÛÛÛÛÐÜÛÜÛÜ
Na pàõinà na ca pana daõóaleóóunà,

ÜÜÛÜ,ÐÛÛÛÛÐÜÛÜÛÜ
satthena và maraõavadhena và puna,

ÜÜÛÜÐÜ,ÛÛÐÜÛÜÛÜ
ubbàdhanàyà paritajjanàya và, 02

ÛÜÛÜ,ÐÛÛÛÛÐÜÛÜÛÜ
na heñhayã janatam-aheñhako ahu.

ÜÜÛÜ,ÐÛÛÛÛÐÜÛÜÛÜ
Teneva so sugatim-upecca modati

ÛÜÛÜ,ÐÛÛÛÛÐÜÛÜÛÜ
sukhapphalaü kariya 03 sukhàni vindati.

 

last updated: March 2006