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Two: Description of the Metres

2.10 Vetàlãya and Opacchandasaka
(Vaitàlãya and Aupacchandasaka)

The first of these metres, Vetàlãya, has 14 measures in the odd lines, and 16 in the even, with the cadence at the end of each line being ÐÜÛÜÛé.

Opacchandasaka, the second of the metres, has 16 measures in the odd lines, and 18 in the even. The cadence is similar to Vetàlãya, but with an extra heavy syllable in penultimate position ÐÜÛÜÛÜé.

The most common forms of the odd lines are:

The most common forms of the even lines:

with occasional resolution of a heavy syllable giving rise to other patterns in the opening. Through syncopation of syllables in adjacent groups we occasionally find different patterns in the opening of the prior lines, so that sometimes:

Occasionally we find a light syllable at the beginning of the line, which must be counted as heavy in order to complete the mattà count (this we may call pàdàdigaru, in compliment to pàdantagaru).

Examples: Vetàlãya, Dhp 15-18, 235-238; Subhà Jãvakambavanikà's gàthàs Thã 367-399; Jaràsutta Sn IV:6

Opacchandasaka, Uragasutta Sn I:1; Cundasutta Sn 1:5; Kàtiyàna's gàthàs Th 411- 416.

Vetàlãya example from Jaràsutta (Sn IV:6) (vs 804):

Opacchandasaka example from Kàtiyàna's gàthà (Th 412):