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Two: Description of the Metres

2.12 Rathoddhatà and Pupphitaggà (Puùpitàgrà)

These are the two fixed metres derived from the above.

Rathoddhatà (a Vetàlãya even pàda):

Similarly Pupphitaggà (from Opacchandasaka) in the Canon is still somewhat flexible:

with occasional resolution of a heavy syllable elsewhere. In its post-canonical form the opening of the first line was fixed as ÛÛÛÛÛÛ and the second as ÛÛÛÛÜÛÛ.

In both of these metres the fixed forms have unusual variations in the openings, the latter especially showing the Classical period's fondness for runs of light syllables.

Examples: Rathoddhatà, early: Gotama's gàthàs Th 258-260; Ambapàlã's gàthàs Thã 252-270; late: Kuõàla Jàtaka Ja 536. Both metres are used independently in Lakkhaõasuttanta D.30.

Rathoddhatà example Ambapàlã's gàthà (Thã 256):

Pupphitaggà example from Lakkhaõasuttanta (D. 30. 1. 12):