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Two: Description of the Metres

2.13 âpàtalikà (a.k.a. Vegavatã)

 This metre has 14 measures in the odd lines, and 16 in the even, as with Vetàlãya, but with a different cadence: ÜÛÛÜé. In the Canon the most common forms of the odd lines:

the even lines:

We sometimes find syncopation producing different patterns in the opening of these lines.

When it attains to its Classical form, it is then known as Vegavatã, and is restricted to:

Examples: Kokàliyasutta (part) Sn III:10; Vangãsa's gàthàs (pt) Th 1214 - 1222, the latter gàthàs being mixed with Vetàlãya.

Example from Kokàliyasutta (Sn III:10) (vs 673):