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Three: The Mixing of Metres

3.2 Tuññhubha, Jagatã and their derivatives

We saw in 2.6 above that although both Tuññhubha and Jagatã exist as independent metres in their own right, and are used as such frequently, nevertheless the metres are commonly mixed, as a line in Jagatã metre was generally considered acceptable in what is otherwise a Tuññhubha verse (and visa versa). For a good example of this see Ratanasutta Sn II:1 (see 2.7 above).

This characteristic continues even when the metres have achieved their fixed forms as Upajàti and Vaüsaññhà, as can be seen e.g. in Tàlaputta's gàthas Th 1091-1145, where the metres are used both independently and in combination.

Example from Agàriyavimànaü (Vv 65, vs 1-2):

Rarely we find Tuññhubha mixed with Mattàchandas lines. Examples: Sn 1:2 vs 18, 19; Ud II:6