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Three: The Mixing of Metres

3.4 Siloka and other metres

So far we have mainly been considering the mixing of metres that employ similar structural principles, and that may account for the ease with which it was felt to be possible to move between the metres. However, when we come to Siloka, we have a syllabic metre with an Addhasamavutta structure. None of the other metres have this particular combination of characteristics of course, but still we frequently find Siloka lines appearing alongside other metres, perhaps because it was by far the most common and familiar of the metres employed.

Normally the situation appears to be that account has been taken of the structure of the Siloka in mixing, and we usually find Siloka odd and even lines appearing in their expected positions in the verse. Below we will see that various combinations can be illustrated:

Siloka & Tuññhubha

Sn. 1061 = Tuññhubha, ab - Siloka, cd

Dhp. 330 = Siloka, ab - Tuññhubha, cd

Sn. 995 = Tuññhubha, abd - Siloka, ef (Jagatã, c)

Sn. 1055 = Siloka, a - Tuññhubha, bcd

Sn. 423 = Siloka, abd - Tuññhubha, c

Sn. 482 = Tuññhubha, abc - Siloka, d

Th. 1253 = Tuññhubha, a - Siloka, bcd etc.

Siloka & Jagatã

Th 306 = Siloka, ab - Jagatã, cd

Th 1089 = Siloka, abc - Jagatã, def

Siloka & Mattàchandas

Th 1 = Op, acd - Siloka, b

Th 551 = Siloka, a - Vetàlãya, bcd

Th 1004 = âpàtalikà, ab - Vetàlãya, c - Siloka, d!

Siloka & Gaõacchandas

Siloka lines appear in gaõacchandas verses a surprising number of times. It seems to be the rule that when the two metres share a pàdayuga, Siloka takes the odd line.

Gotama's gàthàs Th 587-596 provide a good example of the mixing of Siloka lines in what are otherwise gaõacchandas verses.