Two: Description of the Metres

 

2.8 Upajāti, Vaṁsaṭṭhā (Vaṁśasthā), and Rucirā

These are the fixed metres in the Canon that have been derived from Tuṭṭhubha and Jagatī, their profile looks like this:

i) Upajāti (from Tuṭṭhubha):

⏓−⏑−¦−⏑⏑¦−⏑−×

ii) Vaṁsaṭṭhā (from Jagatī):

⏓−⏑−¦−⏑⏑¦−⏑−⏑×

As can be seen these are the "normal" forms of their respective metres, but now allowing only little flexibility.

iii) Rucirā (from Jagatī, with resolution of the 5th syllable, giving a 13 syllable line):

⏓−⏑−¦⏑⏑⏑⏑¦−⏑−⏑×

Examples: Upajāti and Vaṁsaṭṭhā are used to great effect, both mixed and independently in Tālaputta’s gāthās Th 1091-1145. Vaṁsaṭṭhā and Rucirā both appear as independent metres in Lakkhaṇasuttanta DN.30 (see 2.24)

Example Upajāti/Vaṁsaṭṭhā, Th 1091-2: 

⏑−⏑−¦−⏑⏑¦−⏑−− Upajāti
Kadā nuhaṁ pabbatakandarāsu,

−−⏑−¦−⏑⏑¦−⏑−− Upajāti
ekākiyo addutiyo vihassaṁ,

⏑−⏑−¦−⏑⏑¦−⏑−− Upajāti
aniccato sabbabhavaṁ vipassaṁ,

−−⏑−¦−⏑⏑¦−⏑−⏑− Vaṁsaṭṭhā
taṁ me idaṁ taṁ nu kadā bhavissati?

 

⏑−⏑−¦−⏑⏑¦−⏑−⏑− Vaṁsaṭṭhā
Kadā nuhaṁ bhinnapaṭandharo muni,

−−⏑−¦−⏑⏑¦−⏑−⏑− Vaṁsaṭṭhā
kāsāvavattho amamo nirāsayo,

−−⏑−¦−⏑⏑¦−⏑−− Upajāti
rāgañ-ca dosañ-ca tatheva mohaṁ

−−⏑−¦⏑⏑⏑⏑¦−⏑−− Upajāti
hantvā, sukhī pavanagato vihassaṁ? Showing resolution of the 5th syllable.

 

Rucirā from Lakkhaṇasuttanta (D. 30. 2. 9): 

⏑−⏑−,¦⏑⏑⏑⏑¦−⏑−⏑−
Na pāṇinā na ca pana daṇḍaleḍḍunā,

−−⏑−,¦⏑⏑⏑⏑¦−⏑−⏑−
satthena vā maraṇavadhena vā puna,

−−⏑−¦−,⏑⏑¦−⏑−⏑−
ubbādhanāyā paritajjanāya vā, This is an Indavaṁsā line.

⏑−⏑−,¦⏑⏑⏑⏑¦−⏑−⏑−
na heṭhayī janatam-aheṭhako ahu.

−−⏑−,¦⏑⏑⏑⏑¦−⏑−⏑−
Teneva so sugatim-upecca modati

⏑−⏑−,¦⏑⏑⏑⏑¦−⏑−⏑−
sukhapphalaṁ kariya Reading kariya as having 3 syllables. sukhāni vindati.

last updated: March 2006