Two: Description of the Metres
2.12 Rathoddhatā and Pupphitaggā (Puṣpitāgrā)
These are the two fixed metres derived from the above.
Rathoddhatā (a Vetālīya even pāda):
⏑−⏑⏔⏑¦−⏑−⏑× (x4)
Similarly Pupphitaggā (from Opacchandasaka) in the Canon is still somewhat flexible:
⏔⏔⏑⏑¦−⏑−⏑−×
⏔⏔−⏑⏑¦−⏑−⏑−× (x2)
with occasional resolution of a heavy syllable elsewhere. In its post-canonical form the opening of the first line was fixed as ⏑⏑⏑⏑⏑⏑ and the second as ⏑⏑⏑⏑−⏑⏑.
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: Rathoddhatā, early: Gotama’s gāthās Th 258-260; Ambapālī’s gāthās Thī 252-270; late: Kuṇāla Jātaka Ja 536. Both metres are used independently in Lakkhaṇasuttanta D.30.
Rathoddhatā example Ambapālī’s gāthā (Thī 256):
Cittakārasukatā va lekhitā,
sobhate su bhamukā pure mama,
tā jarāya valihī palambitā,
saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.
Pupphitaggā example from Lakkhaṇasuttanta (D. 30. 1. 12):
Tihi purisavaraggalakkhaṇehi The text here is based on K.R.Norman’s reconstruction in The metres of the Lakkhaṇa-suttanta (II). CP IV, pgs 36ff.
cirayapanāya kumāram-ādisanti.
Bhavati yadi gihī ciraṁ yapeti,
ciratarapabbajatī yadī tato hi,
yāpayati vasiddhibhāvanāya,
iti dīghāyukatāya tan-nimittan-ti