+

+

|

+

+

+

+

|

+

̄

̆

( + ),

but also

10

11

+

+

+

+

|

+

+

+

+

|

+

̆

̄

( + ),

Before appealing, however, to the Prâtisâkhya for the establishment of such a rule as that the sixth syllable of Ânushtubha and the eighth or tenth syllable of Traishtubha and Gâgata pâdas must be lengthened, provided a short syllable follows, it is indispensable that we should have a clear appreciation of the real character of the Prâtisâkhya. If we carefully follow the thread which runs through these books, we shall soon perceive that, even with the proviso that a short syllable follows, the Prâtisâkhya never teaches that certain final vowels must be lengthened. The object of the Prâtisâkhya, as I pointed out on a former occasion, is to register all the facts which possess a phonetic interest. In doing this, all kinds of plans are adopted in order to bring as large a number of cases as possible under general categories. These categories are purely technical and external, and they never assume, with the authors of the Prâtisâkhya, the character of general rules. Let us now, after these preliminary remarks, return to the Sûtras 523 to 535, which we discussed before. The Prâtisâkhya simply says that certain syllables which are short in the

[paragraph continues] Pada, if occupying a certain place in a verse, are lengthened in the Samhitâ, provided a short syllable follows. This looks, no doubt, like a general rule which should be carried out under all circumstances. But this idea never entered the minds of the authors of the Prâtisâkhya. They only give this rule as the most convenient way of registering the lengthening of certain syllables which have actually been lengthened in the text of the Samhitâ, while they remain short in the Pada; and after having done this, they proceed to give a number of verses where the same rule might be supposed to apply, but where in the text of the Samhitâ the short syllable has not been lengthened. After having given a long string of words which are short in the Pada and long in the Samhitâ, and where no intelligible reason of their lengthening can be given, at least not by the authors of the Prâtisâkhya, the Prâtisâkhya adds in Sûtra 523, 'The final vowel of the eighth syllable is lengthened in pâdas of eleven and twelve syllables, provided a syllable follows which is short in the Samhitâ.' As instances the commentator gives (Samhitâ text):

I, 32, 4. tâ̄dî̅´tnâ̄ sá̄t̍rūm ná̆ kí̆lă̂ ̍ vĭvītsē.

I, 94, 1. á̄gnē sākhyé̄ m̍â´ rĭshâ̄mă̂ v̍ăyá̄m tá̆vă.

Then follows another rule (Sûtra 525) that 'The final vowel of the tenth syllable in pâdas of eleven and twelve syllables is lengthened, provided a syllable follows which is short in the Samhitâ.' As instances the commentator gives: