Re: Kc intro. verse 1

Dear Nina,

It will sometimes happen that there will be some delay in responding
to messages on this list. Things can crop up unexpectedly that will
draw away my attention for awhile such as responding to messages on
other lists, taking a day or two off for a rest, or attending to other
non-computer matters. At any rate, I'll do my best to respond in due
course. I see that you're taking a few days off yourself.

> > I think I may have read somewhere, likely in Warder, that the
metre
> > can provide some clue as to the dating of a text.

I'd disregard this remark as it's possible I may not have read it
after all -- just thought I might have.

> N: Your are just saying what I asked in dsg about dating.
> I tried to find long and short syllables in the four lines you gave,
but
> find it hard to know what is long, what is short.

Warder gives two rules on p. 357 of his Introduction to Pali for
determining which syllable is short or long. I think it might be more
accurate to call the two kinds of syllables: light (lahu) or heavy
(garu). The Saddaniti also gives a couple of rules on this. I usually
think in terms of open (ending in a vowel) or closed (ending in a
consonant) syllables. If an open syllable is a short vowel or ends in
a short vowel, then the syllable is short or light. If the vowel is
long, then it is a long syllable. All closed syllables, regardless of
whether the vowel is short or long, is long or heavy. Here's how I
divide up the first line of verse 1 into syllables:

se.t-.tha.m-ti-lo-ka-ma-hi-ta.m-a-bhi-van-di-yag-ga.m

Best wishes,
Jim