Patna Dharmapada

The outline of these metres is as follows:
⏓−⏑−¦⏓⏓⏓¦−⏑−(⏑)×
Studies - 42
In the opening we sometimes find the 1st syllable has been resolved ⏑⏑−⏑−¦ (9c, 115d,
144d, 291e, 350b, 381d); and occasionally we come across the Vedic opening: ⏓−−−¦ (vv.
109bd, 196b, 247d) .
The breaks come in various forms, with the structure −⏑⏑ prevailing (78%), no matter
where the caesura is found:
¦−,⏑⏑ 9a, 10ac, 30d, 65c, 71ab, 80b, 84ad, 114ad, 121ac, 134b, 143c, 156ab, 195ad,
210cd, 211cd, 246cd, 247a, 260abcd, 278a, 290c, 291de, 293c
,¦−⏑⏑ 9b, 10b, 30b, 65b, 71c, 80ad, 85b, 89b, 109a, 114c, 115d, 121bd, 134a, 143a,
144abd, 156d, 195c, 196abd, 210b, 227ad, 228ad, 238abd, 246a, 247fg, 278c, 290ab
¦−⏑,⏑ 9c, 30a, 65ad, 84b, 85d, 89c, 115ab, 134c, 143d, 144c, 196c, 210a, 211ab,
238c, 291c
,−¦−⏑⏑ 9d, 71d, 156c, 247e, 278d
also with resolution:
,¦⏑⏑⏑⏑ 109c, 114b
we find the ravipulā, navipulā and savipulā breaks occasionally (13%):
,¦−⏑− 109bd, 134d, 143b, 247d, 293b
¦−,⏑− 227b, 228b
¦⏑,⏑⏑ 84c, 89ad, 291b, 293d, 302d
,¦⏑⏑⏑ 278b
,¦⏑⏑− 11c, 85a, 246b, 247b, 291a
as in the Pāḷi verses there are many irregular breaks (9%), which include the following:
¦−,− 115c, 227c, 228c — replacement of two presumed light syllables by one
heavy at the 6th
,¦−− 290d, 291f — replacement of two presumed light syllables by one heavy at
the 5th
¦−,⏑⏑− 85c — pausing at the 5th and restarting from the same position
¦−,−⏑− 293a — pausing at the 5th and restarting from the same position
¦−,−⏑ 80c — pausing at the 5th and restarting from the same position, with the
6th replaced
,¦−−⏑ 195b — having an irregular heavy 6th syllable
,¦−−−− 10d, 11d — very irregular lines
247c — a malformed line