Tripadi

Definition

The tripadi consists of three lines, each differing from the others in the number of feet and moras (Sanskrit matras), but in accordance with the following rules:

− ⌣   o r   ⌣⌣⌣   o r   − −   o r   ⌣⌣ −    

where ⌣ (breve) denotes a short syllable, and − (macron) a long one.

Line 1 20 moras in four feet
Line 2 17 moras in four feet
Line 3 13 moras in three feet.

Metrical structure

An example, of a possible scansion (metrical structure) of a tripadi, is given in (Kittel 1875, p. 98), where it is also stressed that it is not the form of the moras, but the number that is important. (Here * denotes a caesura)

⌣⌣⌣ − ⏞ F o o t 1 | ⌣⌣⌣ − ⏞ F o o t 2 ⋆ ⌣⌣⌣ − ⏞ F o o t 3 | − ⌣ − ⏞ F o o t 4 (Line 1: 20 moras in 4 feet)

⌣⌣⌣⌣ ⏞ F o o t 5 | − − ⏟ B r a h m a ⏞ F o o t V I | ⌣⌣⌣ − ⏞ F o o t 7 | ⌣⌣⌣⌣ ⏞ F o o t 8 (Line 2: 17 moras in 4 feet)

⌣⌣⌣⌣ ⏞ F o o t 9 | − − ⏟ B r a h m a ⏞ F o o t X | ⌣⌣⌣ − ⏞ F o o t 11 | | (Line 3: 13 moras in 3 feet)

Another example (Kittel 1875, p. 99) is:

⌣⌣ − ⌣ ⏞ F o o t 1 | − − ⌣ ⏞ F o o t 2 ⋆ ⌣⌣ − ⌣ ⏞ F o o t 3 | − ⌣ − ⏞ F o o t 4 (Line 1: 20 moras in 4 feet)

⌣⌣⌣⌣ ⏞ F o o t 5 | − ⌣ ⏟ B r a h m a ⏞ F o o t V I | ⌣⌣ − ⌣ ⏞ F o o t 7 | − ⌣⌣⌣ ⏞ F o o t 8 (Line 2: 17 moras in 4 feet)

⌣⌣ − ⌣ ⏞ F o o t 9 | − ⌣ ⏟ B r a h m a ⏞ F o o t X | ⌣⌣⌣ − ⏞ F o o t 11 | | (Line 3: 13 moras in 3 feet)

Example

A well-known example of the tripadi is the third stanza in the inscription of Kappe Arabhatta (here the symbol | denotes the end of a line, and ||, the end of the tripadi):

Sādhuge^1a Sādhu^1b mādhuryange^1c mādhuryam^1d |
bādhippa^1e kalige^2a kaliyuga^2b viparītan^2b |
mādhavan^2c ītan^2d peran^2e alla^2f ||

The literal translation of the tripadi is:

To the good people,^1a good;^1b to the sweet,^1c sweetness;^1d |
causing distress^1e

to the kali age,^2a an exceptional man in Kaliyuga,^2b |
Madhava (or Vishnu)^2c this man,^2d another^2e is not^2f||