Phonological Evidence for Pāda Cohesion in Rigvedic Versification

Abstract

We present new phonological evidence for the pāda-couplet as a Rigvedic compositional unit, e.g. ((ab)(cd)) in anuṣṭubh and ((ab)c) in gāyatrī. While these groupings are often implied by syntax and sense, phonological and metrical evidence for them that is unambiguously attributable to the period of the composition of the Rigveda as opposed to its later transmission has been less forthcoming. We show that the poets avoided both inter-pāda hiatus and V̆C#V junctures within couplets significantly more than across them.