Tripadi (Kannada, lit. "tri": three, "pad" or "adi": feet) is a native metre in the Kannada language dating back to c. 700 CE.
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:
formula_1
where formula_2 (breve) denotes a short syllable, and formula_3 (macron) a long one. 
Line 1 20 moras in four feet ;br ;
Line 2 17 moras in four feet ;br ;
Line 3 13 moras in three feet.
Metrical structure.
An example, of a possible scansion (metrical structure) of a tripadi, is given in , where it is also stressed that it is "not" the form of the moras, but the "number" that is important. (Here * denotes a caesura)
formula_4 (Line 1: 20 moras in 4 feet)
formula_5 (Line 2: 17 moras in 4 feet)
formula_6 (Line 3: 13 moras in 3 feet)
Another example is:
formula_7 (Line 1: 20 moras in 4 feet)
formula_8 (Line 2: 17 moras in 4 feet)
formula_9 (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): ;templatestyles src="Template:Blockquote/styles.css" / ;Sādhuge1a Sādhu1b mādhuryange1c mādhuryam1d 
— , in 
The literal translation of the tripadi is: ;templatestyles src="Template:Blockquote/styles.css" / ;To the good people,1a good;1b to the sweet,1c sweetness;1d 
— , in 
Notes.
 ;templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" / ;