FIRST VALLI,

OR, THE CHAPTER ON SIKSHA (PRONUNCIATION).

FIRST ANUVAKA .

1. HARIH, OM! May Mitra be propitious to us, and Varuna, Aryaman also, Indra, Brihaspati, and the wide-striding Vishnu .

Adoration to Brahman! Adoration to thee, O Vayu (air)! Thou indeed art the visible Brahman. I shall proclaim thee alone as the visible Brahman. I shall proclaim the right. I shall proclaim the true (scil. Brahman).

(1-5) May it protect me! May it protect the teacher! yes, may it protect me, and may it protect the teacher! Om! Peace! peace! peace!

Footnotes

^45:1 This invocation is here counted as an Anuvaka; see Taitt. Ar., ed. Rajendralal Mitra, p. 725.

^45:2 This verse is taken from Rig-veda-samhita I, 90, 9. The deities are variously explained by the commentators: Mitra as god of the Prana (forth-breathing) and of the day; Varuna as god of the Apana (off-breathing) and of the night. Aryaman is supposed to represent the eye or the sun; Indra, strength; Brihaspati, speech or intellect; Vishnu, the feet. Their favour is invoked, because it is only if they grant health that the study of the highest wisdom can proceed without fail.

^45:3 Five short sentences, in addition to the one paragraph. Such sentences occur at the end of other Anuvakas also, and are counted separately.

SECOND ANUVAKA.

1. Om ! Let us explain Siksha, the doctrine of pronunciation, viz. letter, accent, quantity, effort (in the formation of letters), modulation, and union of letters (sandhi). This is the lecture on Siksha.

Footnotes

^46:1 Cf. Rig-veda-pratisakhya, ed. M. M., p. iv seq.

THIRD ANUVAKA.

1. May glory come to both of us (teacher and pupil) together! May Vedic light belong to both of us!

Now let us explain the Upanishad (the secret meaning) of the union (samhita) , under five heads, with regard to the worlds, the heavenly lights, knowledge, offspring, and self (body). People call these the great Samhitas.

First, with regard to the worlds. The earth is the former element, heaven the latter, ether their union;

2. That union takes place through Vayu (air). So much with regard to the worlds.

Next, with regard to the heavenly lights. Agni (fire) is the former element, Aditya (the sun) the latter, water their union. That union takes place through lightning. So much with regard to the heavenly lights.

Next, with regard to knowledge. The teacher is the former element,

The pupil the latter, knowledge their union. That union takes place through the recitation of the Veda. So much with regard to knowledge.

Next, with regard to offspring. The mother is

the former element, the father the latter, offspring their union. That union takes place through procreation. So much with regard to offspring.