Taittiriya Upanishad 1.1
Śīkṣāvallī, verse 1
Transliterated Sanskrit
śīkṣāṃ vyākhyāsyāmaḥ | varṇaḥ svaraḥ mātrā balam sāma santānaḥ | iti śikṣādhyāyaḥ ||
Word-by-word meaning
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śīkṣāṃ – Phonetics (the science of proper pronunciation)
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vyākhyāsyāmaḥ – We shall explain (expound, describe)
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varṇaḥ – Letters (sounds of speech)
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svaraḥ – Intonation (accent or pitch)
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mātrā – Duration (length of pronunciation)
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balam – Force (strength in articulation)
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sāma – Modulation (melodic tone)
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santānaḥ – Continuity (smooth flow of sounds)
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iti – Thus (so, in this way)
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śikṣā-adhyāyaḥ – Chapter on Śīkṣā (phonetics)
Full English Translation
“We shall now explain Śīkṣā (the science of pronunciation): letters (speech sounds), accent (intonation), duration (length of pronunciation), force (strength in articulation), modulation (melodic tone), and continuity (smooth flow of sounds). This is the chapter on Śīkṣā.”
This verse highlights the fundamental aspects of Vedic phonetics, ensuring precise and sacred recitation.
