Śaunaka-Śikṣā
with Translation and Commentary

Introduction
The Śaunaka-Śikṣā consisting of 67 verses belongs to Ṛgveda and is dealing with the following topics:
Description of the varṇas (svaras and vyañjanas); the five classes of sparśas, retroflex ḻ and ḻh; unvoiced
and voiced sounds; nasal sounds including the four yamas; semivowels; fricatives (ūṣmans); jihvāmūlīya
and upadhmānīya; length of vowels, consonants, svarabhakti and anusvāra; places of articulation; effort ofarticulation; position of the lips in a series of labial vowels; vowel before n becomes nasalized (raṅga) infinal n sandhis; nasalized long u in the padapāṭha and other nasalized vowels; final m sandhis; abhinidāna;yamas (ayaḥpiṇḍa); bonds of conjunctions of stops and semi-vowels (darupiṇḍa), of ūṣmans and nasals or
semivowels (ūṛṇapiṇḍa), of v with n or ṇ (duspṛṣṭa); visarga before k or p becomes a sibilant (s, ṣ);svarabhakti; articulation of h from the chest / throat; sandhi of first class-consonant followed by h;doubling of the first letter of a conjunct consonant; doubling of n or ṇ; sandhi of first class-consonant
followed by ś; doubling of ch; insertion of t between n or ṭ and following s; sandhis of final n or t followed
by l or a palatal stop; sandhis of first class-consonants followed by voiced consonant or vowel; first classconsonants before an ūṣman become aspirated; nāda; anudātta, udātta and svarita; kampa; udāttakampa in
the padapāṭha; properties of the varṇas; length and definition of praṇava (om).

Text with Translation and Commentarysarvajñaṁ sarvakartāraṁ sarvātmānaṁ śivaṁ gurumpraṇamyarkṣu pravakṣyāmi varṇoccāraṇalakṣaṇam 1
After bowing down to the all-knowing creator of everything, the Self of all, and the gracious master I will
give out the accurate description of the pronunciation of the sounds in Ṛgveda.

vedasya lakṣaṇaṁ samyag bālānāṁ buddhivardhanam
yathoktaṁ pūrvaśāstreṣu tathā saṁkṣiptam arthavat 2
Based on the teaching of previous śāstras this lakṣaṇa text has been put together with the purpose to givea correct description of the knowledge and to increase the understanding of young students.

dvividhaṁ varṇajātaṁ hi svaro vyañjanam eva caakārādisvaro jñeyaḥ kādi vyañjanam ucyate 3Varṇas (sounds, letters) are twofold: vowel (svara) and consonant (vyañjana). A etc. is known as a vowel
and k etc. is called a consonant.
Vowels (svara) acc. to RVPr: a ā i ī (ī3) u ū ṛ ṝ (ḷ) e o ai au
Consonants (vyañjana) acc. to RVPr: k kh g gh ṅ; c ch j jh ñ; ṭ ṭh ḍ (ḻ) ḍh (ḻh) ṇ; t th d dh n; p
ph b bh m; y r l v; h ś ṣ s aḥ aẖ(ka) aḫ(pa) aṁdvividhaś ca svaro jñeyo 'nāsikyaḥ sānunāsikaḥ
udāttaś cānudāttaś ca svaritaḥ pracayas tathā 41A vowel is known to be twofold: non-nasalized and nasalized and having the accents udātta, anudātta,svarita and pracaya.
Nasalised vowels in RV: am̐, ām̐, īm̐, ūm̐, ṝm̐
Accents: udātta, anudātta, svarita, pracaya

kādīnāṁ pañca vargāś ca sparśā iti hi saṁjñitāḥ
duspṛṣṭaś ceti vijñeyo ḍaḍhayos svaramadhyayoḥ 5
The five classes of k etc. are known as stop-consonants (sparśa). The retroflex ḻ and ḻh replacing ḍ and ḍh
when in the middle of vowels are called duspṛṣṭa.
Stop-consonants (sparśa): k kh g gh ṅ; c ch j jh ñ; ṭ ṭh ḍ (ḻ) ḍh (ḻh) ṇ; t th d dh n; p ph b bhm
RVPr: dvayoś cāsya svarayor madhyam etya saṁpadyate sa ḍakāro ḻakāraḥ |ḻhakāratām eti sa eva cāsya ḍhakāraḥ sann uṣmaṇā saṁprayuktaḥ |iḻā sāḻhā cātra nidarśanāni vīḍvaṅga ity etad avagraheṇa ||1.52|| (1.11-12)

vargāṇāṁ prathamā varṇā dvitīyā ūṣmasaṁjñitāḥ
hakāravarjyāś cāghoṣāḥ śiṣṭaṁ ghoṣavad ucyate 6
The first and second varṇas of the vargas and the fricatives (ūṣman) except h are unvoiced (aghoṣa). The
remaining varṇas are called voiced (ghoṣa).
Unvoiced: k kh c ch ṭ ṭh t th p ph ś ṣ s aḥ aẖ(ka) aḫ(pa) aṁ
Voiced: g gh ṅ j jh ñ ḍ (ḻ) ḍh (ḻh) ṇ d dh n b bh m y r l v h and vowelsnāsikyāḥ pañcamā varṇā anusvāras tathaiva cacatvāraś ca yamāḥ proktā avyaktās sānunāsikāḥ 7
The fifth varṇas and the anusvāra are nasal. The four yamas are spoken as the nasalized original
consonants.

catasro yādayo 'ntasthā nāsikyā apy arephikāḥ
ūṣmāṇaś śādayaś caiva catvāraś ceti kīrtitāḥ 8
The four varṇas y, r, l and v are semivowels. Except r they also can be nasal. The four varṇas ś, ṣ, s and h
are known as fricatives (ūṣman).

jihvāmūlīya ity ukta upadhmānīya eva cakapāśritau coṣmajātau visargasya ca sambhavau 9
The jihvāmūlīya (aẖ) and upadhmānīya (aḫ) depend on the following k and p. Their source is the visarga
and they become manifest as fricatives (ūṣman).

2

hrasvo dīrghaḥ pluta iti svarāḥ kālena saṁjñitāḥ
sandhyakṣarāṇāṁ kālaś ca dīrghaplutau na mātrikaḥ 10
According to their duration (kāla) the vowels are called short (hrasva), long (dīrgha) and protracted(pluta). The duration of the diphthongs is dīrgha and pluta; not one mātrā.

vyañjanānān tv ardhamātrā svarabhaktes tathaiva casaṁyoge pādamātrā syāt svarabhaktiḥ prakīrtyate 11
Consonants and svarabhakti are ½ mātrā long; in a conjunction ¼ mātrā.
RVPr: rephāt svaropahitād vyañjanodayād ṛkāravarṇā svarabhaktir uttarā ||6.46|| (13.1)(46) After r preceded by a vowel and followed by a consonant (there is inserted) a vowel-part consisting ofṛ.
RVPr: drāghīyasī tūṣmaparā ||6.48|| itarā krame ||6.49|| (13.2)(48) (The vowel-part) followed by a breathing is, however, longer. (49) The other (i. e., the shorter) occurs
when (the breathing) is doubled.

hrasvāt paras tv anusvārās tripādaḥ parikīrtitaḥ
sa ca hrasvas tripādaḥ syāt dvāv etau samamātrakau 12
After a short vowel the anusvāra is said to be ¾ mātrā and the short vowel should be ¾ mātrā too. These
two have the same measure.

dīrghāt paras tv anusvāraḥ pādamātraḥ prakīrtitaḥ
sa ca dīrghas sapādaḥ syād varṇakālo nigadyate 13
After a long vowel the anusvāra is said to be ¼ mātrā and the long vowel should be 1¼ mātrā. The
duration of varṇas has been told.

akuhāḥ kaṇṭhajāḥ proktā visargaś cāpi kaṇṭhajaḥ
tālāv icuyaśā jātā mūrdhany ṛṭuraṣā smṛtāḥ 14
A, k, kh, g, gh, ṅ, h and the visarga (ḥ) are said to be produced in the throat (kaṇṭha). I, c, ch, j, jh, ñ, yand ś are produced in the palate and ṛ, ṭ, ṭh, ḍ, ḍh, ṇ, r and ṣ in the roof of the palate (mūrdhan).

dantyā ḷtulasāḥ proktā upadhmānīya oṣṭhajaḥ
upū oṣṭhyau vijānīyāt vo dantyoṣṭhas tathaiva ca 15
Ḷ, t, th, d, dh, n, l and s are called dentals. The upadhmānīya is produced by the lips. One should knowthat u, ū, p, ph, b, bh and m are labials and v a labiodental sound.

e ai tu kaṇṭhatālavyau o au kaṇṭhoṣṭhajau smṛtau
sparśānāṁ karaṇaṁ spṛṣṭam antasthāsv īṣad ucyate 16
3

E and ai are known as throat-palatal, and o and au as throat-labial sounds. The effort of articulation(karaṇa) of the stop-consonants is called spṛṣṭa (complete contact) and for the semivowels the effort isīṣat-spṛṣṭa (slight contact).
16.1: PŚ 18.2 (kaṇṭhatālavyā o); varṇaratnapradīpikā śikṣā 36.2

svarāṇām ūṣmaṇāṁ caiva vivṛtaṁ karaṇaṁ smṛtam
saṁvṛtaṁ cety akārasya sarvavarṇo nigadyate 17
The effort of articulation (karaṇa) of vowels and fricatives is vivṛta (open); the effort of the vowel a issaṁvṛta (closed).
17.1: PŚ 21.1

o au uvarṇa ity eṣām anekasya ca saṅgame
sakṛd oṣṭhyau vijānīyān nānyaś cen madhyagaḥ svaraḥ 18
uṣo na o ṣū ṇo agne dviṣo yuyotu yūyuviḥ
In a series of two or more of the vowels o, au, u and ū the two lips should remain in their position if not
another vowel intervenes.
asmai bhīmāya namasā sam adhvara uṣo na śubhra ā bharā panīyase | 1.57.3
o ṣū ṇo agne śṛṇuhi tvam īḻito devebhyo bravasi yajñiyebhyo rājabhyo yajñiyebhyaḥ | 1.139.7
āre viśvam patheṣṭhāṁ dviṣo yuyotu yūyuviḥ || 5.50.3

virāme ca vivṛttau ca madhye cet vyañjanadvayam 19
dvir oṣṭhau tu vigṛhṇīyād vakāre tv adharaṁ tathāyan mayobhu udīraya tābhir ū ṣu ūtibhiḥ 20
bhrātuḥ putrān dhenuṁ somas suṣṭutir moṣu vo asmat
If a virāma, hiatus or double consonant is in the middle the two lips should be separated and also thelower lip in the case of v.
PŚ: anusvāre vivṛttyāṁ tu virāme cākṣaradvaye |dvir oṣṭhau tu vigṛhṇīyād yatraukāravakārayoḥ ||24||
brahma priyaṁ devahitaṁ yad asty aham mitre varuṇe yan mayobhu || 5.42.2
ud īraya kavitamaṁ kavīnām unattainam abhi madhvā ghṛtena | 5.42.3
yābhir bhare kāram aṁśāya jinvathas tābhir ū ṣu ūtibhir aśvinā gatam || 1.112.1
ud astabhnāḥ pṛthivīṁ dyām abhīke bhrātuḥ putrān maghavan titviṣāṇaḥ || 10.55.1
somo dhenuṁ somo arvantam āśuṁ somo vīraṁ karmaṇyaṁ dadāti | 1.91.20
iyaṁ te pūṣann āghṛṇe suṣṭutir deva navyasī | 3.62.7
mo ṣu vo asmad abhi tāni pauṁsyā sanā bhūvan dyumnāni mota jāriṣur asmat purota jāriṣuḥ | 1.139.8

kutupvo yatra dṛśyante sandhisthāneṣu nityaśaḥ 21
svavargeṇa niyuktāś cet vīraṁ tatraiva kārayet4

jyokkar uttarāham uttara imamma iti ca 22māre asman maghavañ jyok kaḥ || 7.22.6
uttarāham uttara uttared uttarābhyaḥ | 10.145.3
imam me varuṇa śrudhī havam adyā ca mṛḻaya | 1.25.19

nakārasya padāntasya repho 'ntasthāsvaroṣmasu
lopas tv ākārapūrvasya saśau tu tacayoḥ pare 23
pūrvasvaraś ca nāsikyas sa ca raṅgaḥ prakīrtitaḥ
pūrvakālo yathā tasya rajyamāne sa eva ca 24
dasyūm̐r yonau paṇīm̐r hataṁ kavīm̐r ichāmy avarām̐ indotām̐s trāyasvāvadam̐s tvaṁ ca tām̐ś ca pāhi putrām̐ś ceti 25
If a final n of a word placed before a semivowel, vowel or h is replaced by r or dropped in the case of ānor replaced by s and ś when n is followed by t and c then the vowel preceding n is nasalized and it iscalled raṅga. As is the duration of the previous vowel so is the duration of the nasalization.
dasyūn | yonau | = dasyūm̐r yonau (RVPr 4.69, 80)
yad dha śūra vṛṣamaṇaḥ parācair vi dasyūm̐r yonāv akṛto vṛthāṣāṭ || 1.63.4
paṇīn | hatam | = paṇīm̐r hatam (RVPr 4.69, 80)
asme ū ṣu vṛṣaṇā mādayethām ut paṇīm̐r hatam ūrmyā madantā | 1.184.2
kavīn | icchāmi | = kavīm̐ ricchāmi (RVPr 4.70, 80)
abhi priyāṇi marmṛśat parāṇi kavīm̐r icchāmi saṁdṛśe sumedhāḥ || 3.38.1
avarān | indo iti | = avarām̐ indo (RVPr 4.65, 80)
stukeva vītā dhanvā vicinvan bandhūm̐r imām̐ avarām̐ indo vāyūn || 9.97.17
tān | trāyasva | = tām̐s trāyasva (RVPr 4.76, 80)
tām̐s trāyasva sahasya druho nido yacchā naḥ śarma dīrghaśrut || 7.16.8
ā-vadan | tvam | = āvadām̐s tvam (RVPr 4.76, 80)āvadam̐s tvaṁ śakune bhadram ā vada tūṣṇīm āsīnaḥ sumatiṁ cikiddhi naḥ | 2.43.3
tān | ca | = tām̐ś ca (RVPr 4.74, 80)
tām̐ś ca pāhi gṛṇataś ca sūrīn vaṣaḍ vaṣaḻ ity ūrdhvāso anakṣan namo nama ity ūrdhvāso anakṣan ||10.115.9putrān | ca | = putrām̐ś ca (RVPr 4.74, 80)rayiṁ ca putrām̐ś cādād agnir mahyam atho imām || 10.85.41

nṝnpe ca svatavān pāyau visargaś ca vidhīyate
avarṇasyānakārasya svare raṅgaḥ kvacid bhavet 26nṝm̐ḥ pātraṁ svatavām̐ḥ pāyus savāyam̐ eva sacām̐ indraḥ
Visarga replaces n if nṝn is placed before p and svatavān before pāyu. In some cases a final ‘a’ or a vowel
other than ‘a’ placed before a vowel is nasalized (raṅga).

5nṝn | pātram | = nṝm̐ḥ pātram (RVPr 4.78, 80)
kad itthā nṝm̐ḥ pātraṁ devayatāṁ śravad giro aṅgirasāṁ turaṇyan | 1.121.1
sva-tavān | pāyuḥ | = svatavām̐ḥ pāyuḥ (RVPr 4.78, 80)
bhuvas tasya svatavām̐ḥ pāyur agne viśvasmāt sīm aghāyata uruṣya || 4.2.6
savāya | eva | = savāyam̐ eva (RVPr 2.62, 67)
yathā prasūtā savituḥ savāyam̐ evā rātry uṣase yonim āraik || 1.113.1
sacā | indraḥ | = sacām̐ indraḥ (RVPr 2.60, 67)
mandiṣṭa yad uśane kāvye sacām̐ indro vaṅkū vaṅkutarādhi tiṣṭhati | 1.51.11
23-27.1: Compare with RVPr 4.65-80 (26-35.1) and 2.60-67 (30-32)

uḥ pade rajyate dīrghaḥ padāntaḥ pluta eva ca 27
padāntasya vidhiḥ proktaḥ padamadhye'pi dṛśyate
abhūd u pāram u bhā u nūnaṁ vindatīti 28
mām̐spacanyā mām̐ścatve hrasvatve ca mam̐ścatoḥ
The particle u is long and nasalized in the padapāṭha. A pluta vowel at the end of a word is nasalized too.
The rule of a nasalized vowel at the end of a word has been told. Also in the middle of a word a nasalized
vowel is seen.
RVPr: ukāraścetikaraṇena yukto rākto'pṛkto drāghitaḥ śākalena ||1.75|| (1.19)(75) U, when joined to iti and standing alone (i.e., not joined to a consonant), is nasalized and lengthened
and is also (pragṛhya) according to the teaching of Śakalya.
abhūd u pāram etave panthā ṛtasya sādhuyā | 1.46.11
abhūt | ūm̐ iti | pāram | etave | panthāḥ | ṛtasya | sādhu-yā |abhūd u bhā u aṁśave hiraṇyam prati sūryaḥ | 1.46.10
abhūt | ūm̐ iti | bhāḥ | ūm̐ iti | aṁśave | hiraṇyam | prati | sūryaḥ |tam u nūnaṁ taviṣīmantam eṣāṁ stuṣe gaṇam mārutaṁ navyasīnām | 5.58.1
tam | ūm̐ iti | nūnam | taviṣī-mantam | eṣām | stuṣe | gaṇam | mārutam | navyasīnām || vindatī3m̐ | (RVPr 1.30-31)
kathā grāmaṁ na pṛcchasi na tvā bhīr iva vindatī3m̐ || 10.146.1| mām̐spacanyā | (RVPr 4.81-82)
yan nīkṣaṇam mām̐spacanyā ukhāyā yā pātrāṇi yūṣṇa āsecanāni | 1.162.13| mām̐ścatve | (RVPr 4.81-82)
ayā pavā pavasvainā vasūni mām̐ścatva indo sarasi pra dhanva | 9.97.52| mam̐ścatoḥ | (RVPr 4.81-82)
bradhnam mam̐ścator varuṇasya babhruṁ te viśvāsmad duritā yāvayantu || 7.44.3

6

makārasya padāntasya rephoṣmasu pareṣu ca 29
anusvāro bhavaty eva padamadhyagateṣv apitvaṁ rathaṁ taṁ hinvanti tvaṁ śukrasya tāṁ su te kīrtim 30
samānodarkaṁ ṣaṣṭhe 'hani māṁsam ekaḥ piṁśati
Anusvāra replaces final m of a word when followed by r, ś, ṣ, s or h even when found in the middle of aword.
tvam | ratham | = tvaṁ ratham (RVPr 4.15)
tvaṁ ratham etaśaṁ kṛtvye dhane tvam puro navatiṁ dambhayo nava || 1.54.6c
tam | hinvanti | = taṁ hinanti (RVPr 4.15)
taṁ hinvanti madacyutaṁ hariṁ nadīṣu vājinam | 9.53.4
tvam | śukrasya | = tvaṁ śukrasya (RVPr 4.15)
tvaṁ hy asi rayipatī rayīṇāṁ tvaṁ śukrasya vacaso manotā || 2.9.4
tām | su | = tāṁ su (RVPr 4.15)
tāṁ su te kīrtim maghavan mahitvā yat tvā bhīte rodasī ahvayetām | 10.54.1
samānodarkam | ṣaṣṭhe = samānodarkaṁ ṣaṣṭhe (RVPr 4.15)
sa yo vṛṣā vṛṣṇyebhiḥ samokā iti sūktaṁ samānodarkaṁ ṣaṣṭhe 'hani ṣaṣṭhasyāhno rūpam (Aitareya
Brāhmaṇa 5.12)‘even when found in the middle of a word’ :śroṇām eka udakaṁ gām avājati māṁsam ekaḥ piṁśati sūnayābhṛtam | 1.161.10

svavargapañcamaś caiva sparśeṣu viṣayeṣu ca 31
antasthāsu ca tā eva makārasya vidhiḥ smṛtaḥ
idaṅkaveḥ taṅgīrbhir nakiṣṭaṅghnanti jaṅghnataḥ 32
If a stop-consonant having a different place of articulation follows, m becomes the fifth of the class of thefollowing consonant. If a semivowel follows (y, l, v) m becomes the nasalized semivowel.
idam | kaveḥ | => idaṅkaveḥ
idaṁ kaver ādityasya svarājo viśvāni sānty abhy astu mahnā | 2.28.1atam | gīḥ-bhiḥ | => taṅgīrbhiḥ
ya eka id dhavyaś carṣaṇīnām indraṁ taṁ gīrbhir abhy arca ābhiḥ | 6.22.1
tam | ghnanti | => taṅghnantinakiṣ ṭaṁ ghnanty antito na dūrād ya ādityānām bhavati praṇītau || 2.27.13
jaṅghnataḥ |pavamānasya jaṅghnato hareś candrā asṛkṣata | 9.66.25

sañcodaya sañjānānās tantvā tandevāś śannaḥ
7

tvampavitre prataram̐llāyan tayyat saṁvardhateti ca 33
sam | codaya | = sañcodayasaṁ codaya citram arvāg rādha indra vareṇyam | 1.9.5
sam-jānānāḥ | = saṁjānānāḥ
saṁjānānā upa sīdann abhijñu patnīvanto namasyaṁ namasyan | 1.72.5
tam | tvā | = tantvātaṁ tvā vājeṣu vājinaṁ vājayāmaḥ śatakrato | 1.4.9
tam | devāḥ | = tandevāḥ
taṁ devā budhne rajasaḥ sudaṁsasaṁ divaspṛthivyor aratiṁ ny erire | 2.2.3
śam | naḥ | = śannaḥ
śaṁ naḥ śocā marudvṛdho 'gne sahasrasātamaḥ || 3.13.6
tvam | pavitre | = tvampavitre
tvam pavitre rajaso vidharmaṇi devebhyaḥ soma pavamāna pūyase | 9.86.30
pra-taram | lāyam | = prataram̐llāyamasteva su prataraṁ lāyam asyan bhūṣann iva pra bharā stomam asmai | 10.42.1
tam | yat | = tayyat (taṁ yat)sam | vardhata | = saṁvardhata

parasparas tu saṁyogaḥ sparśānāṁ saṁbhaved yaditatpūrvasya śrutir nāsti virāme vyañjanasya ca 34
In a conjunction of two stop-consonants there is no sound of the first consonant. Also the sound of aconsonant before a pause is lacking.

vākpūtā vāgdevī viṭkulād vibhrāḍ!bṛhat tatpunaḥ
jaṅghnanti triṣṭubgāyatry arvāgvitadanuṣṭup 35
kp: uśik pāvako vasur mānuṣeṣu vareṇyo hotādhāyi vikṣu | 1.60.4a
gd: vayāṁsi jinva bṛhataś ca jāgṛva uśig devānām asi sukratur vipām || 3.3.7
ṭk: madhor agne vaṣaṭkṛti || 1.14.8
ḍb: vibhrāḍ bṛhat pibatu somyam madhv āyur dadhad yajñapatāv avihrutam | 10.170.01a
tp: prajāyai mṛtyave tvat punar mārtāṇḍam ābharat || 10.72.9
ṅgh: ā jaṅghanti sānv eṣāṁ jaghanām̐ upa jighnate | 6.75.13a
tb: triṣṭub gāyatrī chandāṁsi sarvā tā yama āhitā || 10.14.16
k | : trivandhureṇa trivṛtā rathena tricakreṇa suvṛtā yātam arvāk | 1.118.02at | : dūrād iheva yat saty aruṇapsur aśiśvitat | 8.5.01a
p | : tṛtīyaṁ dhāma mahiṣaḥ siṣāsan somo virājam anu rājati ṣṭup || 9.96.18
ŚaiŚ: vāgdevī viṭkulād vibhrāḍ bṛhad āraik panthām
yadghnan triṣṭubgāyatrī asmādanuṣṭub iti nidarśanam

8

RVPr: abhinidhānaṁ kṛtasaṁhitānāṁ sparśāntasthānām apavādya repham |saṁdhāraṇaṁ saṁvaraṇaṁ śruteś ca sparśodayānām ||6.17|| (5) api cāvasane ||6.18|| (5)(17) Abhinidhāna, which consists in the holding apart (of a consonant, saṁdhāraṇam) and suppression(saṁvaraṇam) of (its) sound, takes place in the case of contact consonants and semi-vowels with the
exception of r, when they have already suffered euphonic combination and are followed by contact
consonants. (18) Also in pause.

sparśānāṁ pañcamair yoge bhavanto hi yamāḥ smṛtāḥ
ayaḥpiṇḍena tattulyaṁ ghanabandhāḥ prakīrtitāḥ 36
Yamas are said to occur in the junction of stop-consonants and following nasal consonants. The firmbonds of these conjunctions are said to be similar to an iron ball.

paliknīr yajña(ṁ) ratnāni vidmāpnānaṁ rarabhma caayaḥpiṇḍa:na tā agṛbhrann ajaniṣṭa hi ṣaḥ paliknīr id yuvatayo bhavanti || 5.2.4
ṛṣīṇāṁ ca stutīr upa yajñaṁ ca mānuṣāṇām || 1.84.2
tam aśvinā pibataṁ tiroahnyaṁ dhattaṁ ratnāni dāśuṣe || 1.47.1
ā tū ṣiñca kaṇvamantaṁ na ghā vidma śavasānāt | 8.2.22
āpnānaṁ tīrthaṁ ka iha pra vocad yena pathā prapibante sutasya || 10.114.7
ā tvā rambhaṁ na jivrayo rarabhmā śavasas pate | 8.45.20

sparśāś ca pañcamāś caivam antasthābhiś ca saṁyutāḥ 37
dārupiṇḍena tattulyaṁ ghanabandhāḥ prakīrtitāḥ
The firm bonds of the conjunctions of stop-consonants and following semi-vowels are said to be similar toa wood ball.

śakyaṁ sakhyaṁ! kṛcchraṁ vajraṁ rāṣṭryatyetīḍyaṁ samrāṭ 38mīḍhvān rathyaṁ! vādhryaśvotāpamluktaṁ vibhvīr ucyatedārupiṇḍa:kad vāho arvāg upa mā manīṣā ā tvā śakyām upamaṁ rādho annaiḥ || 10.29.3
mahy ā te sakhyaṁ vaśmi śaktīr ā vṛtraghne niyuto yanti pūrvīḥ | 3.31.14
svāduṣaṁsadaḥ pitaro vayodhāḥ kṛcchreśritaḥ śaktīvanto gabhīrāḥ | 6.75.9
indra tvotāsa ā vayaṁ vajraṁ ghanā dadīmahi | 1.8.3
nitikti yo vāraṇam annam atti vāyur na rāṣṭry aty ety aktūn | 6.4.5
yaṁ devāsa īḍyaṁ viśvavidaṁ havyavāham adadhur adhvareṣu || 3.29.7
sa yo vṛṣā vṛṣṇyebhiḥ samokā maho divaḥ pṛthivyāś ca samrāṭ | 1.100.1
mīḍhvām̐ asmākam babhūyāt || 1.27.2
vaiśvānaraṁ rathyam adhvarāṇāṁ yajñasya ketuṁ janayanta devāḥ || 6.7.2
bhavā dyumnī vādhryaśvota gopā mā tvā tārīd abhimātir janānām | 10.69.5
māṁ devā dadhire havyavāham apamluktam bahu kṛcchrā carantam | 10.52.4
virāṭ samrāḍ vibhvīḥ prabhvīr bahvīś ca bhūyasīś ca yāḥ | 1.188.5
idam pitre marutām ucyate vacaḥ svādoḥ svādīyo rudrāya vardhanam | 1.114.6

9ŚaiŚ: dārupiṇḍena tattulyaṁ ślathabandhāḥ prakīrtitāḥ
śatruṁ sakhyam agryaṁ kṛcchraṁ kva vajraṁ yajvā rāṣṭryatiplāyogir viddhirmeḍhraṁ vādhryaśveti nidarśanam

ūṣmāṇaḥ pañcamair yuktā antasthābhiś ca saṁyutāḥ 39ūrṇāpiṇḍena tattulyaṁ ślathabandhāḥ prakīrtitāḥ
The loose bonds of the conjunctions of ūṣman-s (ś, ṣ, s, h) with following nasal consonants or semivowels are said to be similar to a ball of wool.

aśnotu viṣṇur ghṛtasnur! asme yuṣme iti snuṣe 40
asya vāmasyājuṣrann aśvas sammiśla ity apiūrṇāpiṇḍa:pra vām aśnotu suṣṭutir indrāvaruṇa yāṁ huve | 1.17.9
ato devā avantu no yato viṣṇur vicakrame | 1.22.16
harir ghṛtasnuḥ sudṛśīko arṇavo jyotīrathaḥ pavate rāya okyaḥ || 9.86.45
sainānīkena suvidatro asme yaṣṭā devām̐ āyajiṣṭhaḥ svasti | 2.9.6
śivā naḥ sakhyā santu bhrātrāgne deveṣu yuṣme | 4.10.8
vṛṣākapāyi revati suputra ād u susnuṣe | 10.86.13
asya vāmasya palitasya hotus tasya bhrātā madhyamo asty aśnaḥ | 1.164.1
svasāraḥ śyāvīm aruṣīm ajuṣrañ citram ucchantīm uṣasaṁ na gāvaḥ || 1.71.1
bhuvat kaṇve vṛṣā dyumny āhutaḥ krandad aśvo gaviṣṭiṣu || 1.36.8
indra id dharyoḥ sacā sammiśla ā vacoyujā | 1.7.2

vakāras tu nakāreṇa ṇakāreṇa ca saṁyutaḥ
ślathabandhas sa vijñeyo duspṛṣṭaś cātra cocyate 41
The conjunction of v with a following n or ṇ is to be known as a loose bond and it is called duspṛṣṭa.
ŚaiŚ: bhūridāvnaḥ evayāvnaḥ prātaryāvṇaḥ dadhikrāvṇaḥ
īḻe dyāvāpṛthivīmīḻhe saptirity atra tu nidarśanam
| bhūri-dāvnaḥ | = bhūridāvnaḥ (2.27.17)| eva-yāvnaḥ | = evayāvnaḥ (2.34.11)| prātaḥ-yāvnaḥ | = prātaryāvṇaḥ (1.45.9)| dadhi-krāvṇaḥ | = dadhikrāvṇaḥ (4.39.2)

visarjanīyasya yadā kapayoḥ parataḥ sthitiḥ
na saṁhitāyāṁ bhavataḥ ūṣmajātau parigrahe 42
A sibilant (s, ṣ) replaces a visarga when the visarga is placed at the end of the first part of a compoundand followed by k or p.
ŚaiŚ: jyotiṣkṛd yātaṁ chardiṣpāv imam añjaspām ubhayehaviṣkṛtaṁ pathaspatha ity atra tu nidarśanam
| jyotiḥ-kṛt | = jyotiṣkṛt (1.50.4) (RVPr 4.41)

10

yātam | chardiḥ-pau | = yātaṁ chardiṣpau (8.9.11) (RVPr 4.41)
imam | añjaḥ-pām | ubhaye | = imam añjaspām ubhaye (10.92.2) (RVPr 4.41)| haviḥ-kṛtam | = haviṣkṛtam (1.13.3) (RVPr 4.41)
pathaḥ-pathaḥ | = pathaspathaḥ (6.49.8) (RVPr 4.41)
RVPr: athādiṣṭaṁ nāmipūrvaḥ ṣakāraṁ sakāram anyo 'riphitaḥ kakāre |pakāre ca pratyaye 'ntaḥ padaṁ tu sarvatraivopācaritaḥ sa saṁdhiḥ ||4.41|| (14)(41) As stated (later on, a visarjanīya) preceded by a 'cerebralizing' (vowel) becomes ṣ, and the other(visarjanīya, i. e., one not preceded by a 'cerebralizing vowel), if unrhotacized, becomes s, when k and pfollow; but always so in the interior of a word. This combination is called 'sibilation' (upācarita).

rala!svarau yatra pūrvau ūṣmasaṁjñe pare sthitepūrvasvarasya saṁbhāk syāt svarabhaktiḥ prakīrtyate 43
Between r or l preceded by a vowel and a following ūṣman (ś, ṣ, s, h) should be (inserted) a vowel-partwhich is similar to the preceding vowel. This vowel-part is called svarabhakti.
ŚaiŚ: ralau svarād yatra pūrvā ūṣmasaṁjñe pare sthitepūrvasvarasya saṁbhāvyā svarabhaktiḥ prakīrtyateadarśi śīrṣā agnirhotā sarsṛte ca na jaḻhavaḥ
śatavalśo'rṣā ṇo'rṣannetadatra nidarśanam
adarśi (1.124.3); śīrṣā (1.33.5); agnirhotā (3.11.1); sarsṛte (2.25.1)
śatavalśaḥ (3.8.11); arṣā ṇaḥ (9.61.15); arṣan (9.16.6)

hakāraṁ pañcamair yuktaṁ antasthābhiś ca saṁyutam
urasyaṁ taṁ vijānīyāt paraṁ cet pṛthag uccaret 44
When combined with nasal stops and semivowels, h should be known (as arising) from the chest. When his not so combined one should utter from the throat.
ŚaiŚ: hrāduniṁ! ca hvayāmy agniṁ hlādike hlādikāvati
mahān hyasya brahmabrahmāhnāhneti nidarśanam
akirat | hrādunim | ca | (1.32.13); hvayāmy agnim (1.35.1); hlādike hlādikāvati (10.16.14)
mahān hy asya (10.75.9); brahma (1.10.4); brahmā (1.80.1); ahnā-ahnā (10.37.9)

prathamāt tu hakāro yas taccaturtham avāpyatesvatṛtīyam avāpnoti pūrvavarṇas tadā hi saḥ 45
After a first class-consonant h becomes the fourth of the latter and the first class-consonant is changed
into the third.
k + h = g + gh
madryak + huvānah = madryagghuvānah (3.41.1)
ṭ + h = ḍ + ḍhavāṭ + havyāni = avāḍḍhavyāni (10.15.12)

11

t + h = d + dhśarat + havih = śaraddhavih (10.90.6)
ŚaiŚ: ṛdhagghuvema samrāḍḍhantā kaddha nūnaṁ triṣṭubbhitāḥ
ṛdhak | huvema | = ṛdhag ghuvema (6.49.10)
sam-rāṭ | hantā | = sam-rāḍ ḍhantā (4.21.10)
kat | ha | nūnam | = kad dha nūnam (8.7.31)
triṣṭup + hitāḥ = triṣṭub bhitāḥ (?)

anusvārasvarābhyāṁ tu saṁyogādir dvir ucyateūṣmaṇaḥ prathamau jñeyau lāt sparśo raparas tathā 46
After a vowel or anusvāra the first (letter) of a conjunct consonant is uttered twice. Also a first and secondclass-consonant following an ūṣman, a contact consonant following l, and a consonant following r isuttered twice.
vajram = vajjram (1.8.3)
rathaṁ svasti = rathaṁ ssvasti (10.35.6)
ā dvābhyām = ā ddvābbhyām (2.18.4)
tiṣṭhanti = tiṣṭṭhanti (1.164.36)
divaspari = divasppari (1.47.6)
śulkāya = śulkkāya (7.32.6)
arkairabhi = arkkairabhi (8.12.23)
ŚaiŚ: tvaṁ śraddhābhī rathaṁ svasti vajram agram ātvā rathaṁ
ādvābhyām īdhyasva vibhvīs sahaskṛta
kaśchandasāṁ paścāt suṣṭubhas tiṣṭhanti śulkā kastad astādivaspari śulkā ulkāmiva galdayām arccati vardhantān ditaṁ punaryan dhapūrvamairthaś ca tad atra tu nidarśanam
RVPr: svarānusvāropahito dvir ucyate saṁyogādiḥ sa kramo 'vikrame san ||6.1|| soṣmā tu pūrvyeṇa
sahocyate sakṛt svena ||6.2|| paraṁ rephāt ||6.4|| sparśa evaṁ lakārāt ||6.5|| ūṣmaṇo vā ||6.6|| nāvasitam ||6.7||
na rephaḥ ||6.8|| voṣmā saṁyukto 'nupadhaḥ ||6.9|| na tūṣmā svaroṣmaparaḥ ||6.10|| na parakramopadhā||6.11||

hrasvapūrvau naṅau dvitvam āpadyete svarodayau
After a short vowel n and ṅ are doubled if a vowel follows.
(short vowel)ṅ + vowel = (short vowel)ṅṅ + vowel(short vowel)n + vowel = (short vowel)nn + vowel
Short vowels are a, ṛ, i, and u. In the Ṛgveda-Saṁhitā only aṅ, ṛṅ, iṅ, an, and in appear at the end of aword.
dadhyaṅ | ṛṣiḥ = dadhyaṅṅṛṣiḥ (6.16.14)
sadṛṅ | asi = sadṛṅṅasi (1.94.7)
hiṅ | akṛṇot = hiṅṅakṛṇot (1.164.28)

12kṛṇvan | aketave = kṛṇvannaketave (1.6.3)
vṛṣan | agne = vṛṣannagne (10.191.1)
yasmin | indraḥ = yasminnindraḥ (1.40.5)
RVPr: padāntīyo hrasvapūrvo ṅakāro nakāraś ca krāmata uttare svare ||6.15|| (4)prathamāc ca nakārād vā śakāraś chatvam eva ca 47
After a first class-consonant and n a following ś is replaced by ch.
k + ś = kch
ṭ + ś = ṭcht + ś = cch
p + ś = pch
n + ś = ñcharvāk + śaphau-iva = arvākchaphāviva (2.39.3)
vi-pāṭ + śutudrī = vipāṭchutudrī (3.33.1)
cit + śavasaḥ = cicchavasaḥ (1.167.9)
vajrin + śnathihi = vajriñchnathihi (1.63.5)
ŚaiŚ: padād vargaprathamāntād yadi śādi paraṁ padamśakāraśchatvam āpnoti arvākchaphāviva tacchaṁyoḥ
vipāṭchutudrī triṣṭupcheṣa ity atra tu nidarśanam
nakārāntaṁ padaṁ pūrvaṁ śakārādyuttaraṁ yadi
sa nakāro ñakāraḥ syāc cakāraś cāntarā bhavet
ghaneva vajriñchnathihyamitrāniti nidarśanam
RVPr: sarvaiḥ prathamair upadhīyamānaḥ śakāraḥ śākalyapituś chakāram ||4.4|| (2)hrasvāt tu dvichakāro 'tra yo dīrghād api dṛśyate
pavamāna saha yasya tane cātihāyavarjitāḥ 48
After a short vowel ch is doubled. This doubling is also seen after a long vowel (only once). Ch is notdoubled if preceded by the words pavamāna, saha, yasya, the two words tane ca and atihāya.
kavi-chadā = kavicchadā (3.12.3)
pari-chinnāḥ = paricchinnāḥ (7.33.6)
pṛthu | chardiḥ = pṛthucchardiḥ (1.48.15)
mā | chedma = mā cchedma (1.109.3)
pavamāna | chandasyām = pavamāna chandasyām (9.113.6)
saha-chandasaḥ = sahachandasaḥ (10.130.7)
yasya | chāyām = yasya chāyām (10.121.2)
tane | ca | chardhiḥ = tane ca chardhiḥ (6.46.12)
ati-hāya | chidrā = atihāya chidrā (1.162.20)
RVPr: asaṁyogādir api cchakāraḥ ||6.3||; sahātihāya pavamāna yasya dve tane cety upahitaḥ padādiḥ |chakāraḥ ||6.12|| dīrgheṇa ca metivarjam ||6.13||

13

naṭābhyāṁ se pare madhye takāraḥ saṁprajāyate
natayor lacavarge ca savarṇaḥ syāt parasya tu 49
Between n or ṭ and a following s the letter t is inserted. N and t placed before l or a palatal stop-consonant(ca-varga) are replaced by a letter homogeneous to the following letter.
n+s=n+t+sṭ+s=ṭ+t+s
n + l = nasalized l + ln + (c, ch, j) = ñ + (c, ch, j)t+l=l+lt + (c, ch) = c + (c, ch)t + (j, jh) = j + (j, jh)sasavān | san | stūyase = sasavāntsantstūyase (3.22.1)
virāṭ | samrāṭ = virāṭtsamrāṭ (1.188.5)
jigīvān | lakṣam = jigīvām̐l lakṣam (2.12.4)
yasmin | loke = yasmim̐l loke (9.113.7)
ūrdhvān | carathāya = ūrdhvāñcarathāya (1.36.14)
dasyūn | jyotiṣā = dasyūñ jyotiṣā (5.14.4)
aṅgāt-aṅgāt | lomnaḥ-lomnaḥ = aṅgādaṅgāl lomnolomnaḥ (10.163.6)
dūrāt | ca | āsāt | ca = dūrāc cāsāc ca (1.27.3)
cit | chadayati = cic chadayati (3.9.7)
avindat | jyotiḥ = avindaj jyotiḥ (3.34.4)
ŚaiŚ: sasavāntsantstūyase virāṭtsamrāṭ yasmim̐llokenṝñjātair iti tallokam asmācceti nidarśanam
RVPr: ṭakāranakārayos tu | āhuḥ sakārodayayos takāram ||4.17|| (4.6)
tathā nakāra udaye lakāre ||4.8|| ñakāraṁ śakāracakāravargayoḥ ||4.9||
takāro jakāralakārayos tau ||4.10|| tālavye 'ghoṣa udaye cakāram ||4.11|| (4.4)

padāntāḥ prathamā varṇāḥ ghoṣasaṁjñe svare paresvatṛtīyān avāpyante pañcame pañcamāṁs tathā 50
The first class-consonants at the end of a word, when followed by voiced consonants or vowels become
their own thirds. When followed by fifth class consonants they become their own fifths.
k + voiced consonant = g + voiced consonantṭ + voiced consonant = ḍ + voiced consonantt + voiced consonant = d + voiced consonantp + voiced consonant = b + voiced consonant14k + vowel = g + vowel
ṭ + vowel = ḍ + vowelt + vowel = d + vowel
p + vowel = b + vowel
vāk + vadanti = vāgvadanti (8.100.10)
ṣaṭ-bhih = ṣaḍbhih (2.18.4)
yat + bhūtam = yadbhūtam (10.90.2)
tasmāt + yajñāt = tasmādyajñāt (10.90.9)
unap + dabhītaye = unabdabhītaye (2.13.9)
tri-stup + gāyatrī = triṣṭubgāyatrī (10.14.16)
bhiṣak | upala-prakṣiṇī = bhiṣagupalaprakṣiṇī (9.112.3)
vi-rāṭ | ajāyata = virāḍajāyata = virāḻajāyata (10.90.5)
tri-pāt | ūrdhvaḥ | ut | ait = tripādūrdhva udait (10.90.4)
tri-stup | iha = triṣṭubiha (10.130.5)
k + (n,m) = ṅ + (n,m)ṭ + (n,m) = ṇ + (n,m)
t + (n,m) = n + (n,m)
p + (n,m) = m + (n,m)
arvāk + narāh = arvāṅnarāh (7.82.8)
baṭ + mahān = baṇmahān (8.101.11)
tat + na = tanna (1.164.39)
tri-kakup + ni-vartat = trikakumnivartat (1.124.4)
RVPr: tatra prathamās tṛtīyabhāvaṁ pratilomeṣu niyanti ||2.10|| (2.4)
ghoṣavatparāḥ prathamās tṛtīyān svān ||4.2|| uttamān uttameṣūdayeṣu ||4.3|| (4.1)

apadāntāḥ prathamā varṇā ūṣmasaṁjñe pare sthitevarṇā dvitīyā vijñeyā ucyante varṇavedibhiḥ 51
The first class consonants if not placed at the end of a word and followed by an ūṣman should be known as
their own seconds. This is said by knowers of the varṇas.
vi-rapśī = viraphśī (1.8.8)
sam-vatsaram = saṁvathsaram (7.103.1)
śata-kratuḥ | tsarat = śatakratuḥ thsarat (8.1.11)
vṛkṣe-vṛkṣe = vṛkhṣevṛkhṣe (10.27.22)
ŚaiŚ: vṛkhṣevṛkhṣe saṁvathsaraṁ tvānthsāri tamaphsanta camathsaraḥ
mathsyapāyīty etat tu nidarśanam
RVPr: ūṣmodayaṁ prathamaṁ sparśam eke dvitīyam āhur apadāntabhājam ||6.54|| (6.15)

yakārarephāv ity etau ṛkāreṇa ca saṁyutauoṣṭhau tatra na kampyeta kṣipram etat pracakṣate 52
15

In the combinations y and r with a following ṛ he should not shake the two lips. He should pronounce thisquickly.
ŚaiŚ: pra kṛtānyṛjīṣiṇaḥ vajryṛcīṣamaḥ śamyṛkvāṇaḥ
nirṛthan nirṛteś cāpi nidarśanam itīdṛśam
pra kṛtāny ṛjīṣiṇaḥ kaṇvā indrasya gāthayā | (8.32.1)
iha śruta indro asme adya stave vajry ṛcīṣamaḥ | (10.22.2)
yad īm indraṁ śamy ṛkvāṇa āśatād in nāmāni yajñiyāni dadhire || (1.87.5)
kim asmabhyaṁ jātavedo hṛṇīṣe droghavācas te nirṛthaṁ sacantām || (7.104.14)
suṣupvāṁsaṁ na nirṛter upasthe sūryaṁ na dasrā tamasi kṣiyantam | (1.117.5)

nādas tu śrūyate ghoṣād virāmād dvitvatas tathā
anāsikyo 'tha nāsikyo te varṇarūpataḥ 53
After a voiced consonant placed before a pause (virāma) and after a doubled voiced consonant a voice(nāda) is heard which is nasal or non-nasal according to the nature of the consonant.
ŚaiŚ: dadhyaṅ ha parame vyoman vīryaṁ ceti nidarśanam
daddhyaṅ ha yan madhv ātharvaṇo vām aśvasya śīrṣṇā pra yad īm uvāca || (1.116.12)
aṣṭāpadī navapadī babhūvuṣī sahasrākṣarā parame vyoman || (1.164.419
anu te dyaur bṛhatī vīryyam mama iyaṁ ca te pṛthivī nema ojase || (1.057.05)
RVPr:
abhinidhānaṁ kṛtasaṁhitānāṁ sparśāntasthānāmapavādya repham |saṁdhāraṇaṁ saṁvaraṇaṁ śruteśca sparśodayānām ||6.17|| api cāvasāne ||6.18|| (6.5)
antasthāḥ sve sve ca pare'pi raktāḥ ||6.19|| (6.6)
nādaḥ paro'bhinidhānād dhruvaṁ tat tatkālasthānam ||6.39|| aśruti tvaghoṣāt ||6.40||
nāsikāsthānam anunāsikāc cet ||6.41|| antasthāyāḥ pūrvasvarūpameva ||6.42|| (6.11)
vyāḻeḥ sarvatrābhinidhānalopaḥ ||6.43|| parakramasvararephopadhe na ||6.44|| (6.12)(17) Abhinidhāna, which consists in the holding apart (of a consonant) and suppression of (its) sound,takes place in the case of contact consonants and semi-vowels with the exception of r, when they havealready suffered euphonic combination and are followed by contact consonants. (18) Also in pause.
(19) Semi-vowels, even if nasalized, (suffer abhinidhāna), when followed by themselves.
(39) The voice which follows a (sonant) abhinidhana is called dhruva and lasts as long as that (i.e.,abhinidhāna).
(40) (It is) inaudible after a voiceless (abhinidhāna).
(41) (It is) nasal, if it follows a nasal (abhinidhāna.)(42) If it follows a semi-vowel, it is of the same nature with its preceding (semi-vowel).
(43) According to Vyāḻi, abhinidhāna does not take place anywhere.
(44) Not (so), when a following consonant is doubled and when a vowel or r precedes.

nīcaiḥ svaro 'nudāttas syād uccaiś codātta ucyatesvaritas tatsamāhāras tadaikyaṁ pracayaḥ smṛtaḥ 54
16

The accent anudātta is low and the accent which is pronounced in a high tone is called udātta. Svarita is
the combination of udātta and anudātta and pracaya is identical with the udātta.

anudātto hṛdi jñeyo mūrdhny udātta udāhṛtaḥ
svaritaḥ karṇamūlīyas sarvasmin pracayaḥ smṛtaḥ 55
Anudātta is to be known in the chest (lit. heart), udātta at the root of the ear, and pracaya in the entire
mouth.
PŚ 48 (sarvāsye pracayaḥ smṛtaḥ)madhye tu kampayet kampam ubhau nīcau samau bhavet
dviguṇaṁ varṇakālāc ca pādaḥ kampārtham iṣyate 56
The kampa should be made in the middle (of the vowel) and the two sides should be anudātta. It is said
that the duration of the vowel is two mātrās. (The final) ¼ mātrā (of the 2 mātrās) belongs to the kampa.
Note: Probably the following meaning is expressed here: The main part of the kampa (swinging of thevoice) begins in the middle of the vowel which is svarita. After the svarita the voice falls down to the
anudātta which lasts ¼ mātrā. After the anudātta the voice rises again to the following udātta or svarita.
ŚaiŚ: madhye tu kampayet kampam ubhau pārśvau samau bhavet
dviguṇaṁ varṇakālāc ca pādaḥ kampārtha iṣyate
56.1: PŚ: madhye tu kampayet kampam ubhau pārśvau samo bhavet 30.1
Svaraṅkuśaśikṣā:svaritān niyataṁ gacchet svarito niyataś ca taudvimātrau yatra dṛśyete hrasvakampaḥ sa ucyate 19
jātyo 'bhinihitaś caiva kṣaipraḥ praśliṣṭa eva ca
ete svarāḥ prakampante yatroccasvaritodayāḥ 20Ātreyaśikṣā:ādau tu tasya kampasya svāraḥ satryaṇumātrikaḥ 111
antyabhāge tu nihataḥ pādamātraḥ prakīrtitaḥ
udāttaś ca tathaivādau tripādādhikamātrikaḥ 112
tasyānte cānudāttaḥ syād aṇumātro bhavet tathāsaṁmelane dvimātraḥ syāt tayor evaṁ suniścitaḥ 113

anudāttam upādāya svaritaṁ hy avalambayet
punar nihatam āgacched eṣa kampavidhiḥ smṛtaḥ 57
After the anudātta he should pronounce the svarita and then again the anudātta. This is the rule for the
kampa.
अ॒भ ॒ ममघ्न्या॑ उ॒त श् ॒णन्ता॑ धन॒ व॒ः शििा॑म् । 9.1.917

a̱bhi | i̱ mam | aghnyā̍ḥ | u̱ta | śrī̱ ṇanti̍ | dhe̱nava̍ḥ | śiśu̍m |abhí + imám => abhī̀mám (praśliṣṭa svarita ī̀ placed before udātta á )In devanāgarī the long kampa is shown with the number
and the preceding long ī is marked with the
anudātta.
स नया॑ अरयष॒भभ दत््ं
त्वभम््या्॑ तयिस ।॒saḥ | na̱ḥ | a̱rṣa̱ | a̱bhi | dū̱tya̍m | tvam | indrā̍ya | to̱śa̱se̱ |dūtyàm + tvám => dūtyàṁ tvám (jātya svarita à placed before udātta á)
In devanāgarī the short kampa is shown with the number .
ŚaiŚ: kva1vo'śvā yujāno3'smābhistvāṁ hī3ndreti nidarśanam
saraṅgaṁ kampayet kampaṁ rathīveti nidarśanam
svaraṅkuśaśikṣā: anudāttaṁ kramāt kuryāt svaritaṁ hy avalambayet
punar niyatam āgacched dīrghakampaḥ sa ucyate 21udāttaḥ pūrvabhāg astu parabhāgo nihanyateudāttakampa ity uktaḥ kutracic cāpi dṛśyate 58
The first part should be udātta and the last part is spoken with the anudātta. This is called udāttakampa. It
is seen in a few cases (in the padapāṭha).
ŚaiŚ: śacī3patiṁ tanū3napāt sthānān na nidarśanamिच ॒ ऽपतता॑म् (1.106.6); तन ॒ ऽनपया॑त् (3.29.11)
RVPr: jātyavad vā tathā vāntau tanū śacīti pūrvayoḥ ||3.26|| (3.16)(26) (One should treat) the finals of the two words tanū and śacī, when they are first parts of a compound(having two acute accents), like an independent svarita or in the same way (as stated above either in Sūtra
24 or 25, in the case of avagraha).

sthānaṁ kālo vikāraś ca saṁvṛtaṁ vivṛtāgamauīṣatspṛṣṭam aghoṣatvaṁ svaraḥ kampas tathoṣmatā 59ghoṣānāsikyanāsikyāḥ varṇadharmās tv ime matāḥ
yāvanto yatra ye dharmās tāvantas tatra tān viduḥ 60
Place of articulation (sthāna), duration (kāla), modification (vikāra), closed (saṁvṛta), open (vivṛta),insertion (āgama), contact (spṛṣṭa), slight contact (īṣat-spṛṣṭa), unvoiced (aghoṣa), accent (svara), kampa,
aspiration (ūṣmatā), voiced (ghoṣa), non-nasalation (anāsikya) and nasalation (nāsikya) – these arethought to be the properties of the varṇas (sounds, letters).

caturmātraś ca ṣaṇmātraḥ praṇavaḥ kīrtyate budhaiḥ
pūrvasvaraḥ paro nādas samamātraḥ prakīrtitaḥ 61
The wise say that the praṇava (om) consists of four mātrās and six mātrās. The svara in the beginning and18

the following nāda have the same duration.
RVPr: sa o3miti prasvarati trimātraḥ prasvāra sthāne sa bhavaty udāttaḥ |caturmātro vārdhapūrvānudāttaḥ ṣaṇmātro vā bhavati dviḥsvaraḥ san ||15.5|| (15.3)(5) He pronounces 'Om' (by way of reply). This word (prasvāra) consists of three mātrās and is acute in(its proper) scale (sthāna) ; or it consists of four mātrās with its first half as anudātta ; or it consists of six
moras while being twice accented.

anudāttaḥ svaro jñeya udātto nāda ucyatelakṣaṇaṁ praṇavasyedaṁ praṇavo brahma kīrtyate 62
The svara (o) should be known as anudātta. The nāda (m) is udātta. This is the definition of the praṇava.
Praṇava (om) is said to be Brahman.

tailadhārām ivāchinnaṁ dīrghaghaṇṭāninādavat
avāgjaṁ praṇavasyāgraṁ yas taṁ veda sa vedavit 63
That man is the knower of the Vedas who knows that the end of praṇava should be worshipped (or recited)as uninterrupted as the flow of oil and (resounding) as long as the sound of a bell.
Dhyānabindūpaniṣad. 18: avācyam

tristhānaṁ ca trimātraṁ ca tribrahmaṁ ca triyakṣaram
trimātrād ardhamātraṁ tu yas taṁ veda sa vedavit 64
That man is the knower of the Vedas who knows om as having three dwelling-places, three mātrās, three
Vedas (tribrahma), three letters and after the three mātrās a half mātrā.
Pārāśarī śikṣā: praṇavaṁ tu pravakṣyāmi tisro mātrās tridaivatam 2trirūpaṁ ca trivarṇaṁ ca tristhānaṁ triguṇaṁ tathāDhyānabindūpaniṣad: tristhānaṁ ca trimārgaṁ ca tribrahma ca trayākśaram |trimātram ardhamātraṁ ca yas taṁ veda sa vedavit ||36||

vedo hi varṇasaṁghāto vedo brahmeti kīrtyatetasmāt tadvedavarṇajño brahmaloke mahīyate 65
Veda is the combination of varṇas (sounds, letters). Veda is called Brahman. Therefore the knower of thesounds of the Veda is placed high in the realm of Brahman.

etat puṇyaṁ pāpaharaṁ vāṅmalasya viśodhanambhaktyā jñātvā ca saṁgṛhya brahmalokaṁ sa gacchati 66
He who receives and knows with faith this holy, sin destroying purification of the impurity of speech goesto the realm of Brahman.

19anena vidhinā vedaṁ yo 'dhīte śraddhayānvitaḥ
sarvapāpair vimuktas san brahmaloke mahīyate 67
He who recites the Veda with faith according to this rule is released from all sins and is placed high in therealm of Brahman.

iti śaunakaśikṣā samāptā

References and Abbreviations
The transliterated text of the Śaunaka-Śikṣā is based on:
http://peterffreund.com/shiksha/shaunaka_shiksha.html
http://peterffreund.com/shiksha/shaunaka_shiksha.pdf
Aithal, K.Parameswara, Veda-Lakṣaṇa: Vedic Ancillary Literature: A Descriptive Bibliography, Motilal
Banarsidass: Delhi, 1993, No. 1328 (Śaunaka-Śikṣā)Preservation Techniques of the Ṛgveda Chanting of Kerala, Editors: C.M. Neelakandhan, K.A.
Ravindram, 2010, Śaunakaśikṣā, text with Sanskrit commentary, pages 21-50
Ṛgveda-Saṁhitā and Padapāṭha: http://www.detlef108.de/Rigveda.htm
http://www.detlef108.de/RV-with-Padapatha-T-NA-UTF8.html
http://www.detlef108.de/RV-with-Padapatha-T-UTF8.html
Ṛgveda-Prātiśākhya: https://sites.google.com/view/rv-pratishakhya
The Rgveda Pratisakhya Vol III (1937/00/00) - English translationŚikṣās and Vedalakṣaṇa texts:
http://vedicreserve.mum.edu/shiksha/shiksha_vedicreserve.html
https://sites.google.com/view/vedalakshanaŚaiśirīya-Śikṣā: http://peterffreund.com/shiksha/shaishiriya_shiksha.html
Pāṇinīya-Śikṣā: http://peterffreund.com/shiksha/paniniya_shiksha.html
Abbreviations: PŚ: Pāṇinīya-Śikṣā; RVPr: Ṛgveda-Prātiśākhya; RV: Ṛgveda-Saṁhitā; ŚaiŚ: ŚaiśirīyaŚikṣā
Last update by Detlef Eichler : 13 May 2021

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