Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c12.s6.16

c12.s6.16

"The chief difficulties in the pronunciation of the Veda are changes of the final and initial letters. The pupils are instructed in these euphonic rules independently (the *Śikshā*), but whenever a difficult case of *sandhi* occurs, the Guru examines his audience and explains the difficulties. And here the method followed is this. After the Guru has pronounced a group of words, consisting of three or sometimes (in long compounds) of more words, the first pupil repeats the first word, and when anything is to be explained, the teacher stops him, and says, 'Nirvāchyetu,' 'explain it.' After it has been explained by the pupil who is at the head of the class, the permission to continue is given with the words, 'Well, Sir.' After the words of the teacher have thus been repeated by one, the next pupil has to apply to him with the word, 'Sir.' When there is no difficulty, the rule seems to be that the Guru says two words at a time, which are then repeated by the pupil. If it is a compound, one word only is to be pronounced by the Guru, and to be repeated by the pupil. After a section of three verses has thus been gone through, all the pupils have to rehearse it again and again. When they have mastered it, they have to recite the whole without any break, with an even voice, observing all the rules of Sandhi, marking slightly the division in the middle of compounds, and pronouncing every syllable with the high accent. It does not seem as if several pupils were allowed to recite together, for it is stated distinctly that the Guru first tells the verses to his pupil on the right, and that every pupil, after his task is finished, turns to the right, and walks round the tutor. This occupied long hours every day, considering that a day's Lecture consisted at least of sixty and more *Praśnas*, or of about 180 verses. The pupils were not dismissed till the Lecture was finished. At the end of the Lecture, the tutor, after the last half-verse is finished, says, 'Sir'; the pupil replies, 'Yes, sir.' He then repeats the proper verses and formulas, which have to be repeated at the end of every reading, embraces the feet of his tutor, and is allowed to withdraw."