Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c12.s6.8

c12.s6.8

In connection with some of these rules for interruption of study, it should be noted that they seem to apply to the study of new parts of the Veda and not of the parts already learnt nor to the study of the Aṅgas of the Veda. This is clear from Manu [ii, 105-6]: "Both when one studies the supplementary treaties of the Veda and when one *recites* the daily portion of the Veda, no regard need be paid to forbidden days, likewise when one repeats the sacred texts required for a burnt oblation. There are no forbidden days for the daily recitation, since that is declared to be a Brahmasattra (an everlasting sacrifice offered to Brahman); at that the Veda takes the place of the burnt oblations, and it is meritorious even when natural phenomena requiring a cessation of the Veda-study take the place of the exclamation, *Vashaṭ*." The same view is held by Āpastamba [i, 4, 12, 9], according to whom these various cases for the prohibition of study refer only to the repetition of the sacred texts in order to learn them and not to their application at sacrifices. He quotes *Vājasaneyi-Brāhmaṇa* which declares that Vedic recitation is a sacrifice and must be done when it thunders, or a thunderbolt falls, or lightning flashes, for these sounds are like *Vashat* (which, when pronounced by the Hotri-priest, serves as a signal for the Adhvaryu to throw the oblations into the fire) which must not be heard in vain.