Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c9.27

c9.27

**Recitation of Texts.** The subject of learning being these hymns, the first step was naturally to impart the sacred texts to the learners by recitation. The air was resounding with the recitation of the hymns in the Vedic Schools. It was such a familiar phenomenon that it has inspired even a hymn of the Rigveda [vii, 103] which compares the monotonous recitation of words by the teacher and his pupils [yadeshāmanyo anyasya vāchaṁ śāktasyeva (i.e. śaktimataḥ śikshakasya) vadati (anuvadati, repeats) śikshamāṇaḥ (i.e. śishyaḥ) ] to the croaking of frogs exhilarated by the approach of rain.