Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c9.32

c9.32

**Efficacy of Recitation.** Thus the first step in Rigvedic education was correct recitation of the texts taught. Jaimini in his *Pūrva-Mīmāṁsā Sūtra* [i, 2, 32], has the dictum *Vākyaniyamāt* which means that the words of Mantras must be recited in the prescribed manner to achieve their full fruit. Mere recitation of the texts in the order prescribed has a spiritual efficacy of its own (Niyatapāṭhakramasāphalyāya uchhāraṇameva mantraprayojanam). Thus the recitation of Mantras has a mystical use by itself. A spiritual benefit flows from the observance of the strict order of words of the text recited. This tradition of the independent efficacy of the mere word and correct recitation of the Vedic text has found expression in the extreme position stated in a later text [*Pāṇini-śikshā*, v, 52] to the effect that the slightest lapse in uttering a letter or a word of the Vedic mantra on the part of a teacher will spell utter ruin and disaster to him [Mantro hīnaḥ svarato varṇato vā mithyāprayukto na tamarthamāha | sa vāgvajro yajamānaṁ hinasti yathendra-śatruḥ svaratoparādhāt]. But Jaimini does not deny that Mantras do convey their meaning with reference to the particular sacrifice with which they are connected and states that this function of a Mantra, though a non-spiritual one, should not be left out of account (Sāyaṇa's Introduction to Rigveda].