Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c9.35

c9.35

VII, 103, 1 refers to a period of such contemplation in silence, during which Brāhmaṇas achieve enlightenment. Then they burst out into speech (vāchaṁ avādishuḥ) like frogs quickened into activity by the clouds (parjanya) after a year's slumber. It is this enlightenment which fits the pupils (called *Brāhmaṇā* vratachāriṇaḥ explained by Yāska in his *Nirukta*, ix, 6 as *abruvāṇaḥ*, i.e. maintaining the vow of silence) for the task of expounding the sacred texts.