Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c9.37

c9.37

"He who does not realize the ultimate Truth behind the *Ṛik* and *Akshara* (word and letter) in which rest all gods—what will he do by merely reciting and repeating the Ṛiks?" The Rigveda is *aparā* (inferior) *vidyā* to one who does not go behind its words to their inner meaning (Sāyaṇa) [i, 164, 35, 37, 38]. "(Among pupils studying together) there may be one who merely sees the Word but does not see its meaning. Another hears It, but does not hear It fully. [He only utters the sound without understanding its sense (*dhvanimātramevochchārayati*)]. But to a worthy pupil It fully unfolds Itself like the devoted wife appearing in her best dress before her husband (who can 'see' and 'hear' her fully)" [x, 71, 4 as interpreted by Yāska in his *Nirukta*, i, 19, and Durgāchārya].