Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c9.49

c9.49

The next verse, x, 71, 6, repeats the relationship of Vedic to spoken or secular speech. Without Vedic speech and knowledge, all speech is useless (*alakam*) and does not lead to any good in life. The student of the Veda is extolled as its friend (*sachī*) who conserves it by teaching it, and the Veda as the friend (*sakhā*) of man whom it benefits by awakening his insight into truth. The person forsaking these (*tityāja*) misses the way of performing any religious ceremonies or good deeds (*nahi praveda sukṛitasya panthām*). Not knowing Vāk or Vedic speech, "what he hears, he hears amiss; he cannot ascertain the path of virtue."