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ॐ शीक्षां व्याख्यास्यामः । वर्णः स्वरः । मात्रा बलम् । साम सन्तानः । इत्युक्तः शीक्षाध्यायः ॥ १ ॥

ॐ शीक्षां व्याख्यास्यामः । वर्णः स्वरः । मात्रा बलम् । साम सन्तानः । इत्युक्तः शीक्षाध्यायः ॥ १ ॥

शीक्षां: The principles of phonetics, व्याख्यास्यामः (we) shall explain, वर्णः letters स्वरः vowels / accent, मात्रा quantity or measure बलम् effort or strength, साम:modulation, सन्तानः conjunction, इति: Thus, उक्त:is told शीक्षाध्यायः the chapter on the study of phonetics

शीक्षां: The principles of phonetics, व्याख्यास्यामः (we) shall explain, वर्णः letters स्वरः vowels / accent, मात्रा quantity or measure बलम् effort or strength, साम:modulation, सन्तानः conjunction, इति: Thus, उक्त: is told शीक्षाध्यायः the chapter on the study of phonetics.<ref name=":3" />

=====Literal Translation =====

=====Literal Translation =====

Om!, we shall now explain the principles of phonetics, (which comprise) letters, accents, quantity, strength, modulation and conjunction. Thus has been spoken on the chapter on phonetics.  

Om!, we shall now explain the principles of phonetics, (which comprise) letters, accents, quantity, strength, modulation and conjunction. Thus has been spoken on the chapter on phonetics.<ref name=":3" />

===== Discussion on Second Anuvaka =====

===== Discussion on Second Anuvaka =====

There is a brief section that follows the Shanti Paath. This section highlights the importance of pronunciation and the care that should be taken while reciting the text.   

There is a brief section that follows the Shanti Paath. This section highlights the importance of pronunciation and the care that should be taken while reciting the text.<ref name=":0" />  

   

   

With respect to the second Anuvaka, following may be noted:

With respect to the second Anuvaka, following may be noted:

Conjunction: Joining of two letter or sound, known as ''Sandhi''

Conjunction: Joining of two letter or sound, known as ''Sandhi''

The whole efficacy of a mantra lies in its proper chanting. The ''mantrashakti'' or the power of the mantram is in the sound of the mantram. It is further believed that there is an inseparable connection between the ''shabda'' or a particular sound and its ''artha'', the object for which the sound stands. So any mis-pronunciation of any mantra would rob away all its efficacy and thus fail to obtain the desired object. So the Siksha Valli begins with this important instruction to students that they are supposed to utter the mantrams properly    

The whole efficacy of a mantra lies in its proper chanting. The ''mantrashakti'' or the power of the mantram is in the sound of the mantram. It is further believed that there is an inseparable connection between the ''shabda'' or a particular sound and its ''artha'', the object for which the sound stands. So any mis-pronunciation of any mantra would rob away all its efficacy and thus fail to obtain the desired object. So the Siksha Valli begins with this important instruction to students that they are supposed to utter the mantrams properly.<ref name=":3" />     

The second anuvaka highlights [[phonetics]] as an element of the Vedic instruction. The verse asserts that the student must master the principles of sound as it is created and as perceived, in terms of the structure of linguistics, vowels, consonants, balancing, accentuation (stress, meter), speaking correctly, and the connection of sounds in a word from articulatory and auditory perspectives.<ref name="pauldeussentu112">Paul Deussen, Sixty Upanishads of the Veda, Volume 1, Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN 978-8120814684, pages 222-223</ref> Taittirĩya Upanishad's emphasizes, in its later anuvakas, ''{{IAST|svādhyāya}}'', a practice that served as the principal tool for the oral preservation of the Vedas in their original form for over two millennia. [[Svādhyāya]] as a part of student's instruction, involved understanding the linguistic principles coupled with recitation practice of Indian scriptures, which enabled the mastering of entire chapters and books with accurate pronunciation.<ref name="gavinflood">{{Cite book | editor-last=Flood | editor-first =Gavin | year =2003 | title =The Blackwell Companion to Hinduism | publisher =Blackwell Publishing Ltd. | isbn =1-4051-3251-5|pages=68–70}}</ref> The ancient Indian studies of linguistics and recitation tradition, as mentioned in the second anuvaka of Taittiriya Upanishad, helped transmit and preserve the extensive Vedic literature from 2nd millennium BCE onwards, long before the methods of mass printing and book preservation were developed. [[Michael E. J. Witzel|Michael Witzel]] explains it as follows,<ref name="gavinflood" />

Taittirĩya Upanishad's emphasizes, in its later anuvakas, ''{{IAST|svādhyāya}}'', a practice that served as the principal tool for the oral preservation of the Vedas in their original form for over two millennia. [[Svādhyāya]] as a part of student's instruction, involved understanding the linguistic principles coupled with recitation practice of Indian scriptures, which enabled the mastering of entire chapters and books with accurate pronunciation.<ref name="gavinflood">{{Cite book | editor-last=Flood | editor-first =Gavin | year =2003 | title =The Blackwell Companion to Hinduism | publisher =Blackwell Publishing Ltd. | isbn =1-4051-3251-5|pages=68–70}}</ref> The ancient Indian studies of linguistics and recitation tradition, as mentioned in the second anuvaka of Taittiriya Upanishad, helped transmit and preserve the extensive Vedic literature from 2nd millennium BCE onwards, long before the methods of mass printing and book preservation were developed. [[Michael E. J. Witzel|Michael Witzel]] explains it as follows,<ref name="gavinflood" />

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====Phonetics and the theory of connecting links - Third Anuvāka====

====Phonetics and the theory of connecting links - Third Anuvāka====

The third anuvaka of ''Shiksha Valli'' asserts that everything in the universe is connected. In its theory of "connecting links", it states that letters are joined to form words and words are joined to express ideas, just like earth and heavens are forms causally joined by space through the medium of ''Vayu'' (air), and just like the fire and the sun are forms causally connected through lightning with the medium of clouds. It asserts that it is knowledge that connects the teacher and the student through the medium of exposition, while the child is the connecting link between the father and the mother through the medium of procreation.<ref name=pauldeussentu112/><ref>[https://archive.org/stream/AitareyataittiriyaUpanishadsWithShankaraBhashya-English/05AitareyataittiriyaUpanishadsWithShankaraBhashya-English#page/n61/mode/2up Taittiriya Upanishad] SS Sastri (Translator), The Aitereya and Taittiriya Upanishad, pages 65-67</ref> Speech (expression) is the joining link between upper and lower jaw, and it is speech which connects people.<ref>Max Muller, Taittiriya Upanishad in The Sacred Books of the East, Volume 15, Oxford University Press</ref>

The third anuvaka of ''Shiksha Valli'' asserts that everything in the universe is connected. In its theory of "connecting links", it states that letters are joined to form words and words are joined to express ideas, just like earth and heavens are forms causally joined by space through the medium of ''Vayu'' (air), and just like the fire and the sun are forms causally connected through lightning with the medium of clouds. It asserts that it is knowledge that connects the teacher and the student through the medium of exposition, while the child is the connecting link between the father and the mother through the medium of procreation.<ref name="pauldeussentu112">Paul Deussen, Sixty Upanishads of the Veda, Volume 1, Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN 978-8120814684, pages 222-223</ref><ref>[https://archive.org/stream/AitareyataittiriyaUpanishadsWithShankaraBhashya-English/05AitareyataittiriyaUpanishadsWithShankaraBhashya-English#page/n61/mode/2up Taittiriya Upanishad] SS Sastri (Translator), The Aitereya and Taittiriya Upanishad, pages 65-67</ref> Speech (expression) is the joining link between upper and lower jaw, and it is speech which connects people.<ref>Max Muller, Taittiriya Upanishad in The Sacred Books of the East, Volume 15, Oxford University Press</ref>

====A teacher's prayer - Fourth Anuvāka====

====A teacher's prayer - Fourth Anuvāka====