Shloka 1003
Atithi-satkāra and the Consolation of Wise Counsel (अतिथिसत्कारः प्रज्ञानवचनस्य च पराश्वासनम्)
स्वरवर्णसमुच्चारा: सर्वास्तान् विद्धि मत्कृतान् वेदोंमें जो भिन्न-भिन्न शाखाएँ हैं, उन शाखाओंमें जितने गीत हैं तथा उन गीतोंमें स्वर और वर्णके उच्चारण करनेकी जितनी रीतियाँ हैं, उन सबको मेरी बनायी हुई ही समझो
svaravarṇa-samuccārāḥ sarvāṁs tān viddhi mat-kṛtān | vedeṣu ye bhinna-bhinnāḥ śākhāḥ, tāsu yāni gītāni, teṣu gīteṣu ca svara-varṇoccāraṇasya yāvatyo rītayaḥ, tāḥ sarvā mamaiva kṛtā iti manyasva ||
Ketahuilah bahawa segala cara melafazkan bunyi—baik aksen nada (svara) mahupun sebutan huruf dan suku kata (varṇa)—adalah ciptaan-Ku. Apa jua kepelbagaian cabang Veda, apa jua nyanyian suci yang terdapat dalam cabang-cabang itu, dan apa jua peraturan tentang sebutan aksen dan huruf dalam nyanyian tersebut—fahamilah semuanya berpunca daripada-Ku.
तामिन्द्र उवाच गच्छ नहुषस्त्वया वाच्योथ<पूर्वेण मामृषियुक्तेन यानेन त्वमधिरूढ
Educational Q&A
The verse grounds the authority of Vedic recitation in a cosmic source: the accents (svara), phonemes (varṇa), and their correct methods of chanting are not arbitrary human conventions but part of an ordained order. Ethically, it emphasizes reverence for disciplined speech and fidelity to transmitted knowledge.
Indra is speaking and asserts his role as the source behind the Veda’s many branches and their chants, specifically highlighting the technical rules of pronunciation and accent. The statement elevates correct recitation as divinely rooted and therefore worthy of careful preservation.