Taittirīyopaniṣat 01.02
ॐ शिक्षां व्याख्यास्यामः। वर्णस्वरः। मात्रा बलम्। साम सन्तानः। इत्युक्तः शीक्षाध्यायः ॥२॥
oṃ śikṣāṃ vyākhyāsyāmaḥ। varṇasvaraḥ। mātrā balam। sāma santānaḥ। ityuktaḥ śikṣādhyāyaḥ ॥2॥
[ॐ (oṃ) - primordial sound; शिक्षां (śikṣāṃ) - phonetics (accusative); व्याख्यास्यामः (vyākhyāsyāmaḥ) - we shall explain; वर्णस्वरः (varṇasvaraḥ) - letters and sounds; मात्रा (mātrā) - measure; बलम् (balam) - strength; साम (sāma) - intonation; सन्तानः (santānaḥ) - continuity; इति (iti) - thus; उक्तः (uktaḥ) - said; शीक्षाध्यायः (śikṣādhyāyaḥ) - chapter on phonetics;]
(Oṃ. Phonetics we shall explain. Letters and sounds. Measure, strength, intonation, continuity. Thus is said the chapter on phonetics.)
Oṃ. We shall explain phonetics: letters and sounds, measure, strength, intonation, and continuity. Thus is said the chapter on phonetics.
Taittirīya Bhāshya 01.02
As Lord Vishnu is the desirable object, 'varaṇīyaḥ', he is 'varṇaḥ', the letter depicting the sound. As He is the one who takes delight in himself, 'svarateḥ', he is called 'svaraḥ', the vowel sound. He protects by a measure, considered in the mind, 'māna', hence He is called 'mātrā', i.e. a measure unit. In a person, Lord Viṣṇu establishing himself in the 'varṇa', i.e. syllable, and others, grants each the corresponding action. He is present with equal glory in all forms and is continuous and unbroken.
वरणीयो वर्णः। स्वरतेस्तु स्वरः। मानात् त्राता मात्रा। बलरूपः। समश्च सर्वरूपेषु। सन्ततश्च।
varaṇīyo varṇaḥ। svaratestu svaraḥ। mānāt trātā mātrā। balarūpaḥ। samaśca sarvarūpeṣu। santataśca।
[वरणीयः (varaṇīyaḥ) - to be chosen; desirable; वर्णः (varṇaḥ) - letter; sound; color; स्वरतेः (svarateḥ) - delighting in oneself or taking pleasure by oneself; तु (tu) - but; स्वरः (svaraḥ) - vowel; sound; मानात् (mānāt) - from measure; from māna; त्राता (trātā) - protector; savior; मात्रा (mātrā) - measure; unit; बलरूपः (balarūpaḥ) - having the form of strength; समः (samaḥ) - equal; same; च (ca) - and; सर्वरूपेषु (sarvarūpeṣu) - in all forms; सन्ततः (santataḥ) - continuous; unbroken; च (ca) - and;]
As he is the desirable object (varaṇīyaḥ), he is 'varṇaḥ', the letter depicting the sound. As he is the one who takes delight in himself (svarateḥ), he is called 'svaraḥ', the vowel sound. He protects by a measure, considered in the mind, hence He is called 'mātrā', i.e. a measure unit. He is of the form of strength. He is present with equal glory and the same in all forms. He is continuous and unbroken.
"वर्णादिवाचकं रूपं ज्नेयं वरणादिनामकम्। विष्णोर्वर्णादिसंस्थं च पुंसु तत्तत्क्रियाप्रदम्॥"
varṇādivācakaṃ rūpaṃ jñeyaṃ varaṇādināmakam। viṣṇorvarṇādisaṃsthaṃ ca puṃsu tattatkriyāpradam॥
[वर्णादि (varṇādi) - beginning with varṇa; वाचकं (vācakam) - denoting; रूपं (rūpam) - form; ज्नेयं (jñeyam) - to be known; वरणादि (varaṇādi) - beginning with varaṇa; नामकम् (nāmakam) - named; विष्णोः (viṣṇoḥ) - of Viṣṇu; वर्णादि (varṇādi) - beginning with varṇa; संस्थं (saṃstham) - situated; च (ca) - and; पुंसु (puṃsu) - in a man; तत्तत् (tattat) - each; क्रिया (kriyā) - action; प्रदम् (pradam) - bestowing;]
(The form denoting varṇa and others is to be known as named beginning with varaṇa. That which is situated in Viṣṇu, beginning with varṇa, and in a man, bestows each respective action.)
"The forms that denote varṇa and similar categories should be understood as names (of the Lord) such as Varaṇa and others. In a person, Lord Viṣṇu establishing himself in the varṇa, i.e. syllable, and others, grants each the corresponding action."
