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Upanishads · Sarasvatīrahasya 3.9
॥
Devanāgarī
ततः प्रवर्तते वाणी स्वेच्छया ललिताक्षरा । गद्यपद्यात्मकैः शब्दैरप्रमेयैर्विवक्षितैः
Transliteration (IAST)
tataḥ pravartate vāṇī svecchayā lalitākṣarā | gadyapadyātmakaiḥ śabdairaprameyairvivakṣitaiḥ
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
ततः प्रवर्तते वाणीtataḥ pravartate vāṇīthen speech arises
स्व-इच्छया ललित-अक्षराsva-icchayā lalita-akṣarāby its own will, with graceful syllables
गद्य-पद्य-आत्मकैः शब्दैःgadya-padya-ātmakaiḥ śabdaiḥwith words consisting of prose and verse
अ-प्रमेयैः विवक्षितैःa-prameyaiḥ vivakṣitaiḥimmeasurable, wishing to be spoken
Translation
Then speech arises by its own will, with graceful syllables, with words consisting of prose and verse, immeasurable, wishing to be spoken.
Version
57d4a1f8c113 · published Aug 12, 2026, 5:00:00 AM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
It is worth noting two words, for they describe what every writer knows. The first — sva-icchayā, "by its own will," that is, by the will of speech itself, not of the speaker. The second — vivakṣita, "wishing to be spoken," from vivakṣ, the desiderative of vac: literally "that which wants to be said."
That is, a state is described in which words press to come out; and the description is precise. Let us add what this state means and does not mean. It does not mean that what is said is true: speech that flows easily can also be empty or false; ease is a property of the flow, not of the truth.
Hence it is worth remembering, to my mind, that the gift of speech is a gift, not a merit, and it is given even to those who would do better to stay silent. The Vaiṣṇava side holds this, and her rule was cited when reading the Varāha (3.26): ability is acquired by technique and testifies to nothing; character testifies. Let us add what she sets in the place of this gift and what distinguishes her.
Her speech need not be graceful; it must be about Him. And the Bhāgavatam (1.5.11) says this most sharply: a composition full of the Lord's names, even with faults of style, is heard and sung by honest people; but a flawless verse not about Him — vāyasaṃ tad yaśaḥ tīrthe uśanti mānasā, "crows relish it, but swans find no delight in it."