Seventh Adhyaya, Second Khanda (2 mantras)

Mantra 7.2.1.

1. Speech is better than name. Speech makes us understand the Ṛgveda, Yajurveda, Sāmaveda, and as the fourth the Atharvaṇa, the Itihāsa-purāṇa, as the fifth book among the Vedas, the Pitṛya, the Rāśi, the Daiva, the Nidhi, the Vākovākya, the Ekāyana, the Deva-vidyā, the Brahma-vidyā, the Kṣatra-vidyā, the Nakṣatra-vidyā, the Sarpa and Deva-jana-vidyā; heaven, earth, air, ether, water, fire, gods, men, cattle, birds, herbs, trees, all beasts, insects, and ants; down to worms, what is right and what is wrong; what is true and what is false; what is good and what is bad; she teaches about him who knows the God and also about him who does not know the God. For if there were no speech, neither right nor wrong would be known, neither the true nor the false, neither the good nor the bad, neither those who know God, nor those who do not know God. Speech makes us understand all this. Meditate on Brahman in speech.—476.

Mantra 7.2.2.

2. He who meditates on Brahman in Speech (Svāhā) gets freedom of movement throughout all that region over which Speech has her scope, he who meditates on Brahman in Speech. “Is there something better than Speech.” “Yes, there is something better than Speech.” “Sir, tell it to me.”—477.

Madhva’s commentary called the Bhāṣya:

In this Khaṇḍa it is said that Vāk (Speech) is greater than name. The Commentator explains this.

Svahā (wife of Agni) is greater than Uṣā in all respects, whether of power (Dharma) or of wisdom or of joy. She is greater than Uṣā, whether she is in the state of bondage or of Mukti. She is the Goddess presiding over Speech, and she is called Vāk or Vāc because she worships (añcana) Vasu (agni).

Vasu plus Añcana gives the word Vāc by omitting “Su” of “Vasu” and “Ana” of “Ancana”. It would thus mean the worshipper of Agni. Svāhā the wife of Agni, of course, worships her lord.