Madhu Kanda. Adhyaya 1, Brahmana 3. The contest of the vital breath
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Each mantra is given four ways: the Sanskrit in its Devanagari script, the same sounds in Roman letters, an English translation set in our own voice, and then the line once more in plain words, for a first and unhurried reading.
Not every passage is opened to the same depth. A few central mantras carry the full cross-school commentary, where the schools are set side by side. The rest are kept here whole and faithful, set in their place but not expounded, so the book stays entire and nothing is dropped for being thought minor.
Where the schools read a line differently, the difference is kept open. None is crowned and none is corrected. Each is met on its own terms, and where they contradict, the contradiction is left standing for you to sit with.
Speech, the support of the Saman
Of this Saman, one who knows the support stands firm. Its support is just speech; for resting on speech this breath is sung. Some, however, say the support is food.
Of this Saman, the one who knows its 'pratishtha', its support or foundation, becomes firmly established. The support of the Saman is speech itself, for it is by resting on speech that this breath is sung as the chant. Some teachers, though, say that the support is food.