स्वयं राजते इति स्वरः ।
svayaṁ rājate iti svaraḥ |
(Unknown source)
“A svara [i.e., a vowel, or, musical note] is that which exists on its own [i.e., it can be pronounced by itself and doesn’t require another type of phenome, unlike vyañjanas (consonants) which require a svara to be pronounced].”