Zazen zazen zazen, but is there a place for study and meditating on old texts? Is it meaningful to chant in a dead langauge that you don't understand?

gate gate paragate parasamgate bodhi svaha.

What does repeating this chant mean to you? (not necessarily literal translation, but how do you find it adds to your practice?).

I've taken to chanting it in my mind while I run, but not for any particular reason other than I like the sound of it (or at least what I imagine the sound of it to be).