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Vakyapadiya of Bhartrihari

by K. A. Subramania Iyer | 1965 | 391,768 words

The English translation of the Vakyapadiya by Bhartrihari including commentary extracts and notes. The Vakyapadiya is an ancient Sanskrit text dealing with the philosophy of language. Bhartrhari authored this book in three parts and propounds his theory of Sphotavada (sphota-vada) which understands language as consisting of bursts of sounds conveyi...

This book contains Sanskrit text which you should never take for granted as transcription mistakes are always possible. Always confer with the final source and/or manuscript.

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation of verse 1.98:

सदृशग्रहणाना� � गन्धादीना� प्रकाशकम� �
निमित्तं नियत� लोके प्रतिद्रव्यमवस्थितम् � ९८ �

sadṛśagrahaṇānā� ca gandhādīnā� prakāśakam |
nimitta� niyata� loke pratidravyamavasthitam || 98 ||

98. In the case of smells etc., which are manifested by their similars, it is seen in the world that there is a particular factor in each case which is responsible for it.

Commentary

Even when things are perceived by senses having the same attributes as themselves, this fixity can be observed. For example, among substances like nail, bitumen etc., only some particular substance in contact can manifest the smell of some particular substance.1

Notes

1. When the colour in the sense of vision manifests the jar, it is a case of difference between the manifestor and the manifested, because the jar is a substance and the colour in the sense of vision is a quality. Where there is such difference, the opponent points out, there is no requirement of a fixed manifestor. But where there is similarity between the two, there should be fixity. But in the case of the word being manifested by the sounds, there is similarity, because both are cognised by the sense of hearing and yet there is a fixed manifestor. Against this, it is pointed out that, in other cases also where there is similarity, a fixed manifestor is required. The smell of an object is perceived only by the sense of smell. Thus the manifestor and the manifested are similar to each other. And yet smells are manifested only in contact with a particular substance. The smell of ṅkܳ is manifested only in contact with clarified butter. The only when it comes in contact with boiling barly broth.

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