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Sabda-vyāpāra-vicāra
135
When it is said that this is pointed out by the word', or, when it is said, 'this word expresses this sense,' it is understood that there is some kind of relation between vācya and vācaka. When Bhartshari observes at V. P. I. 6 that 'śabdānām yataśakti-tvam...,' he implies, explains Punyarāja, that words by their very nature have the power to signify definite ideas of which they are treated as symbols, and that their potency is never exhausted and remains particularly inherent in them :
—“śabdānām yataśaktitvam; niyatā’rtha-pratyāyana-sāmarthyam.” V. P. II. 29 observes:
"yasmins tūccărite sabde yayā yo'rthaḥ pratiyate | tam āhur artham tasyaiva
nā’nyad arthasya lakṣaṇam 11" The meaning of a word is what presents itself to us whenever that word is heard. The utterance of the word 'gauh' gives rise, immediately, to the idea in our mind of a being, possessing dewlap, hump, etc. and this naturally is its meaning.
Word and its meaning are related to each other from times immemorial. The analogy to this relation is found in the functioning of sense-organs with respect to the object-world. Thus both are without beginning, observes Bhartrhari at V. P., . Sambandha-samuddesa, III. 29 :
indriyāņām sva-visayeșu anādir yogyatā yathā, anādir arthaiḥ śabdānām
sambandho yogyatā tathā." Word and meaning are being so absolutely connected with each other that it is impossible to think of one without the other. Kālidāsa has suggested the relation of vāg-arthau' for the union of Siva-Pārvatī. The V. P. I. 50 observes that word, like knowledge, reveals itself as well as the idea or thing comprehended :
“ātma-rūpam yathā jñane jñeya-rūpam ca dịśyate, artha-rūpam tathā śabde
sva-rūpam ca prakāśate.” For Bhartshari, three things are simultaneously comprehended when we utter a word, such as, the particular word, the intention of the speaker, and the object
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