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In terms of the classification of reasoning, there is no single object in the form of a sutra, but the only object that is called one is the object that exists in the present state; similarly, objects expressed through different words that are associated with different genders, numbers, and times should also be considered different. Considering this, the intellect begins to perceive distinctions in meaning based on time and gender.
For example, in the scriptures, there is a sentence that states, "There was a city named Rajagṛha." This sentence generally implies that the city named Rajagṛha existed in the past and does not exist in the present; however, Rajagṛha does exist at the time of the author. If it exists in the present, why is it referred to as 'was'? The answer from the perspective of word reasoning is that the present Rajagṛha is indeed different from the Rajagṛha referred to, which is why it is described as 'Rajagṛha was.' This is an example of a distinction in meaning due to the difference in time.
Distinction in meaning due to gender: For instance, "kūā" (well) and "kūī" (female relative). Here, the first word is masculine, and the second is feminine. The perceived difference in meaning between these two is well-known in practice. Many stars are called by the name of constellations, yet according to this type of reasoning, expressions like "this star is a constellation" or "this Maghā is a constellation" cannot be used. Because according to this reasoning, due to the distinctions in gender, the terms 'star and constellation' and 'Maghā and constellation' cannot be used interchangeably.
Similarly, for terms like 'sthāna' (place), 'prasthāna' (departure), and 'upasthāna' (presence), even though they share the same root, the addition of prefixes creates a distinction in meaning, which forms the basis of word reasoning.
Thus, the various accepted distinctions in meaning based on different verbal properties all belong to the category of word reasoning. When the intellect that distinguishes meanings based on verbal properties progresses further and resorts to etymological distinctions, it comes to believe that where multiple different words are considered to have a single meaning, in reality, those words cannot have a single meaning but rather different meanings. If distinctions of meaning can be accepted based on gender and number, then why shouldn't word distinctions also be seen as distinctions in meaning? This reasoning leads the intellect to consider words like 'rāja' (king, chief) as expressing different meanings, alongside stating that these one-meaning words of bhūpati (landlord) and others are also etymologically justified and claim that they are adorned with royal insignias.