Abhidha

Author(s): Tapasvi Nandi, Jitendra B Shah
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 43

[34] So, the expression of identity by the speaker, is only to make the listener apprehend the similarity. The 'prayojana' behind this expression is to cause apprehension of such qualities as inertia (jādya) etc. which are associated with 'go', as also seen in the vāhīka. This sort of an expression - to use different word for conveying a different substance - is called an 'atideśa'. Here 'go' is used for “jādyādi (i.e. dullness and stupidity). For, it is said,
“jātiśabdo'antareņāpi
jātim yatra prayujyate, sambandhi-sadřśād dharmāt
tam gaunīm apare viduh” - (v.v.45, pp. 115) i. e. when a word denoting “jāti' or class, is used with reference to something else than itself (i.e. sva-vācya), it is done when in that other object there is a quality of similarity. Others call such a usage as, "gauni".
The idea is that in such instances as "upodha-rāgena” etc. the word, through abhidhā power gives only the vācya i.e. expressed sense. The power that makes for the apprehension of another sense (arthāntara), rests in the 'sense' i. e. ‘artha' and not in the word i. e. sabda. Now this apprehension of another sense, through sense, is, according to Mahimā, through 'anumiti' or inference only. So, the power seen in sense should be taken as inference. In the illustration viz. "gaur-vāhīkah” etc., as there is an apparent diff between 'go-tva' and 'vahika-tva', the identity through 'ekadhikarana' i. e. the use of same case-termination, does not click to sense. Then it makes us infer the identity of qualities such us jādyādi-inertness-etc. So the identity is based on the qualities of vāhika, which are similar to gotulya-jadyādi i. e. inertia and the like that are associated with vahika are similar to those resting in the bull. It is clear that any speaker who is not out of sense, never asserts identity between two separate objects without sensing common qualities between the two. Again, the prayojana or the reason behind such awkward or artful expression as calling a human being a bull, is the existence of such qualities as inertia etc. that normally go with the objects such as bull etc. in the object called 'vāhika' on which go-tva is superimposed.