Canonical Niksepa

Author(s): Bansidhar Bhatt
Publisher: Bharatiya Vidya Prakashan

Page 17

XVIII
INTRODUCTION
Even in the case of the classical nikṣepa it becomes at times difficult to separate a nikṣepa from its respective context. In principle, this difficulty increases the more we proceed in our "reverse movement". Eventually (in the earliest layers) the nikṣepa is just part of a greater unit of discussion, and the proposition of separate "nikṣepas" (or related structures) appears to be hazardous. No doubt, we have at times added bits of the immediate or further context, but such a procedure does not solve the problem in its entirety. There remains a gulf between a macroscopic analysis (as supplied recently by the Belgian scholar J. DELEU) and an analysis of disconnected, but morphologically related passages as undertaken in the present investigation. Broadly speaking, the study of micro-structures and the study of macro-structures supplement each other. However, the systematic coordination of both approaches would require a new initiative.
The main part of the thesis is formed by Chapter 5. This contains sixty "Entries", each consisting of a nikṣepa with or without pieces from the context added to it. Explanations etc. have been added to the individual Entries, but the general survey is contained in the preceding Chapter 4. Chapters 1-3 have the character of parisiṣṭas or supplements, but were deliberately placed at the beginning. It is hoped that the numerous catalogues, charts, etc. found in several parts of the monograph will help the reader to find his way through this little known field of Indology.