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Śabda-vyāpāra-vicāra
153 -Bhartshari also says,
"vākyāt prakaraņāt arthāt, arthaucityāt deśakālataḥ, śabdārthāḥ pravibhajyante
na samayād eva kevalāt."-V. P. II. 316. In case of words having multiple sense (anekā'rtha) the exact contextual meaning is determined by such factors as 'samyogah' or conjunction, viprayogah or disjunction, etc. -Bhartshari enlists these factors under V. P. II. 317, 'samyogo viprayogasca'....etc. In case of multiplicity of meanings two courses are open to us. We may either hold that one meaning is conventional and the rest are of secondary importance as held by alamkārikas such as Mammata and others, or hold that all are equally conventional as held by Naiyāyikas and also by such ālamkārikas as Jagannātha and others. It may also be noted that by multiplicity of meanings with reference to the same word, it is implied that there is some laxity of conventional restrictions. Again, this shows the different stages of linguistic development. Many reasons such as analogy, metaphor, and expansion of knowledge etc. can be given for this happening.
Thus, we have examined the different views concerning the relationship of word and meaning. The ālamkārikas have not dwelt upon this topic elaborately but they can be taken normally to follow the lead of the grammarians. WORD AND ITS IMPORT :
We will also discuss this topic of import of a word, as part of general introduction to the topic of word and its powers or 'sabda-vypāra-vicāra. This consideration, as the earlier one of word-meaning relationship is also important from the point of view of studying the theoretical background of the thinking of ālamkārikas concerning sabda-vyāpāra-vicāra.
Here again, the topic of word and its import will be closely studied taking into account the views of Vaiyākaranas, Mīmāmsakas, and the different views as expressed in the vākyapadīya, the views of the Naiyāyikas, Vākyapadiya's own views, views as held also by the Buddhists, the ālamkārikas, etymologists, etc. etc. The Vaiyākaraņas :
The first question to be considered is, 'what precisely is a word ?' The normal asnwer is that, sound which is articulate and significant, is word—“śrotra-grahane hi arthe loke sabda-sabdah prasiddhah (S. B. on Mi. Sū. I. i. 5). Patañjali has raised
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