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NIKŞEPAVĀDA :
A Study
TERMINOLOGY OF NIKŞEPA :) Man vses language for expressing bis ideas. Without the use of language, he cannot express his thoughts Man is different from animals in this that he has the power of expressing in a language, while animals cannot make use of the language for expressing their experiences. Without the use of language it is difficult to carry on the activities in this world. Language is the medium of communication. There are numerous languages and millions of words in these languages. Each language uses different words for explaining things. It is, therefore, necessary to have knowledge of the use of language and the definite content of the meaning of the words that we use. Language would be useful and it will serve its function properly if its words are replete with exact meaning.
The function of Niksepavāda is to understand the exact content of the words in terms of meaning and its usage. This is the theory of nikșepa. The essence of the Nikşepavāda is to study the implications of the meanings in the words and in their definiteness and to try to find out the implications of the words in the meanings. In fact, the function of niksepa is to define words with reference of their content or the meaning and the usage.?
The other sense in which nikşepa is used is “nyāsa" it is implication and clarification. In the Tattvārthasūtra, the word 'nyāsa' has been used.2
| Dhavală-șațkhandāgama, Book 1, p. 10. 2 Tattvārthasūtra 1, 5.
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