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A SOURCE-BOOK IN JAINA PHILOSOPHY
In the Tattvartharājavārtika, it is described as nyāso nikṣepaḥ, meaning the clarification and definitising of words.
UTILITY OF NIKSEPA
In the Anuyogadvāra it is stated that the main function of niksepa is to clear the meaning of the word and to find a definite meaning of the words. This is its use.1 Laghiyastraya describes the function of nikṣepa as to remove the inadequate meaning of a word and to present the exact meaning. Upadhyāya Yaśovijaya says that the function of nikṣepa is to present the correct meaning of the word by removing ambiguity and indeterminateness.3
The function of niksepa is to remove ignorance, doubt or perversity of meaning of a word. The primary function is to determine the exact meaning of the word used.
A question has been raised regarding the necessity of niksepa in the logical analysis of the meaning of term, specially when pramāṇa and naya give us the knowledge of the nature of the object.
The answer is that, pramāṇa and naya are concerned with presenting the knowledge of the object fully or partially. But niksepa is more concerned with linguistic use of the words and their meanings. The utterance of a word expresses the meaning that is intended by the person using it in addition to the meaning that accrues to the 'vord. The unintended meanings of the words are likely to create confusion and ambiguity in the use of words. For the purpose of understanding the nature of a thing, we have to depend upon the language that we use. Sometimes language presents difficulties in understanding the connotation of a word, because the real mening and the intended meaning may differ. Therefore, we have to consider two types of meanings of the word: (1) primary meaning and (2) the secondary. To make a distinction between the primary and secondary meaning, it is important to analyse the linguistic function of nikṣepa. The distinction between the primary and the secondary meanings is
1 Anuyogadvāra vṛtti.
2 Laghiyastraya svopajña vṛtti. 7, 2.
3 Tarkabhāṣā 3rd pariccheda
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