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22
KONDA BHATTA ON THE MEANING OF THE
NEGATIVE PARTICLE
S. D. Joshi
According to the first view proposed by Konda Bhatta (=KB) (in connection with the negative tatpuruşa compound), the reference of the compound is determined by the second member. The negative particle nañ (na or a or an) suggests the sense of aropitatva 'superimposition'. The function of nan in abrāhmaṇa is to convey the secondary sense that the word abrāhmaṇa is used with reference to a kşatriya, etc. One superimposes brahminhood on a ksatriya, etc. on account of the fact that the ksatriya, etc, shares a number of character. istics with a brahmin. To convey that the word brāhmaṇa is used in the sense of ksatriya etc. the speaker uses nañ, along with the word brāhmaṇa (Bhūsaņa, p. 201).
If the negative particle stands for abhāva 'nonexistence' then abrāhnrana would mean 'a person not existing as a brahmin'. In this view, the first member represents the main meaning But this view is not correct because it involves various difficulties. According to this view in the negative tatpuruşa compound asah 'other than he' the second member sa ( tut) will be subordinate. Therefore it will not be called sarvanāman. Consequently we cannot apply the operations prescribed for pronominal stems. The result is that the compound-form will be atad itstead of asaḥ. Therefore this view should be discarded (Bhūşaņa, p. 201)
There are six meanings in which the negative particle nañ (na or a) is used in compounds: (i) similarity (sādịśya) as in abrāhmaṇaḥ like a brahmin', (ii) absence (abhāva) as in apā pam 'absence of sin'
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