Pada Vichara (पदविचारः)

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पदम् ॥ Padam (Word)

Pada Vichara (पदविचारः) According to Tarkabhasha by Shri Keshav Mishra, a padam (word) is defined as पदं च वर्णसमूहः । Padam (word) is a collection of varnas (letters). Gangesa also in his Tattvachintamani considers the group of words to be a sentence as in वर्णसमूहः पदं ।.

A word is a group of varnas or letters arranged in a certain fixed order giving a certain meaning. The order of the letters in a word cannot be changed or reversed in any way without altering its meaning. While a letter is a significant sound, a word is a symbolic sound of a higher order. A varna signifies only a part of the alphabet but the fixed set of varnas in a padam stand for some thing or some idea. Padas are similar to varnas in their ability to be spoken or written and thus are the objects of auditory or visual perception. It should be noted that while varnas are part of alphabet and independent, a word is not a mere collection or aggregation of varnas but a definite whole of letters or syllables having a fixed sequence of arrangement within the Padam. It is the unity of the parts (syllables) forming an object (word) of single cognition.

Qualities of Words

1. It consists of varnas in a fixed order
2. its essential nature lies in its meaning
3. Meaning of the word and object it signifies have a relationship
4. Different relationships (of word and object) gives different meanings of a particular word.

Kinds of Meanings of Words

Logically a word is a sound that bears a certain meaning. A word may have different meanings according to the various ways in which it is related to the object. On the whole we see at least four different kinds of meaning of a word as per Naiyyayikas and Alamkarikas. The relation between a word and its meaning may be either Sanketa, Lakshana or Vyanjana; Sanketa is the direct relation between a word and its meaning, such that the knowledge of the word leads immediately to the knowledge of its relation to the meaning. Lakshana is the indirect or implied meaning in which we should understand a word when its direct or primary meaning is inconsistent with other words or the context. Thus such a Lakshana word means an object when it is directly related to some other aspect of the object other than its primary meaning. Naiyyayikas admit only Sanketa and Lakshana kinds of meanings. The Alamkarikas consider another kind of meaning namely Vyanjana. This stands for such meanings of words which are neither directly or indirectly related to them, but are only suggested by them.

Abhidhaa : Primary meaning

Paribhaasha : Technical meaning

Lakshana : Secondary meaning

Vyanjana : Suggested meaning