Changes

=== Multiple Meanings ===

=== Multiple Meanings ===

According to the Mimamsakas the relation between shabda and artha (the word and its meaning) must be accepted as invariable and constant as far as possible. Thus the binary relationship requires a word to have only one sense and a sense to have only one word to denote it. This is generally by and far accepted in the language constructs and many earlier siddhantas were focused on explaining the primary meaning of word. However, in many instances in Samskrit language (as well as other languages) we come across the presence of a one-for-many concept both in sense and the word it denotes. Multiple meaning is an important feature of speech and language and has attracted significant attention of scholars in India even from ancient times. We find two main categories of this multiple meaning instances<ref name=":0" />

According to the Mimamsakas the relation between shabda and artha (the word and its meaning) must be accepted as invariable and constant as far as possible. Thus the binary relationship requires a word to have only one sense and a sense to have only one word to denote it. This is generally by and far accepted in the language constructs and many earlier siddhantas were focused on explaining the primary meaning of word. However, in many instances in Samskrit language (as well as other languages) we come across the presence of a one-for-many concept both in sense and the word it denotes. Multiple meanings is an important feature of speech and language and has attracted significant attention of scholars in India even from ancient times. We find two main categories of this multiple meaning instances<ref name=":0" />

# नानार्थशब्दाः Homonyms: One word having various senses

# नानार्थशब्दाः Homonyms: One word having various senses

# पर्थायशब्दाः Synonyms: One sense denoted by many words

# पर्थायशब्दाः Synonyms: One sense denoted by many words

Patanjali has drawn attention to the concept that there are many words with same sense and that one and same word is also found to have different senses as seen in his Mahabhashya.<blockquote>बहवो हि शब्दा एकार्था भवन्ति । तद्यथा--इन्द्रः शक्रः पुरुहूतः पुरन्दरः । कन्दुः कोष्ठः कुसूल इति । एकश्च शब्दो बह्वर्थः । तद्यथा--अक्षाः पादा माषा इति ।(Mahabhashya under Sutra 1.3.1)<ref>Mahabhashya ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%BD%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5 Adhyaya 1 Pada 3])</ref></blockquote>Yaska's explanation in this regard is may be taken as one of the explanations for the presence of synonyms and homonyms in a language. According to him all nouns are derived from verbal roots and different etymologies are offered for a single word when its meaning becomes different.

Patanjali has drawn attention to the concept that there are many words with same sense; like for Indra, Shakra, Puruhuta and Purandara apply as synonyms. Again one and same word is also found to have different senses, for example, aksha (means the "die" in gambling as well as "axle"), pada, masha are seen in his Mahabhashya.<blockquote>बहवो हि शब्दा एकार्था भवन्ति । तद्यथा--इन्द्रः शक्रः पुरुहूतः पुरन्दरः । कन्दुः कोष्ठः कुसूल इति । एकश्च शब्दो बह्वर्थः । तद्यथा--अक्षाः पादा माषा इति ।(Mahabhashya under Panini Sutra 1.3.1)<ref>Mahabhashya ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%BD%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5 Adhyaya 1 Pada 3])</ref></blockquote>Yaska's explanation in this regard may be taken as one of the explanations for the presence of synonyms and homonyms in a language. According to him all nouns are derived from verbal roots and different etymologies are offered for a single word when its meaning becomes different.

 

In case of the nanartha shabdas (homonyms) or in homophones there is a possibility of doubt as to the exact meaning intended. In such situations, the role of contextual factors in determining the exact meaning of an expression has been emphasized.  

== चत्वारी पदजातानि ॥ Four Kinds of Padajatis ==

== चत्वारी पदजातानि ॥ Four Kinds of Padajatis ==