Vyakhyana (व्याख्यानम्)

Vyakhyana (Samskrit: व्याख्यानम्) is a kind of explanatory exposition used to explain obscure expressions and sutras (short terse aphorisms) found in samskrit literature. Different kinds of expositions have different characteristics regulated by some principles. An exposition is made to help students of a subject or shastra understand the terse concepts presented by acharyas and aid in the comprehensive study of samskrit texts. Such exposition is varied according to the capacity and necessity of students and hence we see expositions of various kinds from time to time.

Introduction

Samskrit literature abounds with various kinds of expositions to help students study difficult shastras. Every exposition is basically a study, but different kinds of expositions have different characteristics. The chief function of a Vyakhyana is to remove doubts pertaining to the sense of words, as is aptly shown below in the text Paribhashendusekhara.

व्याख्यानतो विशेषप्रतिपत्तिर्नहि सन्देहादलक्षणम्।। १ ।। (Pari. 1)

It indicates that where there arises doubt regarding the verbal meaning, a shastra cannot be regarded as futile, simply because its words are not always easily intelligible and such doubts should be removed with the help of traditional expositions.

Lakshana

After understanding the chief function of having different different kinds of expositions, we now deal with what exactly constitutes Vyakhyana and their characteristics. Patanjali in his Mahabhashya, presents the definition of Vyakhyana as generally adopted in vyakarana texts.

न केवलानि चर्चापदानि व्याख्यानम्-.... किं तर्हि? उदाहरणं प्रत्युदाहरणं वाक्याध्याहार इत्येतत्समुदितं व्याख्यानं भवति। (Maha. Pasp.)

Just the words of rules do not constitute vyakhyana, but the examples, counter examples and the supplying of what is wanting in a sentence - all these together constitute the Vyakyana. Prayogaratnamala Vyakarana, says for easy understanding of students are three tools of vyakhya, namely examples (उदाहृतिः), deduction of words from a vakya (पदकृतिः), and understanding the separate meanings (पदार्थानां)

उदाहृतिः पदकृतिः पदार्थानां विवेचनम्, तन्त्राणां त्रिविधा व्याख्या शिशूनां शीघ्रबोधिनी।

Parashara Upapurana clearly lays down the lakshana and the five characteristics of Vyakhyana,

पदच्छेदः पदार्थोक्तिर्विग्रहो वाक्ययोजना | आक्षेपस्य समाधानं व्याख्यानं पञ्चलक्षणम्।। (Para. Upap. 18.17-18)

Padaccheda (पदच्छेदः) is the deduction of words from the sentences. Padarthokti (पदार्थोक्तिः) is to show the senses of words. Vigraha (विग्रहः) is to show the sense of compounds. Vakyayojana (वाक्ययोजना) is to show the inter-relation of words so as to furnish one complete sense. Aakshepa (आक्षेपः) is the raising of doubt and Samadhanam (समाधानं) means the removal of such doubts.

It is amply clear that Vyakhyana is that exposition which is concerned chiefly with conceptual clarification of doubts with vyakarana aiding to the extent of breaking down the words and sentences to understand the sense conveyed without direct touch with the meaning of words. Vyakhya or Vyakhyana is that statement which clarifies the import of words. Now this clarification can be made variously according to the need and capacity of students for whom an exposition is made. Not only do we find various kinds of expositions, we also find that some shastras were mainly composed for this purpose.

Types of Vyakhyas or Expositions

In this section we get an in depth understanding about the kinds of expositions that we see in samskrit literature since the earliest times they were composed. There are broadly four kinds of expositions as given below

1. वृत्तिः ।। Vrtti
2. वार्तिकम् ।। Vaartika
3. भाष्यम् ।। Bhashya
4. पञ्जिका ।। Panjika
5. टीका ।। Tika
6. पस्पशा ।। Paspasha
7. उपोद्घातम् ।। Upodghata

वृत्तिः ।। Vrtti or Vyakhyana

सूत्रार्थप्रधानो ग्रन्थो वृत्तिः । (Padamanjari)

The exposition which chiefly contains the meaning of the Sutras is designated as Vrtti, as is remarked above by Haradatta. Vrttis appear to be the earliest attempts to show the sense of sutras. A Sutra does not necessarily contain all words which are needed to explain the complete function of a Sutra and as such there is necessity of the Vrttis for the completion of Sutrartha (सूत्रार्थ) or import of a sutra. In the Kalaapa Vyakarana, a Vrtti is defined as सूत्रार्थे विवरणं वृत्तिः। Similarly Kavyamimamsa by Rajasekhara also defines Vrtti as सूत्राणां सकलसारविवरणं वृत्तिः। which simply put mean that Vrtti is the complete explanation of the meaning of Sutras.

Vyakhyana lakshana given in the previous section, as defined by Patanjali in his Mahabhashya is identical to Vrtti for the function of a Vrtti is nothing but to disclose the Sutrartha (सूत्रार्थ) through the use of examples, counter examples.

Factors that are to be considered when presenting Vrttis are thus as follows

1. सूत्रार्थे विवरणं - Explanation of Sutras only have to be attempted.
2. उदाहरणं प्रत्युदाहरणं - In Vyakarana, presenting examples and counter-examples (to support explanation of sutras) is also the duty of a Vrttikara.
3. अधिकारा - Discussion on Adhikara (province) of topics is to be presented as remarked by Kaiyyata who mentions that वृत्तिकारस्तु अधिकाराणां प्रवृत्ति-निवृत्ती व्याचक्षते। (Pradipa 7.4.24)
4. पदच्छेदः - Deducting the Padas from the sentences is required, since no direct exposition is possible without this step. It is also found that in a few cases, the Padacchedas made by different Vrttikaras are not the same (Pradipa 6.3.76) and each padaccheda is accepted in a particular school. It is the basis for the difference of opinion regarding the meaning of a sutra according to the different view-points of the Vrittikara.
5. प्रसिद्धहनिः शब्दानाम् अप्रसिद्धे च कल्पना न कार्या... Tantravartika of Kumarila points out what should not be done by a Vrttikara. It says that a Vrittikara should confine himself to disclose the sense of the sutras without going into extensive discussion on any subtle theme.