Shastra Rachana Paddhati (शास्त्ररचनापद्धतिः)

Shastra rachanapaddhati (Samskrit : शास्त्ररचनापद्धतिः) means the methodology of construction of scientific and theoretical texts such as shastras and poetics. Samskrit literature abounds with thousands of treatises pertaining to ancient Bharatiya Vijnana shastras of which more than half a dozen books provide us the detailed information outlining the devices or means for composition of a scientific or methodical structure of a shastra. Every Bharatiya shastra, irrespective of its subject matter, has been built using these principles of methodology, of which the teachers, students, and the critics who expounded theoretical works on those subjects, were required to be familiar with.

परिचयः|| Introduction

Our ancient intellectuals had not only produced numerous shastras or monumental treatises on almost all branches of ज्ञान and विज्ञान (Knowledge and Science) but also envisaged a detailed and comprehensive methodology of composing theoretico-scientific treatises. While there exist a few differences in the methodology of composition of shastras and the modern day research dissertations, journal and paper presentations all kinds of scientific writings essentially have the same requisites, as recognized by scholars and researchers all over the world. In the Bharatavarsha, such intellectual efforts were known prior to Panini's composition of Ashtadhyayi, a highly evolved exposition. Many thinkers put in their efforts in enriching and refining the methodology, creating a number of devices relating to words, structures and meanings pertaining to the composition of a shastra described in their authoritative and famous texts as given below,

• Vishnudharmottara Purana, contains discussions on sundry topics like poetics, arts, sculpture
• Panini Maharshi's Ashtadhyayi, a world famous grammar treatise
• Kautilya's Arthashastra, a work on polity and statecraft
• Charaka Samhita, greatest extant work on Ayurveda
• Sushruta Samhita, a renowned work on surgery
• Vagbhata's Ashtangasangraha and Ashtangahrdayam, books on Ayurveda
• Nilamegha's Tantrayuktivichara, a medical treatise

Apart from them Chakrapanidatta, Arunadatta, Indu were authors of commentaries which have methodology of importance.

Methodology of Ancient Shastras

Earliest instances of methodical composition of knowledge base can be seen in the Anukramanikas. They are associated with Vedic texts and are the scientific indices on the vedic mantras. Each Veda contains atleast one such index. Because of Anukramanikas the texts have been preserved and tradition continued. These indices are very systematic recording the exact number of mantras, even aksharas, such that no scope for interpolation or deletion was allowed preserving the text accurately.

Nyaya Shastra which is the primary source of logic for all other shastras, explains five requisite methodologies as follows:

1. प्रतिज्ञा । Pratijna is the hypothesis that needs to be evaluated
2. हेतुः । Hetuhu is the proposed reasoning of the problem
3. उदाहरणम् । Udaharana include the examples, illustrations or data in support of the hypothesis
4. उपनयः । Upanaya includes verification and devices to establish the correlation
5. निगमनम् । Nigamana draws the conclusion

All the shastras and poetic works, belonging to divergent disciplines, portray the depth of Indian thinkers, who looked at the scientific treatises from all possible angles, critically examined the various conceptual aspects of the scientific works along without neglecting the subtle aspects. As such these concepts can be understood by illustrations from poetics also. The lesser known fact is that these great Indian thinkers after a thorough research, in-depth comprehensive study of the shastras available to them, formulated a methodology for building scientific theories having 95 constituents, under five headings.

1. तन्त्रयुक्तयः (tantrayuktayaḥ) ॥ Tantrayuktis (36)
2. व्याख्यानि (vyākhyāni) ॥ Vyakhyas (15)
3. कल्पनाः (kalpanāḥ) ॥ Kalpanas (7)
4. आश्रयानि (āśrayāni)॥ Ashrayas (20)
5. ताच्छील्यानि (tācchīlyāni)॥ Taatchilyas (17)

A brief introduction of each of the five given elements of composition and presentation of shastras will be undertaken in this topic.

तन्त्रयुक्तिः॥Tantrayukti

Tantrayukti (तन्त्रयुक्तिः), an uncommonly used word, refers to the methodical elements and devices (Yuktis) of Tantra (theory) that are involved into making of a theory, the structural aspects as well as the interpretation. There are about 36 such generally accepted tantrayuktis, though different texts propose a varying numbers of such yuktis ranging between 32 to 41. According to Kautilya's Arthashastra the following list of 32 Tantrayuktis are given

• अधिकरणम् ॥ adhikaraṇam (Topic)
• विधानम् ॥ vidhānam (Statement of Contents)
• योगः ॥ yogaḥ (Employment of sentences)
• पदार्थः ॥ padārthaḥ (Meaning of the word)
• हेत्वर्थः ॥ hetvarthaḥ (Reason)
• उद्धेशः ॥ uddheśaḥ (Mention)
• निर्देशः ॥ nirdeśaḥ (Explanation)
• उपदेशः ॥ upadeśaḥ (Advice)
• अपदेशः ॥ apadeśaḥ (Reference)
• अतिदेशः ॥ atideśaḥ (Application)
• प्रदेशः ॥ pradeśaḥ (Indication)
• उपमानम् ॥ upamānam (Analogy)
• अर्थापत्तिः ॥ arthāpattiḥ (Implication)
• संशयः ॥ saṁśayaḥ (Doubt)
• प्रसङ्गः ॥ prasaṅgaḥ (Situation)
• विपर्ययः ॥ viparyayaḥ (Contrary)
• वाक्यशेषः ॥ vākyaśeṣaḥ (Completion of a sentence)
• अनुमतम् ॥ anumatam (Agreement)
• व्याख्यानम् ॥ vyākhyānam (Emphasis)
• निर्वचनम् ॥ nirvacanam (Derivation)
• निदर्शनम् ॥ nidarśanam (Illustration)
• अपवर्गः ॥ apavargaḥ (Exception)
• स्वसंज्ञा ॥ svasaṁjñā (Technical term)
• पूर्वपक्षः ॥ pūrvapakṣaḥ (prima facie view)
• उत्तरपक्षः ॥ uttarapakṣaḥ (Correct view)
• एकान्तः ॥ ekāntaḥ (Invariable rule)
• अनागतावेक्षणम् ॥ anāgatāvekṣaṇam (Reference to a future statement)
• अतिक्रान्तावेक्षणम् ॥ atikrāntāvekṣaṇam (Reference to a past statement)
• नियोगः ॥ niyogaḥ (Restriction)
• विकल्पः ॥ vikalpaḥ (Option)
• समुच्चयः ॥ samuccayaḥ (Combination)
• ऊह्यम् ॥ ūhyam (What is understood)

Again a word of wide import, Tantra is used synonymously with Ayurveda, a branch of Veda, education, aphorism, knowledge, shastra and definition. Tantra is referred as a synonym for Shastra in the present context means a 'theory' is which holds the various aspects of a subject, into which are interwoven different thoughts, objectives, observations and proposals covering the vast expanse of the subject. Thus it means a device or a method to systematically compose a text (or a shastra) to convey the intended ideas clearly.

While almost all the above mentioned texts discussed tantrayukti, Arunadatta, the commentator of Vagbhata's Ashtangahrdayam, has dealt with explanation for a large number of devices other than the tantrayuktis.

व्याख्या ॥ Vyakhya

Vyakhya has been defined as विवरणात्मकशब्दसमूहरूपोग्रन्थविशेषः। meaning a particular composition explanatory in nature. Arunadatta in his Sarvanga Sundara commentary for Ashtangahrdayam explains thus

व्याख्या अपि तन्त्रस्य गुणः। ताभिरपि तन्त्रमलङि्क्रयते । ताश्च पञ्चदश प्रकारा ।

Meaning: An explanation (or exposition or commentary) is also an attribute (a desirable property) of a scientific composition. There are 15 types of Vyakhyas which are

• पिण्डव्यख्या ॥ piṇḍavyakhyā
• पदव्यख्या ॥ padavyakhyā
• पदार्थव्यख्या ॥ padārthavyakhyā
• अधिकरणव्यख्या ॥ adhikaraṇavyakhyā
• प्रकरणव्यख्या ॥ prakaraṇavyakhyā
• अर्थव्यख्या ॥ arthavyakhyā
• कृच्छ्रव्यख्या ॥ kr̥cchravyakhyā
• फलव्यख्या ॥ phalavyakhyā
• उच्चितकव्यख्या ॥ uccitakavyakhyā
• न्यासव्यख्या ॥ nyāsavyakhyā
• प्रयोजनव्यख्या ॥ prayojanavyakhyā
• अनुलोमव्यख्या ॥ anulomavyakhyā
• प्रतिलोमव्यख्या ॥ pratilomavyakhyā
• अतिसूत्रव्यख्या ॥ atisūtravyakhyā
• समस्तव्यख्या ॥ samastavyakhyā

Some Vyakhyas have similar meanings as in tantrayuktis, while some are different devices. A few examples are as follows:

पिण्डव्यख्या ॥ सङ्क्षेपतया सूत्ररूपेणाध्यायादीनां व्यख्या।

Pinda vyakhya is a text containing a brief and synoptic explanation of the chapters, divisions in the form of a sutra.

• अधिकरणव्यख्या ॥ Adhikarana Vyakhya यद्वस्तुकृतमारभ्य तदनुषङ्गेण व्यख्यानमारभ्यते ।

Adhikara vyakhya is defined as a detailed explanation with all-inclusive definitions, illustrations of the topic or subject undertaken.

• अर्थव्यख्या ॥ यत्र प्रकरणेसूत्रे वा स्वभावस्योपवर्णनं क्रियते । तद्यथा प्रकृतिरुच्यते स्वभावः।

Artha vyakhya is that text part which contains the description of the natural state of the subject in context, in detail. It is elaborate detail oriented, subtle or vivid description of the innate property of an item in context.

• न्यासव्यख्या ॥ यस्मिन्नधिकारे वर्तमाने तेनाधिकरणार्थेन सहितं सम्बन्धमभिवीक्ष्यान्यस्यार्थो विनिक्षिप्यते।

Nyasa vyakhya is defined as that text where " a doubt /question is raised initially about a shastra definition or a sutra meaning which is resolved later and to simultaneously discuss another meaning related to the sutra or shastra"

• पदव्यख्या ॥ यत्पदाना छदें कृत्वोच्चारणम्।

Pada vyakhya is that text matter which contains grammatically split words contained in the sutra or karika by breaking up the sandhis, samasas and with etymological explanation. Padavyakhya consists of 3 processes Sandhi viccheda, Samasavigraha and Vyutpattikathana which helps the reader to understand words of the text.

• पदार्थव्यख्या ॥ तेषामेव पदानां विवरणम् ।

Padartha vyakhya contains the explanation of the words split in the Pada vyakhya. It helps the reader understand the meaning of each and every word of the text.

• प्रयोजनव्यख्या ॥ यत्सूत्रमभिधीयमानम स्वार्थस्य निष्पत्तौ निमित्तभावमुपैति।

Prayojana vyakhya defines the purpose of using some words of the sutra, logic or concept indicated in the shastra or sutra. It is one of the important devices which imparts the core concept of the sutra or shastra to the reader.

कल्पना ॥ Kalpana

Kalpana (कल्पना) means the use of a word in a secondary sense. There are seven kinds of Kalpanas, Arunadatta's explanatory text is

तत्र प्रधानकल्पना द्विधा प्रधानस्य कल्पना प्रधानेन वा कल्पना प्रधानकल्पना ।

• प्रधानकल्पना ॥ pradhānakalpanā - is of two kinds प्रधानस्य कल्पना and प्रधानेन कल्पना
• गुणकल्पना ॥ guṇakalpanā
• भक्ष्यकल्पना ॥ bhakṣyakalpanā
• लेशकल्पना ॥ leśakalpanā
• विद्याकल्पना ॥ vidyākalpanā
• आज्ञाकल्पना ॥ ājñākalpanā

आश्रयम् ॥ Ashraya

An ashraya (आश्रयम् ) is a prop used to arrive at the correct meaning of the text. Arunadatta described 20 kinds of Ashrayas

• आदिलोपः ॥ ādilopaḥ
• मध्यलोपः ॥ madhyalopaḥ
• अन्तलोपः ॥ antalopaḥ
• उभयपदलोपः ॥ ubhayapadalopaḥ
• आदिमध्यान्तलोपः ॥ ādimadhyāntalopaḥ
• वर्णोपजननम् ॥ varṇopajananam
• ऋषिक्लिष्टम् ॥ r̥ṣikliṣṭam
• तन्त्रशीलम् ॥ tantraśīlam
• तन्त्रसंज्ञा ॥ tantrasaṁjñā
• प्राकृतम् ॥ prākr̥tam
• समानतन्त्रप्रत्ययः ॥ samānatantrapratyayaḥ
• परतन्त्रप्रत्ययः ॥ paratantrapratyayaḥ
• हेतुहेतुकधर्मः ॥ hetuhetukadharmaḥ
• कार्यकारणधर्मः ॥ kāryakāraṇadharmaḥ
• आद्यन्तविपर्ययः ॥ ādyantaviparyayaḥ
• शब्दान्तरम् ॥ śabdāntaram
• प्रत्ययः ॥ pratyayaḥ
• उपनयः ॥ upanayaḥ
• सम्भवः ॥ sambhavaḥ
• विभवः ॥ vibhavaḥ

ताच्छील्यम् ॥ Tatchilya

Tatchilya is an informal use of a word in a scientific composition. Arunadatta describes 17 kinds of Tatchilyas

सप्तदश ताच्छील्यादीनीत्युक्तम् ।

• ताच्छील्यम् ॥ tācchīlyam
• अवयवः ॥ avayavaḥ
• विकारः॥ vikāraḥ
• सामीप्यम्॥ sāmīpyam
• भूयस्त्वम्॥ bhūyastvam
• प्रकारः॥ prakāraḥ
• गुणिगुणविभवः ॥ guṇiguṇavibhavaḥ
• संसक्ता ॥ saṁsaktā
• तद्धर्मता ॥ taddharmatā
• स्थानम् ॥ sthānam
• तादर्थ्यम् ॥ tādarthyam
• साहचर्यम् ॥ sāhacaryam
• कर्म ॥ karma
• गुणनिमित्तता ॥ guṇanimittatā
• चेष्टानिमित्तता ॥ ceṣṭānimittatā
• मूलसंज्ञा ॥ mūlasaṁjñā
• तात्स्थ्यम् ॥ tātsthyam

Methodology of Modern Scientific Treatises

Modern technological advancements are bringing in various investigative procedures for verification of processes through experimental procedures. Standards and control checks are in place to ensure test results and reproducibility of any experiment is of great importance. Following a strict protocols adhering to standard operating procedures in any industry has led to widespread standardization of products obtained. Reason is no longer sufficient and gone are the days of trial and error experimentation, every aspect of science now sustains on verifiability and experimental testing of knowledge. Modern Methodological Devices include

• Research Problem
• Literature Review
• Hypothesis
• Research Design
• Data Collection
• Data Analysis
• Presentation of Results
• Conclusions