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The final conclusion of the Grammarians is that an utterable linguistic unit which is indivisible is the sentence. Bharthari in his Vākyapadīya has set forth eight views regarding the nature of a sentence; and, they are as follows:

The final conclusion of the Grammarians is that an utterable linguistic unit which is indivisible is the sentence. Bharthari in his Vākyapadīya has set forth eight views regarding the nature of a sentence; and, they are as follows:

==== '''3.1.4.1. A word having a verbal suffix at its end is a sentence.''' ====

=== A word having a verbal suffix at its end is a sentence. ===

This does not mean that only the single word with a verbal suffix is a sentence, because that would contradict the common experience of viewing a sentence as the group of words terminating in either sup or tin, as for instance, "Steer the cow with a stick, O! Devadatta". What is meant here is that sometimes even the word having a verbal suffix at its end suffices as a sentence. There are certain cases where there arises the verbal cognition from the mere use of a verb. For example the use of the word "shut" (pidhehi). Here, even without the noun expressive of the notion of a case (kāraka), there arises the cognition of the sentence-meaning, viz, shut the door.

This does not mean that only the single word with a verbal suffix is a sentence, because that would contradict the common experience of viewing a sentence as the group of words terminating in either sup or tin, as for instance, "Steer the cow with a stick, O! Devadatta". What is meant here is that sometimes even the word having a verbal suffix at its end suffices as a sentence. There are certain cases where there arises the verbal cognition from the mere use of a verb. For example the use of the word "shut" (pidhehi). Here, even without the noun expressive of the notion of a case (kāraka), there arises the cognition of the sentence-meaning, viz, shut the door.

==== '''3.1.4.2. A group of words is a sentence''' ====

=== A group of words is a sentence ===

According to this view the mere word "shut" is not a sentence. But there is the importation of the word 'door' and it is the group of these two words that must be viewed as a sentence. And just as a verb by itself does not constitute a sentence, even so a mere word having a case-ending such as 'door is not a sentence, as the activity of shutting is not invariably known by the utterance of the word 'door'.:

According to this view the mere word "shut" is not a sentence. But there is the importation of the word 'door' and it is the group of these two words that must be viewed as a sentence. And just as a verb by itself does not constitute a sentence, even so a mere word having a case-ending such as 'door is not a sentence, as the activity of shutting is not invariably known by the utterance of the word 'door'.:

==== '''3.1.4.3. The universal, present in words is a sentence''' ====

=== The universal, present in words is a sentence ===

According to this view there is a universal or generic feature in a group of words; and it is a sentence significative of the sentence meaning

According to this view there is a universal or generic feature in a group of words; and it is a sentence significative of the sentence meaning

==== '''3.1.4.4. An indivisible word is a sentences''' ====

=== An indivisible word is a sentences ===

According to this view a sentence is one unit devoid of parts. And letters or words have no real existence therein.

According to this view a sentence is one unit devoid of parts. And letters or words have no real existence therein.

==== '''3.1.4.5. The order of words is a sentence''' ====

=== The order of words is a sentence ===

The words in succession constitute a sentence (vākyasphota). According to this view, the latter is divisible and is generated by the group of words.

The words in succession constitute a sentence (vākyasphota). According to this view, the latter is divisible and is generated by the group of words.

==== '''3.1.4.6. The imaginary aggregate of words in the intellect is a sentence''' ====

=== The imaginary aggregate of words in the intellect is a sentence ===

Division of words is only a conceptual construction in our intellect according to this view. The real sentence is undivided and does not have words in it. The sentence as structured exists only in our minds.

Division of words is only a conceptual construction in our intellect according to this view. The real sentence is undivided and does not have words in it. The sentence as structured exists only in our minds.

==== '''3.1.4.7. The first word is a sentence''' ====

=== The first word is a sentence ===

According to this view a sentence is divisible and is generated by a group of words. And the first word in the group is the sentence. The other words of the group are helpful in identifying the significative relation of the first word to its meaning. For example, the expression sāksāt kriyate. Here the word sākṣāt conveys the meaning of perceptional knowledge. And the word kriyate is only indicative of the significative relation of the word sākṣāt to its meaning.

According to this view a sentence is divisible and is generated by a group of words. And the first word in the group is the sentence. The other words of the group are helpful in identifying the significative relation of the first word to its meaning. For example, the expression sāksāt kriyate. Here the word sākṣāt conveys the meaning of perceptional knowledge. And the word kriyate is only indicative of the significative relation of the word sākṣāt to its meaning.

==== '''3.1.4.8. Each word having syntactic expectancy with the other word constitutes a sentence''' ====

=== Each word having syntactic expectancy with the other word constitutes a sentence ===

Jaimini in his aphorism 2.4.46 affirms the view that a group of words each one dependent upon the other word for its meaning is a sentence.

Jaimini in his aphorism 2.4.46 affirms the view that a group of words each one dependent upon the other word for its meaning is a sentence.

==== '''The author of Vārttika (Kātyāyana) defines a sentence in two ways:''' ====

=== The author of Vārttika (Kātyāyana) defines a sentence in two ways: ===

1) the verbal suffix qualified by avyaya and kāraka, and, 2) the one which has a single verb. These two definitions do not differ from the definition set forth earlier, viz. a sentence is a group of words 3.1.4.2.

1) the verbal suffix qualified by avyaya and kāraka, and, 2) the one which has a single verb. These two definitions do not differ from the definition set forth earlier, viz. a sentence is a group of words 8.2.

Of the eight definitions of sentence, those described under the heads 3.1.4 3; 3.1.4.4; 3.1.4.6 treat a sentence as a indivisible unit; and those described under the heads 3.1.4.1; 3.1.4.5; 3.1.4.2; 3.1.4.7; 3.1.4.8, as a divisible one.

Of the eight definitions of sentence, those described under the heads 8.3; 8.4; 8.6 treat a sentence as a indivisible unit; and those described under the heads 8.1; 8.5; 8.2; 8.7; 8.8, as a divisible one.

Punyarāja in his commentary on the Vākyapadīya states that according to Bhartrhari the Grammarians view a sentence to be of the nature of sphota; it is an indivisible unit; the sentence-meaning is pratibhā and the relation between a sentence and its meaning is the superimposed identity (adhyāsa).

Punyarāja in his commentary on the Vākyapadīya states that according to Bhartrhari the Grammarians view a sentence to be of the nature of sphota; it is an indivisible unit; the sentence-meaning is pratibhā and the relation between a sentence and its meaning is the superimposed identity (adhyāsa).

अत्यन्तासत्यपि ज्ञानमर्थे शब्दः करोति हि। (even if the real thing is absolutely absent ''Śabda'' generates the cognition). Hence अत्यन्तासत् means अत्यन्ताभाव।

अत्यन्तासत्यपि ज्ञानमर्थे शब्दः करोति हि। (even if the real thing is absolutely absent ''Śabda'' generates the cognition). Hence अत्यन्तासत् means अत्यन्ताभाव।

== References ==

== References ==