Vakyapadiya of Bhartrihari

by K. A. Subramania Iyer | 1965 | 391,768 words

The English translation of the Vakyapadiya by Bhartrihari including commentary extracts and notes. The Vakyapadiya is an ancient Sanskrit text dealing with the philosophy of language. Bhartrhari authored this book in three parts and propounds his theory of Sphotavada (sphota-vada) which understands language as consisting of bursts of sounds conveyi...

This book contains Sanskrit text which you should never take for granted as transcription mistakes are always possible. Always confer with the final source and/or manuscript.

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation of verse 3.5.8:

सव्यापारो गुणस्तस्मात्स्वप्रकर्षनिबन्धनः ।
द्रव्यात्मानं भिनत्त्येव स्वप्रकर्षे निवेशयन् ॥ ८ ॥

savyāpāro guṇastasmātsvaprakarṣanibandhanaḥ |
dravyātmānaṃ bhinattyeva svaprakarṣe niveśayan || 8 ||

8. Therefore, quality, performing its function (savyāpāra) and based on its own difference in degree, involves the object (dravya) also in such difference and distinguishes it from others.

Commentary

[The object, in itself, does not admit of any degree. Therefore, quality, by expressing quality within itself, serves to distinguish its substratum from others.]

It is now stated how difference of degree in one thing results in difference of degree in another.

Let's grow together!

I humbly request your help to keep doing what I do best: provide the world with unbiased sources, definitions and images. Your donation direclty influences the quality and quantity of knowledge, wisdom and spiritual insight the world is exposed to.

Let's make the world a better place together!

Like what you read? Help to become even better: