Vakyapadiya (study of the concept of Sentence)

by Sarath P. Nath | 2018 | 36,088 words

Summary: This essay studies the Vakyapadiya by Bhartrhari and his treatment of the Concept of Sentence in Language against the different systems of knowledge prevalent in ancient India (such as Mimamsa, Nyaya and Vyakarana). This thesis analyses the concepts and discussions on sentence and sentence-meaning, reflecting the sentence theory of the Vakyapadiya.

Bhartrihari was a great grammarian and philosopher who explored the depth and breadth of Sanskrit grammar. His Vakyapadiyam created a philosophical dimension in the science of Grammar and explained the concept of language in different levels in order to have a comprehensive idea of its function.

Source 1: exoticindiaart.com
Source 2: shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in

Contents of this online book ( + / - )

The full text of the Vakyapadiya (study of the concept of Sentence) in English is available here and publically accesible (free to read online). Of course, I would always recommend buying the book so you get the latest edition. You can see all this book’s content by visiting the pages in the below index:

Preface

+ Chapter 1 - The Philosophy of Language: A Bhartṛharian Perspective

. 1. The Concept of Language: Indian Perspectives

. 2. The Philosophy of Language

. 3. The Basic Problems of the Philosophy of Language

. 4. Syntactic and Semantic thoughts in India

. 5. The Concept of Sentence

. 6.1. Date of Bhartṛhari (The Philosopher Linguist)

. 6.2. Works of Bhartṛhari (introduction)

. 6.2 (a). The Mahābhāṣya-dīpikā

. 6.2 (b). The Vākyapadīya (summary)

. 6.2 (c). Commentaries of Vākyapadīya