A Scriptural Debate on the Eternal and Non-eternal Relationship between Word and Meaning

All of literature (Vāṅmaya) is essentially composed of words and meanings. Among the various scriptural scholars, there exists a lack of consensus regarding the nature of the relationship between words and their meanings. In the Smṛti (traditional texts), the relationship is considered non-eternal, and the same viewpoint appears in the Śruti (revealed texts). However, grammarians uphold that the relationship between word and meaning is eternal. The great grammarian Sage Pāṇini implicitly accepts the eternal connection between words and meanings. The Vārttika author Kātyāyana, through the Vārttika "Siddhe Śabdārtha-Sambandhe," also accepts this eternal relationship. Likewise, the commentator of the Mahābhāṣya, Sage Patañjali, affirms this view in the Paspasha Ahnikam. Scholar Kaiyaṭa accepts the relationship as being one of aptness or fitness (yogyatālakṣaṇa sambandha), while Acharya Nāgeśa considers it a cause-and-effect (kārya-kāraṇa) relationship. Even the philosopher Bhartṛhari accepts both types of relationships. Among the philosophical traditions, the Sāṅkhya school considers the relationship non-eternal, and the Yoga tradition also instructs the same. However, the Mīmāṃsā school asserts that the relationship is eternal. Therefore, the relationship between word and meaning appears complex and not definitively established. This research paper titled A Scriptural Debate on the Eternal and Non-eternal Relationship between Word and Meaning discusses in detail the various viewpoints presented in different scriptural traditions. Abstract in Sanskrit Language: अखिलं वाङ्मयं खलु शब्दार्थमयमिति। शब्दार्थमये वाङ्मये शब्दार्थयोः कीदृशः सम्बन्ध इत्यस्मिन् विषये मतानैक्यं विद्यते विविधशास्त्रकारेषु। स्मृतौ ‘अनित्यः’ सम्बन्धः श्रुतौ अपि ‘अनित्यः’ सम्बन्धो दृश्यते। परन्तु वैयाकरणाः खलु शब्दार्थयोः सम्बन्धो नित्यमिति स्वीकुर्वन्ति। महान् वैयाकरणो महर्षिपाणिनिः परोक्षरूपेण शब्दार्थयोः सम्बन्धो नित्यमिति स्वीकरोति। वार्तिककारः कात्यायनस्तु ‘सिद्धे शब्दार्थसम्बन्धे’ इति वार्तिकप्रणयेन नित्यसम्बन्धं स्वीकरोति। महाभाष्यकारो महर्षिपतञ्जलिरपि पस्पशाह्निके नित्यमिति स्वीकरोति। महामतिः कैयटो योग्यतालक्षणसम्बन्धं स्वीचकार। आचार्यनागेशः कार्यकारणसम्बन्धं स्वीकरोति। आचार्यभर्तिहरिणा अपि ईदृशं सम्बन्धद्वयं स्वीकृतम्। दार्शनिकसम्प्रदायेषु सांख्यसम्प्रदायः अनित्यसम्बन्धं योगसम्प्रदायोऽपि अनित्यसम्बन्धः उपदिश्यते। मीमांसकः खलु नित्यसम्बन्धं स्वीकरोति। अतः शब्दार्थयोः सम्बन्धो जटिलः अनिर्दिष्टश्च दृश्यते। यद्वा भवतु विविधे शास्त्रे शब्दार्थयोः सम्बन्धविषये यानि विविधमतानि सन्ति तानि सर्वानि अत्र अस्मिन् शब्दार्थयोः नित्यानित्यसम्बन्धविषये शास्त्रार्थविमर्शः नाम शोधप्रबन्धे सविस्तारेण आलोचितानि। Keywords: शब्दार्थौ, नित्यः, अनित्यः, कार्यकारणसम्बन्धः, योग्यतालक्षणसम्बन्धः