[Advaita-l] Basic definitions in types of shastra

[Venkata sriram P]

Namaste,

Some basic definitions in shastra

1) सूत्रं

अल्पाक्षरमसन्दिग्धं सारवद्विश्वतो मुखम् ।
अस्तोभमनवद्यञ्च सूत्रं सूत्रकृतो विदुः ॥

(Statements containing very few words, free from ambiguity, concise, devoid of superfluity, 
meaningful and far-reaching in implications is called Sutram)

2) वृत्तिः

सूत्राणां सकलसारविवरणं वृत्तिः

(A commentary outlining the substance of Sutra is called a Vritti)

3) पद्धतिः

सूत्रवृत्तिविवेचनं पद्धतिः

(A discussion of the Vritti of the Sutra is called paddhatiH)

4) भाष्यं

आक्षिप्य भाषणाद्भाष्यं

(A learned commentary on original work is called Bhashya)

5) समीक्षा

अन्तर्भाष्यं समीक्षा

(A close investigation of the deeper meaning of the Bhashya is called Sameeksha)

6) टीका

अवान्तरार्थविच्छेदश्च सा । यथासम्भवमर्थस्य टीकनं टीका

(The simplified commentary is called Tika)

7) पञ्जिका

विषमपदभञ्जिका पञ्जिका

(The running commentary which explains and analyses the difficult words is Panjika)

8) कारिका

अर्थप्रदर्शनकारिका कारिका

(The simplified meaning of Sutra which is summarized in verse called Karika)

9) वार्त्तिकं

उक्तानुक्तदुरुक्तचिन्ता वार्त्तिकं

(A exposition of the ukta (said), anukta (unsaid), durukta (criticisms) of Sutra is called Vartika

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These are compiled by me by referring the काव्यमीमांसा of Rajasekhara Kavi

regs,
sriram