Sanskrit Vyakaran Me Karak Tattvanushilan

This comprehensive summary of "Sanskrit Vyakaran Me Karak Tattvanushilan" (A Critical Study of Karaka in Sanskrit Grammar in the System of Panini) by Prof. Umashankar Sharma 'Rishi' provides a detailed overview of the text's content, focusing on the concept of 'Kāraka' (case relations) in Sanskrit grammar, particularly within the framework of Panini's Ashtadhyayi.

Here's a breakdown of the key aspects covered in the summary, based on the provided text:

1. Introduction and Significance of Word-Evidence:

• The book begins by emphasizing the importance of "Shabda-pramana" (word-evidence) in Indian intellectual traditions, especially in Grammar and Mimamsa philosophy, where it is considered the foremost proof.
• It defines an "Apta" (trustworthy source) as one who accurately describes reality through articulated sounds to benefit the world.
• The text highlights how all human endeavors originate from this word-pramana, enabling the comprehension of both sensory and non-sensory objects.
• The importance of a "Vakya" (sentence) is stressed, which, when composed of "Akanksha" (expectancy), "Yogyata" (suitability), and "Sannidhi" (proximity) of "Pada" (words), leads to "Shabda-bodha" (verbal cognition).
• The inherent artificiality of dividing a sentence into words and words into sounds is acknowledged, but this division is deemed necessary for linguistic analysis and for evaluating standard usage.

2. Evolution of Linguistic Study:

• The text traces the historical development of linguistic study in India, noting that initially, the study of sounds (Varna) was the domain of Shiksha (Phonetics), word-formation and correctness (Padasadhrva) was the purview of Vyakarana (Grammar), and meaning (Artha) was explored by Nirukta (Etymology).
• Over time, the responsibility for all these aspects largely fell upon Vyakarana.
• While Vakya-vichar (sentence analysis) is primarily a subject of Mimamsa, its significance is also recognized in Nyaya and Vyakarana.
• The necessity of analyzing the interrelationship of words in a sentence is crucial for understanding meaning. This leads to the concept of "Vakya-sphota" (the holistic sound-producing entity of a sentence) in Vyakarana, which is the ultimate goal of all grammatical analyses.

3. Categorization of Grammatical Subjects:

• The text categorizes the scope of Vyakarana into three main areas:
  1. Varna-vichar: Study of sounds, including pronunciation, division, and modification (like Sandhi).
  2. Pada-vichar: Study of words, covering nominals (Subanta), verbals (Tinganta), indeclinables (Avyaya), feminine affixes (Stri-pratyaya), compounds (Samasa), primary affixes (Krit), and secondary affixes (Taddhita).
  3. Vakya-vichar: Study of sentences, primarily focusing on Karaka and Vibhakti.

4. The Central Role of Karaka and Vibhakti:

• Vibhakti (case endings) is deemed essential for both word and sentence analysis. Without case endings, a word cannot function as a Pada (word in a sentence).
• After establishing the correctness of words (Padasadhrva), their position and relationship within a sentence are determined, leading to the overall sentence-comprehension (Vakya-bodha).
• Karaka is identified as the most significant contributor to sentence construction. Its primary role is to facilitate the action (Kriya) which is the lifeblood of a sentence.
• When a Kriya exists, it cannot be independent; it requires the assistance of some "Shakti" (power or relation), which is where the Kāraka comes in.
• The text quotes Amar Singh's definition of a sentence: "Suptiṅantachayo vākyam kriyā vā kārakānvita" (A sentence is a collection of words with case endings and verb endings, or a verb accompanied by its Karakas).
• Although Kāraka is discussed under the "Shabda-paksha" (word-aspect) of grammar, it is fundamentally linked to the "Artha-paksha" (meaning-aspect) due to its close relationship with the case endings (Svaadi-vibhakti).

5. Historical Context and Panini:

• The book notes that the resolution of these grammatical problems took centuries, with scholars from Panini to Nagesh Bhatta contributing.
• The "Trimuni" (Panini, Katyayana, Patanjali) are credited with perfecting the word-aspect, while later development primarily focused on the meaning-aspect and analytical processes, especially after the emergence of Navya-Nyaya.
• The author highlights the challenges in understanding complex grammatical texts, particularly the Nirvachana (etymological explanations) and the detailed analytical methods of Navya-Vyakarana.
• Panini is presented as the first available grammarian to systematically analyze Karaka and Vibhakti separately. His Ashtadhyayi, comprising around 4000 sutras, is lauded for its conciseness and comprehensiveness.
• The Karaka-sutras are located in the first chapter, fourth pada (1.4.23-55), with the foundational sutra being "Kārake". The text elaborates on the sequence of Karakas discussed in Panini's system: Apadana, Sampradana, Adharana, Karmana, and Kartr.
• The author acknowledges the complexity and profoundness of Panini's sutras, emphasizing that every word in them is meaningful.
• The discussion of case endings (Vibhakti) follows the Karaka sutras in the second chapter, third pada (2.3.43 onwards), explaining the usage of Dwitiya, Chaturthi, Tritiya, Panchami, and Saptami under the "Anabhihite" (when not otherwise expressed) authority, as well as the primary case (Prathama) for nominal meaning and the genitive (Shashthi) for residual relations.

6. Karaka and Vibhakti - Separate Study:

• The book aims to study Karaka distinctly from Vibhakti. While Vibhakti expresses Karaka, the essence of the Karaka-shakti (case-power) can be determined independently.
• Vibhakti is considered a purely grammatical element of the "Shabda-paksha", while Karaka is an "Artha-paksha" or philosophical element.
• The author explicitly states the limitation of the book to Panini's system, with minimal use of analyses from other grammatical traditions, although their extensive nature is acknowledged.
• The study also addresses the material from Navya-Nyaya concerning Karaka and its preceding context within Navya-Nyaya's philosophical framework.

7. Key Concepts and Thematic Structure:

• The book is structured into 9 chapters.
  • The first three chapters provide historical and analytical background on Karaka in general.
  • The remaining six chapters delve into the study of specific Kāraka categories: Kartr, Karma, Karana, Sampradana, Apadana, and Adharana.
• The author acknowledges the inherent difficulty in achieving absolute completeness in such a vast subject and the potential for minor errors.
• The language is Hindi, with an effort to adhere to natural Hindi while incorporating necessary technical Sanskrit terms, which are hoped to become clear through context.
• The author expresses humility regarding the work, acknowledging the limitations of his own knowledge and seeking understanding from the reader.
• He states that the book attempts to provide a coherent and comprehensive overview of Karaka concepts, potentially clarifying previously obscure grammatical points.
• The author credits his academic mentors and acknowledges the influence of various classical and modern Sanskrit and English texts in shaping his research.
• The book's writing period is noted as 1966-1972, and the author expresses satisfaction that its publication, despite the temporal gap, will contribute to the philosophical understanding of Karaka even in the West.

8. Specific Karakas Covered: The summary details the author's approach to each Kāraka:

• Chapter 1: History of Karaka-related Indian Thought: Covers the origins in the Rigveda, pre-Panini grammarians, Panini, Katyayana, Patanjali, the distinction between Karaka and Vibhakti, Vakya-padiya, Kashika, Bengali grammar traditions, the rise of process-oriented grammars (Prakriya-granthas), and the treatment of Karaka in other philosophical systems (Advaita Vedanta, Mimamsa, Nyaya).
• Chapter 2: Kriya and Karaka: Discusses the nature of Kriya (action), Dhatu (root), and Akhyata (verb ending); the meaning of Dhatu as action and result; Nirukta's view on Kriya; the relationship of Kriya with "karoti" or "asti"; coordination; Vakya-padiya's perspective on Kriya; Mandana Mishra's view on Dhatu-meaning as result; Nagesh's critique; one-sided theories of Dhatvartha; prominence of action in Kartr-vacya; prominence of result in Karma-vacya; Shabda-bodha; meaning of transitive and intransitive roots; meaning of Tiṅ-suffix; Nyaya and Grammar principles; position of Kriya in a sentence; relation of nominal meaning to Kriya as the seed of Karaka; determination of Karaka from implied Kriya; Karaka-definitions and their critique; and the logical development of different Kāraka types.
• Subsequent Chapters (3-8): Detail the etymology, Paninian analysis, and historical development of each Karaka (Kartr, Karma, Karana, Sampradana, Apadana, Adharana), often referencing the views of prominent commentators like Patanjali, Katyayana, Bhartrhari, Kaiyata, Bhattoji Dikshita, Kundabhatta, and Nagesh Bhatta, and also incorporating perspectives from Navya-Nyaya.

In essence, the book is a rigorous, scholarly exploration of the concept of Karaka in Sanskrit grammar, meticulously tracing its evolution, analyzing its foundational principles within Panini's system, and critically examining its treatment by subsequent grammarians and philosophers. It emphasizes the nuanced relationship between action, meaning, and the case relations that connect them within the structure of a Sanskrit sentence.