Mahābhāṣya Through the Lens of Tantrayukti

Abstract

Mahābhāṣya is the most celebrated commentary composed by Maharṣi Patañjali. Of the 4000 sutras of Aṣṭādhyāyī, around 1700 sutras come under the purview of Mahābhāṣya. This text basically tries to explain the Grammatical Concepts, by logically developing the concepts through questions thought of in various angles, providing explanation to each question and if needed providing illustrations drawn across from Vedas to Kavyas to daily life.

The concepts strung together in Mahābhāṣya can be better understood through a device called Tantrayukti. The compound Tantrayukti denotes those devices that aid the composition of a text in a systematic manner to convey intended ideas clearly. When seen through the lens of Tantrayukti, the protocol employed in Mahābhāṣya will be crystal clear.

With this background, this paper outlines the study of,

1.Methodological Aspect - Usage of Tantrayukti in the construction of Bhāṣya.

2.Analytical Aspect - Usage of Tantrayukti-s to discover the patterns in Bhāṣya. By the study of the repeating pattern of Tantrayukti-s in Bhāṣya, methodology used by Patañjali to explain concepts can be unearthed.

3.Interpretational Aspect - Usage of Tantrayukti as a tool which help in interpreting and understanding the insights of Bhāṣya.