[Y-Indology] Sanskrit syntax question

[Guest guest]

There is no stark difference in meaning. It is primarily a question of what

tathaa qualifies (is it semantically related to the immediately following

word or some other relatively distant word in the sentence?) and what the

sentence needs for meeting the requirements of proper syntax. When compunded

with a substantive, tathaa acquires an adjectival meaning, becoming almost a

synonym of taad.r;s, taad.r;saa etc. When the syntax of the sentence allows

it to remain uncompounded, it is adverbial in its function. There is no

significant departure from the usual meaning 'thus, in that manner.' Cf.

tathaa-ruupa 'having that sort of form'; tathaa-gu.na 'having such

qualities'; tathaa-vidha 'having that sort of mode.'

 

When the following word is not a regular substantive but an adjective

(usually a past participle), an option can present itself regarding

compounding. The situation is comparable to those instances in English which

give rise to the conception of an adverb as that word which qualifies an

adjective (as distinct from that word which qualifies a verb by giving more

information about the nature or manner of action). Cf. tathaagata 'gone that

way'; tathaak.rta 'thus done'; tathaa-bhuuta 'which has become that way.'

The uncompounded forms taken in themselves would not differ in meaning.

Whether one should read the expressions as single words would depend on what

the remaining words of the sentence are.

 

Ashok Aklujkar

Professor

University of B.C.

 

On 12-01-2002 06:42, "Harry Spier" <harryspier wrote:

 

>how does the meaning of

> tathA-X differ from tathA X .

[Guest guest]

--- Harry Spier <harryspier wrote:

*******************************************************

> ..."tathA-X" contrasted to "tathA X"(where X is a

> substantive).

>

>Would any of the list members be able to explain to

>me the meaning and use of tathA as the first member

>of a compound, i.e. how does the meaning of tathA-X

>differ from tathA X.

*******************************************************

Dear Harry,

 

You have put up an interesting question. Here is

my reply.

 

samAsena (in brief):

The main difference between "tathA-X" and "tathA X"

(where X is a substantive) is that in the former both

"tathA" and "X" are directly connected and hence a

compound is possible (cf P 2.1.1: "samarthaH

padavidhiH"), whereas in the latter this is not the

case and a "samAsa"(compound) is out of question.

 

Unlike "yathA-X", which is always indeclinable

(avyaya), "tathA-X" is generally declinable (i.e. an

adjective or noun).

 

vyAsena (in detail):

Consider the following examples.

 

(i) yathA rAjA tathA prajA.

(As is the king, so are the subjects.)

 

Here, a compound of "tathA" and "prajA" is out of

question.

 

(ii) yathA do.saH pratibhAti janasya na tathA gu.naH |

prAyaH kalaMka evendoH prasphu.to na prasannatA

||

 

[ The quality of a person does not manifest itself

to that extent as his defect. (For example,) only the

stain of the moon is usually evident and not its

happiness. ]

 

In this example also, a compound of "tathA" and

"gu.naH" is out of question.

 

(iii) yathA devadattas tathA yaj~nadattaH.

( As is Devadatta, so is Yajnadatta.)

 

This is the example given in KA;shikA-v.rtti on

P 2.1.7 "yathAsAd.r;sye"(= yathA + asAd.r;sye). Here

also, a compound of "tathA" and "yaj~nadattaH" is out

of question.

 

(iv) Regarding compounded words with "tathA" as the

first element or member, one can take many examples

from Monier-Williams and V S Apte :

 

Compare

(1) "tathA gu.naH" mentioned above under example (ii)

with "tathA-gu.naH" (endowed with such qualities).

 

(2) "tathA rAjA" (so is the king) with

"tathA-rAjaH"(literally, "such a king" or "having

such a king", but, to say in terms of PA.nini, it is

used "saMj~nAyAm" as an epithet of Lord Buddha).

*******************************************************

 

Hope, the difference between "tathA-X" and

"tathA X" is clear to you now.

 

I wish all the list members a very happy and

prosperous new year !

 

Regards.

 

Narayan Prasad

Chief Research Officer

and

rAja-bhA.sA adhikArI

Central Water & Power Research Station

Khadakwasla, Pune-411024

 

 

 

 

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