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yajvan
15 January 2009, 06:34 PM
hariḥ oṁ
~~~~~

Namasté

At times HDF members may post information that coming from the śāstra-s¹ have different methods of organization. That is, a chapter or verse , or division, or even a whole book. I thought to post some of these divisions and partitions for consideration.

I will add to the list as they come to mind or that I see in my studies. Perhaps this will help with one's appreciation or comprehension of the great works that are shared as references on HDF.

prapāṭhaka प्रपाठक - a lecture ; also a chapter or subdivision of a book
adhyāya अध्याय - a chapter, lesson or lecture; also the proper time for readng or a lecture.
saṃhitā संहिता - any methodically arranged collection of texts or verses - the various law-books , the medical works, the complete system of natural astrology i.e. a collection, the saṃhitās of the ṛg, sāma, atharva veda ; also the force which holds together and supports the universe.
khaṇḍa खण्ड- a section of a work , part , chapter ; a ' break or gap '
parva or parvan पर्वन् a division, section; a break; this is also a knot , joint , a limb or member; also a division of time , a moment or instant.
vallī वल्ली - sections , particularly used in the upaniṣads e.g. we see vallī-s applied in the kaṭha upaniṣad ; a vallī is considered a creeper , creeping plant; it is also figuartively speaking applied to the arms , eyebrows , lightning, etc. things that may have a commom root that spreads
śākhā शाखा - a branch or limb; a branch or school of the veda ; a branch of any science; also a limb of the body , arm or leg
śloka श्लोक - is a stanza; also a hymn of praise
sūtra सूत्र is rooted in siv सिव् 'to sew or stitch' ; thread , yarn , string , line; a stitch; A sūtra is considered a short, terse, yet concise sentence;
The notion of 'stitch' is the brevity of the sentence ( perhaps 1 or 2 words) that hang together on a common thread ( idea); example: Brahma sūtra-s or Patañjali’s yogadarśana (the yoga sūtras of Patañjali) .
mantra मन्त्र - we think of this as a word, a sound; it is also a vedic hymn; a prayer or song of praise; also a sacred formula
Some call mantra an instrument of thought. Also in the veda the mantra-s are recognized as:
ṛk ऋक् or ṛc ऋच् - praise , verse ;
sāman a metrical hymn or song of praise ; sacred text or verse called a sāman intended to be chanted and forming , with ṛc , yajus , chandas ; sāman isr rooted in sā - acquisition , possession , property , wealth , abundance
yajus यजुस् - a sacrificial prayer or formula. They are properly in prose and distinguished from the ṛc and sāman
stotra स्तोत्र - a hymn or praise; from stu स्तु - to praise, being praised; e.g. Viṣṇu sahasranāma i.e. the thousand names of Viṣṇu
pada पद -a step , pace , stride ; a part , portion , division ; also a ray of light
pāda पाद - a verse or line as the fourth part of a regular stanza or śloka; the chapter of a book originally only a book or section of a book consisting of 4 partswords

śāstra or śāstrá शास्त्र - an instrument of teaching , a manual or compendium, espically any religious or scientific treatise , any sacred book or composition of divine authority ; teaching , instruction , direction , advice , good counsel ; a law-book or whole body of written laws.
śastra is invocation , praise applied to any hymn recited either audibly or inaudibly , compared to stoma , which is sung .praṇām

yajvan
17 January 2009, 06:28 PM
hariḥ oṁ
~~~~~

Namasté


I will add to the list as they come to mind or that I see in my studies.

bhūmikā भूमिका - preface , introduction; a story
bhāṣā भाषा- language, some call this gentle talk; description , definition
bhāsa भास- light , lustre , brightness ; impression made on the mind; These two words bhāṣā & bhāsa are used for an author's commentary on some work - His/Her light, insight, description and comentary on a subject e.g. Srīkaṇṭha's bhāṣā on the Brahma Sūtra-s authored by Bādarāyaṇa.

A brief commentary (perhaps like an introduction) would be called a vṛtti वृत्ति (vritti) meaning a mode of being , nature , kind , character , disposition, charactering an idea, work, etc.
vārttika वार्त्तिक - is a critical study; explanatory, containing or relating to a critical gloss or annotation ; some call this 'the exposition of the meaning '. Hence this could be an in-depth study or elaboration on an author's bhāṣāpraṇām

yajvan
26 January 2009, 01:20 PM
hariḥ oṁ
~~~~~~

Namasté

Adding to the list

different methods of organization. That is, a chapter or verse , or division, or even a whole book. I thought to post some of these divisions and partitions for consideration.


I do not see this word often, but happened to read it just recently:

niḥṣyanda निःष्यन्द- a section; like a chapterI see this division frequently & use often:

kārikā कारिका- concise statement in verse Another is laghuvṛtti: laghu लघु + vrtti वृत्ति

laghu लघु - light , quick , swift , active , prompt , nimble
vṛtti वृत्ति -a commentary , comment , gloss , explanation Hence a prompt , light ( not exhaustive) commentary

praṇām

yajvan
27 January 2009, 01:53 PM
hariḥ oṁ
~~~~~~

Namasté

Adding to the list, here is an example:

Bṛhadaraṇyaka Upaniṣad - Khila khaṇḍa

Khila = a compendium , compilation ; that which serves to fill up a gap ,a supplement ; this word also means an unsolvable problem ;
two views of khaṇḍa
khaṇḍa खण्ड- a section of a work , part , chapter ; a ' break or gap
kanda = a lump , swelling , knot
I find it interesting on how kanda and khaṇḍa relate to part or collection. That is a lump or swelling can equal a chapter. A Swelling or lump of ideas collected ( tied in a knot) into a chapter.

praṇām

yajvan
28 January 2009, 12:11 PM
hariḥ oṁ
~~~~~~

Namasté

Adding to the list, here is an example:



Example of parva or parvan पर्वन् a division, section; a break; this is also a knot , joint , a limb or member; also a division of time , a moment or instant.

Mahābhārata, ādi parva

ādi is 1st + parvan is divison, pause, break i.e. the 1st chapter of the MahābhārataExample of pāda and sūtra

Yogadarśana of Patañjali , Samādhi pāda, 2nd sūtra :
yogasḥ citta-vṛtti-nirodha
(yoga occurs when citta + vṛtti is nirodha i.e. stilled, confined, cessation, cancellation, dissolution, stillness, restraint ).

Note the Yogadarśana of Patañjali has 4 chapters, hence pāda works well for it's division. The 1st part ( or foot pada) is called Samādhi

pāda पाद- a verse or line as the fourth part of a regular stanza or śloka; the chapter of a book originally only a book or section of a book consisting of 4 parts
sūtra सूत्र is rooted in siv सिव् 'to sew or stitch' ; thread , yarn , string , line; a stitch; A sūtra is considered a short, terse, yet concise sentencepraṇām

yajvan
02 February 2009, 08:34 PM
hariḥ oṁ
~~~~~

Namasté

From post 1 above:



śāstra or śāstrá शास्त्र - an instrument of teaching , a manual or compendium, espically any religious or scientific treatise , any sacred book or composition of divine authority ; teaching , instruction , direction , advice , good counsel ; a law-book or whole body of written laws.
saṃhitā संहिता- any methodically arranged collection of texts or verses - the various law-books , the medical works, the complete system of natural astrology i.e. a collection, the saṃhitās of the ṛg, sāma, atharva veda ; also the force which holds together and supports the universe.
khaṇḍa खण्ड- a section of a work , part , chapter ; a ' break or gap '

Here is an example of a śāstra, that is a purāṇa¹ , divided into saṃhitā-s and khaṇḍa-s

Śiva mahāpurāṇa, divided into 7 saṃhitā-s.

Vidyeśvara saṃhitā
Rudra saṃhitā ( with sub sections or khaṇḍa-s)
Sṛṣti khaṇḍa
Satī khaṇḍa
Pārvatī khaṇḍa
Kumāra khaṇḍa
Yuddha khaṇḍa
Śatarudrīya saṃhitā
Koṭi rudra saṃhitā
Umā saṃhitā
Kailāśa saṃhitā
Vāyavīya saṃhitāpraṇām

words
purāṇa पुराण - belonging to ancient or olden times , ancient , old ; a class of sacred works compiled by vyāsa treating 5 topics i.e. pañca-lakṣaṇa ; there are 18 main purāṇas.