Influencing policy (training slides from Fast Track Impact)
15 Types of Commentaries in Ayurveda
1. TANTRAGUṆA
Dr Shital Shamarav Patil
M.D.(Ayurved samhita and siddhant)
M.A.(Sanskrit)
Assistant Professor
S.D.S.Annasaheb Dange Ayurvedic Medical
College Ashta.
2016 Dr Shital Patil 1
2. • Vyākhyā is also one of the tantraguṇa. The meaning of
vyākhyā is detailed expiation. It increases quality of tantra.
According to aṣṭāṁgh hradaya these are fifteen in number.
• The commentary of book or an elaboration of the subject is
called as vyākhyāna. Commentaries helps the reader to
understand the treatise properly. They give the reader to
understand treatise properly. It gives the correct and
accurate meaning of words and slokas. It helps to draw
conclusion.
• Depending upon the qualities 15 types of commentaries
are described by aruṇadatta . of these 15 types description
of only 11 commentaries is available today.
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4. 1.Pinḍa vyākhyā
• Concise explanation. One whole chapter might
deal with one topic in detail. If the same is
summarized in two or three ślōkas it is pinḍa
vyākhyā. Eg. Summarizing all the ariṣṭa
lakshanas described in two chapters in aṣṭāṁgh
hradaya Sharirsthana in two ślōka.
• उदा- रुपेन्द्रियस्वरच्छाया प्रन्द्िच्छाया क्रियाक्रदषु।
• अरयेष्वन्द्प च भावेषु प्रकृिेष्वन्द्िन्द्ित्ति्:॥
• न्द्वकृन्द्िया सिासेिररष्टं िक्रदिी लक्षयेि।
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5. 2.Pada vyakhya
• Splitting complicated group of words into
simple independent words. Eg. In first
chapter of aṣṭāṁgh hradaya ‘atah’ ‘ayush’
‘kamayam’ this is the commentary of
arunadutta on Ashtang hridaya.
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6. 3.Padārtha vyākhyā
• Explaining every words split out as above
with correct meaning or meanings.
E.g.‘atah’ means ‘auspicious’ and also
next.
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7. 4. Adhikarana vyākhyā
• Elaboration on any one particular topic.
E.g.. Chapter 6 of sushruta deals only with
marmas and nothing else.
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8. 5. Prakaraṇa vyākhyā
• Reference to some other context. This is
like saying similar to the previous one or
similar to the next one.’
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9. 6.Artha vyākhyā
• Describing only normal, natural or
important features. E.g.Gurutwa and
laghutawa between masha and mudga is
natural.
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10. 7. Krichra vyākhyā
• Elaborating the precise statement. E.g.
The word Padchatushtaya being explained
in detail, in other context or by other authors.
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11. 8. Phala vyākhyā
• Trying to express ones own view on a
disputed topic with the help of others
views. E.g. fixing the quantity of niruha
basti.
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12. 9. Uchita vyākhyā
• Pointing the appropriate meaning of words
with reference to context. When there are
different meaning for the same word, this
vyākhyā helps in understanding the proper
sence of it. Eg. Dhatu means
panchabhootas ( Ash. Sha 3/65) the same
word meaning also as spta dhatus (Ash su
1/13)
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13. 10. Nyasa vyākhyā
• Clearing the doubts with supporting
reference from elsewhere.
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14. 11.Phala vyākhyā
• Explaining the specific purpose of a
chapter or book.eg. the specific purpose of
Ayurveda is to maintain the health of
healthy and cure the ill.
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15. 12. Anulomya vyākhyā
• If the order of the chapters in the
commentary is maintained the same as
that of the original treatise, it is anulomya
vyākhyā.
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16. 13. Pratilomya vyākhyā
• If the commentator follows reverse order in
writing his commentary, it is pratilomya
vyākhyā
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17. 14. Sutrasama vyākhyā
• if the commentary gives the description of
the sutras one by one, it is the sutasama
vyākhyā.
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18. 15. Samasta vyākhyā
• All round commentary of whole book
aruṇadatta description on the last four
types of vyākhyā s is not available.
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