Nirukta Shastra - वेद Veda

Nirukta Shastra

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Nirukta Vedanga (Sanskrit: "etymology Veda-limb.") — auxiliary Vedic texts which discuss the origin and development of words; among the four linguistic skills taught for mastery of the Vedas and the rites of yagna. Nirukta relies upon ancient lexicons, nighantu, as well as detailed hymn indices, anukramani. Five nighantus  existed at the time of sage Yaska, whose treatise is regarded a standard work on Vedic etymology.

Description

There are altogether fourteen chapters in Nirukta out of which the first twelve chapters from the beginning are the main chapters and the two chapters in the end are given in the form of appendixes or supplementaries. These last two chapters can not be considered as a subsequent addition because sage Uvvat in his annotation ofYajurveda has taken excerpts from the Nirukta. Both he and sage ?Sayan? are well acquainted with the chapters of Nirukta. This goes to prove that the Nirukta is more ancient than the time when both these sages existed.

Nirukta is the commentary of Nighantu. In Nighantu are compiled the difficult and complex terms of the Vedas. There are difference of opinions regarding the actual numbers of Nighantu. Only one ?Nighantu? is available nowdays. Some scholars are of the views that Nidhantu is created by none other than Yask, but followers of ancient tradition. According to the Mahabharat (Ch-342 of Moksha dharm Shlokas 86-87) sage Kashyap is the creator of Nighantu.

Therefore going by the statement made in the Mahabharat it seems that it was the creation of Prajapati Kashyap during the Mahabharat period. There are five chapters in ?Nighantu?. The first three chapters from the beginning are called ?Naighantukand?, the fourth and the fifth chapter are called ?Naigam kand? and ?Daivatkand? respectively.

The first chapter contains words connected with nature and natural elements like earth. The second kand consists of root-words or mono-words.

The word Naigam means the impossibility to know about the exact meaning of the words and their nature.

In Daivat-kand is described the appearances of the deities and their abodes.

Nirukta tells us about the etymological expressions of words & its derivations. The meaning varies according to the etymological expressions.

The important of the Nirukta created by Yask is very great. In the very beginning of his literary composition sage Yask has illustrated about the principle of Nirukta in a scientific way. During his time the meanings of Vedas were interpreted on the basis of diverse opinions, which were as follows.

1. Adhidaivat

2. Adhyatm

3. Aakhyan Samay

4. Ethihasikah

5. Naidanah

6. Nairuktah

7. Parivrajahah

8. Yagyikah

These above mentioned various opinions shed light on the history of different contemplation?s of the Vedas.

Sage Yask had a great impact on many commentators of the Vedas in due course of time. Sage Sayan accomplished his commentaries of the Vedas after contemplating on his very system. Yask?s processes are also accepted and followed by the linguists of modern age. Being the sole representative of the Nirukta, the importance of Yasks volume is great.

Although Nirukta is itself is a commentary of the Vedas, but still, it is so complex at certain places that even the most learned commentators fail to understand its real meaning. Moreover the exact chapter of Nirukta are nor available traditionally. Along with the difficult language which the Nirukta contains its chapters are so complex at certain places that even a great annotator like Durgacharya experienced difficulty in understanding it. Because of its complex nature many scholars, before Vikram have tried their hands at writing commentaries on it.

Commentators of Nirukta

1) DURGACHARYA: Durgacharya is one of the most ancient commentator of theNirukta, but he is certainly not the first one to do so. Numerous commentaries of earlier annotators are mentioned in his volume.

2) SKAND MAHESHWAR: This commentary is very ancient and scholarly. Commentary on the Rigveda is also available.

Importance of Nirukta

The term "Nirukta" has been described by sage Sayanacharya in the following way

"ARTHAVABODHE NIRPEKSHATAYA PADJATAM YATRA TAT NIRUKTAM"

The collection of independent words which helps in understanding their meaning are called Nirukta.

Durgacharya is of the opinion that Nirukta is supreme among the Vedanga and volumes because it helps us to understand the meaning of the words. The meaning of the word is of primary importance and the word itself is of secondary importance. Grammar is nothing but the study of the words. In ?Kalps? (part of Veda treating of rituals) the proper use of the Mantras in the vedic ceremonies are described. The mantra is used only in such situation where the words contained in that mantra is capable of expressing themselves completely. Therefore ?Kalpa? too helps in gaining knowledge of mantras meaning.

Nirukta is of greater value than ?Kalpa? because it helps in understanding the meanings of words, in all of their probable permutations and combinations, where as ?Kalpa? helps to understand the meanings of mantras, which themselves consist of words.

Although the study of grammar also helps in understanding the characteristics of words but I can not interpret the meaning of words as deeply as Nirukta. Therefore the study of the Nirukta is very necessary to understand the Vedas. It is a supplementary science of Grammar.

Arjun, perform all deeds passionately--- with all love,---- with full interest----, investing sufficient energy ---, selfishly---to reach your goal of life-----which is very important----not to be sacrificed for anything----- and as per need and context, ---but not as workoholic, ---nor bullworker, --but intelligently, judiciously, in right dose -----sparing enough time for meditation and spiritual sathsang etc

 thorns are no harm really | finally man may become least weight, most fragile, bodily,and infinitely strong mentally, spiritually,

even he may become an unmanifest entity in control of universe, yet without a visible body  

 What is not nature

all is nature, including cities and buildings vehicles and furniture all

Every thing has a lesson for the learner

knowledge is the basic stuff that every thing is made of

not necessary to go to garden to watch a flower or see a animal

To understand the infinite i need to be with the infinte --this is how i feel nd think and it is the call of my soul to be with the super soul for some time to be in open , look at it and feel it nd then find it --him in me nd me in him --as simple it is

Super soul is every where ,

in the open, in the shut

in the jungle, in the house

in the caves, in the lockers

on the mountain on the table

in the ocean,in the water in a mug

in the sky , in the kitchen

on the moon, on the floor

i cannot miss him even if i want to

i cannot escape him, he is my shadow

he is my light, he is my elec lamp

in my sitting in my standing

in my sleeping in my eating

in my seeing, in my doing

he is me , me is him

why go to park, when i am the park

in me he stays parked

Again a master peice of composition . yes HE is with me in my every action / every mood but some times i love to be with HIM to feel HIM and realign myself i look HIM high up in the sky , in sun and moon ,in clouds and stars , in trees and bushes , in breeze and every where in his creation i seek him nd find him.

That means we are sending him away from other things around ,

searching in some other things

waiting for him only later

but not now, in ''as is where is how is,'' state

Let us be clear, when he is every where in perfect alignment with us, but why to prefer again to realign , where is the need

can you answer

why you prefer sun moon clouds stars bushes more than kitchen vessels, football, pen, cupboard ceiling fan ?

what makes difference

is there real difference

 Don't spoil what you have---i agree , but while preserving that we must move forward and reach for higher desires 

and , To the statement
''Contentment is not a very spiritual approach to life. In fact, most spiritual traditions would say that contentment is the first step to true happiness—even to enlightenment or heaven''

i love to differ ,

Contentment is not a very spiritual approach to life., it is in fact , the end result of enlightenment 
hence 
spiritual traditions would say and emphasize that enlightenment is the first step to true happiness, and true happiness leads to contended life
till the enlightenment is attained aspirant should not rest, nor compromise at intermediate stages, but his fire of discontent should not be off till the goal is reached

 am giving a different truth learnt from my master, not to contend surely

1 pain leads to sapping of mental energies 

as a result of the most valuable attention getting diverted 

frittered weakened and wasted 

2 the fear leads to pretense false hood, make believe, please the boss, escape attention, always in anxiety stress disease death just to escape punishment, never it can lead it to free unlimited creativity in the performance and output 

great performers never work under fear nor when they are in pain and agony 
their performance is best in ecstasy, more a divine Ecstasy 

they are addicted to the pleasure of success and more success, and are willing to launch new adventures , bliss makes the performance most enjoyable, since attention is available to focus in fullest measure , without being wasted in excerciszes / impositions on mental discipline 

this point is to be inderstood very thoroughly 
it is a art of karma sukaushalam, skill in action, for that first requisite is arjun, yogastha, first and then kuru karmani 

it is not the other way , i hope you got the point

foremost , first is the experience of bliss, not the last 
it is unconditional
where as mental peace is necessarily dependent on bliss , hence a consequence and not a cause of bliss

 

Here is a model blog by shankara, in shivananda lahari


98
Sarvalankara yuktham saralapadayutham sadhu vruttam suvarnam,
Sadbhi samasthuyamanam sarasa gunayutham lakshitham lakshanadyam,
Udyad bhoosha visesha mupa gatha vinayam dyotha manarth rekham,
Kalyanim deva gowri –priya mama kavitha kanyakam twam gruhana.

THIS SLOKA HAS TWO MEANINGS AND COULD BE TAKEN TO MEAN QUALITIES OF A GIRL ATTRIBUTED TO THE POEM OR QUALITIES OF A POEM ATTRIBUTED TO THE GIRL.

Qualities of a girl

Oh Lord, darling of Goddess Gowri,
Please accept and marry my poem, which is like a girl,
Who is well made up and ornamented,
Who has a pretty lovable gait,
Who is of very good character,
Who is or pretty attractive colour,
Who is being praised by all good people,
Who has sweet pleasant behavior,
Who is model among girls,
Who possess all ideals,
Who wears glittering ornaments,
Who behaves with decorum,
Who has the line of wealth in her palms,
And who is store house of all that is good.

Qualities of a poem

Oh Lord, darling of Goddess Gowri,
Please accept and marry my poem maid,
Which has good figures of speech,
Which is made up of simple lovable words,
Which has musical meter,
Which shines in well chosen letters,
Which is being praised by intellectuals,
Which has all good qualities,
Which aims at propagating devotion,
Which is a model poem,
Which has attractive phrases,
Which sounds soft and sweet,
Which has glittering and attractive import,
And which grants good to all