Bhartrhari’s Perspectivism (3): On the Structure of the third Kanda of the Vakyapadiya

Bhartrhari’s Perspectivism (3): On the Structure of the third Kanda of the Vakyapadiya examines the third book of Bhartrhari’s Vakyapadiya, a foundational work on language and metaphysics. Jan E. M. Houben notes that even with better editions of the text, reconstructing the system is challenging because the work is poetic and philosophically dense. He argues that Bhartrhari presents multiple philosophical viewpoints—realist, nominalist and idealist—before relativising them through his own perspectivism. The article groups verses into thematic clusters dealing with metaphysical monism, universals, the relationship between words and sentences, and the practical aims of grammar. Houben shows that Bhartrhari employs the doctrine of sphoṭa (an invariant sound‑essence) while acknowledging objections from grammarians and Buddhists. He explains that Bhartrhari uses a dialogic method akin to Jaina syādvāda, where each position is valid from a particular standpoint. By analysing selected verses and later commentaries, Houben argues that the third kāṇḍa is not a systematic exposition of a single doctrine but a text that demonstrates how linguistic philosophy accommodates multiple perspectives. The study situates Bhartrhari’s perspectivism within Indian epistemological debates and highlights its relevance for contemporary discussions on language and meaning.

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