Question

Who is the celebrated author of the Vakyapadiya, a foundational text on the philosophy of language?

• A. Patanjali
• B. Panini
• C. Bhartrihari
• D. Kalidasa

Hint:

{Vakyapadiya → Bhartrihari}.
He is famous for the linguistic theory of {Sphota}.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Concept: The {Vakyapadiya} is one of the most influential works in the Indian tradition of linguistics and philosophy of language. It deals with the nature of language, meaning, and cognition, and presents profound insights into how language functions as a medium of knowledge.
Step 1:Author of the Vakyapadiya.
The text {Vakyapadiya} was composed by the great Sanskrit grammarian and philosopher Bhartrihari, who lived around the 5th century CE.
Step 2:Content and structure of the work.
The {Vakyapadiya} is divided into three main sections:

• Brahma Kanda – Philosophical foundations of language
• Vakya Kanda – Nature and meaning of sentences
• Pada Kanda – Analysis of words and linguistic units

Step 3:Philosophical contribution.
Bhartrihari proposed the concept of {Sphota}, which suggests that meaning is grasped as a whole rather than as separate individual words. Thus, the celebrated author of the {Vakyapadiya} is Bhartrihari.