SrI: SrImathE SatakOpAya nama: SrImathE rAmAnujAya nama: SrImadh varavaramunayE nama:
avathArikai (Introduction)
piLLai lOkAchAryar further establishes the superiority of ithihAsams.
sUthram 4
aththAlE adhu muRpattadhu.
Simple Explanation
Because of that reason, it is said first.
vyAkyAnam (Commentary)
aththAlE …
Due to that greater authenticity of ithihAsams, as said in chAndhOgya upanishath 7.21 “ithihAsa purANam panchamam” (ithihAsams and purANams are fifth vEdham) and in bhArhaspathy smruthi “ithihAsa purANAbhyAm” (with ithihAsams and purANams), both in Sruthi (vEdham) and smruthi, while listing out both, ithihAsam is highlighted before purANam.
In dhvandhva samAsam (copulative compound – connection of related entities), either alpAchthara (word with lesser number of sylablles) or abhyarhitha (word which indicates the most venerable entities among the listed ones) rule will be applicable to present a word in the beginning. Though, the word ithihAsa (in samskrutham) is not having lesser number syllables, it is highlighted first due to its most venerable nature; it is understood that the reason for being most venerable is due to its authenticity.
Alternative explanation – while highlighting literature which explain the vEdham which is having two parts, as a single collection in the first sUthram, as said in “ithihAsAScha purANicha ithihAsapurANAni, smruthyaScha ithihAsa purANicha smruthIthihAsapurANAni” (ithiAsams and purANams are collectively said to be “ithihAsapurANAni” and, smruthi, ithihAsams and purANams are collectively said to be “smruthIthihAsapurANAni“), since piLLai lOkAchAryar is focussed on the compound words, the reason ithihAsam being highlighted before purANam in spite of having lesser number of syllables, is mercifully explained starting with “ivai iraNdilum“. In this approach, for this sUthram, it is to be understood that, due to that greater authenticity, in “ithihAsa purANangaLAlE“, ithihAsam was listed before purANam.
Thus, since piLLai lOkAchAryar mercifully explains that while determining the meanings of vEdham, (a) it should be done with the help of the upabruhmaNams, (b) which among the upabruhmaNams explain pUrva and uththara bhAgams, c) among the ithihAsams and purANams which explain the uththara bhAgam, ithihAsams have more authenticity, he has identified the pramANams (authentic source) for the principles he is going to explain further.
adiyen sarathy ramanuja dasan
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