athAto (अथातो)- meaning

[dhaval patel]

Hi all,

usually most of sUtra start with the word 'अथातो' .

e.g. अथातो दीर्घंजीवितीयं अध्यायं व्याख्यास्यामः  । । १,१.१ - charaka saMhitA

What is the precise meaning of this compound.

I am sure some of the commentaries of sUtras must have expounded its meaning in detail.

Can anyone tell me the meaning of the word please...

Dhaval

[hnbhat B.R.]

Here is a online Commentary on the Sutra:

============================
Longevity
Ch. (1) - The Ancient Lineage Of The Tradition Of Ayurvedic Learning

"This is the description of Longevity Chapter with distinction."
(Charaka Samhita, Sutra Section, Ch. 1/1,)

Dr Vikrama's Commentary: The first word that is used is 'Atha'. This
word denotes all the three - blessings, prayer and goodwill for all.
This word has been used in several ayurveda and yoga classics of
ancient times and is considered auspicious in the begining of literary
works.

Long life represents life span with health and happiness. Longevity is
described with distinction that is, this topic is covered in holistic
sense as related to body, health and disease.

For more it can be referred to here:

http://www.ayurveda-textbooks.com/longevity.html

Literallly, it would mean simply: "Here after let us
explain/comment/learn on the Chapter related to Long Life."

as usual to the beginning of any Shastra. The commentaries and the
texts presuppose the introduction to the related suject and well
familiar with other texts. Hence now onwards(after knowing the
prerequisite introduction to the Science), let us take the study of
Long Life in the first Chapter (as taught by Atreya) .

The great seer Atreya was the disciple and son of another sage Atri.
Atreya was known as Punarvasu Atreya. More of this can be found in the
above commentary in the link.

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--
Dr. Hari Narayana Bhat B.R.
EFEO,
PONDICHERRY

[Sunder Hattangadi]

Following gives a translation/commentary of the word "athAto" by AdiShankaracharya in the context of Badarayana Brahmasutra:

 

http://www.swami-krishnananda.org/bs_1/1-1-01.html

 

".....Athato Brahmajijnasa I.1.1 (1)

 

Now, therefore, the enquiry into Brahman.

 

Atha: now, then, afterwards; Atah: therefore; Brahmajijnasa: a desire for the knowledge of Brahman (the enquiry into the real nature of Brahman).

 

Sutra literally means a string. It serves the purpose of stringing together the flowers of the Vedanta passages.

 

The word Atha is not used to introduce a new subject that is going to be taken up. It is here to be taken as denoting immediate consecution.

The enquiry of Brahman specially depends upon some antecedent conditions. The enquirer should be endowed with certain spiritual requisites or qualifications. Then only the enquiry is possible.

Atha i.e., after the attainment of certain preliminary qualifications such as the four means of salvation viz., (1) Nitya-anitya-vastu-viveka (discrimination between the eternal and the non-eternal); (2) Ihamutrarthaphalabhogaviraga (indifference to the enjoyment in this life or in heaven, and of the fruits of one's actions); (3) Shatsampat (sixfold virtues viz., Sama - control of mind, Dama - control of the external senses, Uparati - cessation from worldly enjoyments or not thinking of objects of senses or discontinuance of religious ceremonies, Titiksha - endurance of pleasure and pain, heat and cold, Sraddha - faith in the words of the preceptor and of the Upanishads and Samadhana - deep concentration); (4) Mumukshutva (desire for liberation)........."

 

Similar interpretations may exist elsewhere also; e.g. Jaimini Sutra-s start with "athAto dharma-jij~nAsA"; Narada Bhakti-sutras with "athAto bhaktiM vyAkhyAsyAmaH", etc.

 

 

Regards,

 

sunder

[deepakshripad]

Not sure if it is too late for the answer. 

Athato clearly means "Here we begin:" or "Here is the" the literary meanings - Athaha: means beginning and Eti: means the end. 

[Hnbhat B.R.]

On Tue, Apr 15, 2014 at 12:34 PM, deepakshripad <mailto....@gmail.com> wrote:

Not sure if it is too late for the answer. 

Athato clearly means "Here we begin:" or "Here is the" the literary meanings - Athaha: means beginning and Eti: means the end. 

If you are not sure, please refer to any dictionary available online:

 अथ athaअथ (Ved. अथा) ind. [अर्थ्-ड, पृषोद˚ रलोपः Tv.] A particle used at the beginning (of works) mostly as a sign of auspiciousness, and translated by 'here', 'now' (begins) (मङ्गल, आरम्भ, अधिकार) (Properly

 

or read earlier posts before posting your reply.

(३. ३. ८५५) मङ्गलाऽनन्तरारम्भप्रश्नकार्त्स्न्येष्वथो अथ

The above are the meanings of अथ. 

Here is a detailed analysis of the phrase:

http://www.sanskritdictionary.com/?q=%E1%B9%A3ya&lang=sans&action=Search

Please read the instances quoted therein.

[sanskrit2601]

नमांसि !

मम विचारेण "अथातो"इति शब्दः मूलतः "अथ अतः" एतयोः संहितया |

यदि विसर्गस्य परे मृदुव्यन्जनं तर्हि विसर्गस्य ओकारः |

1. "अथातो दीर्घंजीवितीयं .." अत्रापि विसर्गस्य परे द्-इति मृदुव्यञ्जनम् |
2. "अथातो ब्रह्मजिज्ञासा" अत्रापि विसर्गस्य परे ब्-इति मृदुव्यञ्जनम् |

अथ-शब्दः तु माङ्गल्यवाचकः | "ॐ-कारश्चाथशब्दश्च द्वावेतौ ब्रह्मणः पुरा | कण्ठं भित्वा विनिर्यातौ तस्मान्माङ्गलिकावुभौ ||"

अतः = इतः परम् |

सस्नेहम्
अभ्यंकरकुलोत्पन्नः श्रीपादः ।
"श्रीपतेः पदयुगं स्मरणीयम् ।"

Dhaval

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