Sanskrit Compounding and the Semantic Relations in the Structural, Philological, and Interpretive Dimensions of Samhita Texts: A Study of Nominal Combinations and Their Contextual Significance

Abstract

Authors: Dr. Payal Ghosh, Kamlesh Chatterjee

ABSTRACT: Sanskrit literature, particularly the Vedic and post-Vedic Samhitas, is deeply marked by the prevalence of compounds (sam?sa). These linguistic formations are not merely stylistic choices but are integral to the semantic and interpretive structures of the texts. In the Rigveda, Yajurveda, S?maveda, and Atharvaveda, as well as in later Samhitas, the tendency to condense meaning into highly compact forms gives rise to a wide range of interpretive challenges and opportunities. This paper explores the phenomenon of compounding in Sanskrit, the semantic relations implied by compounds in the Samhitas, and the interpretive challenges posed by their polyvalence. By analyzing categories of compounds, their semantic networks, and their contextual deployment, the paper highlights how compounding in Sanskrit reflects both linguistic creativity and ritual-philosophical precision.

KEYWORDS: Sanskrit compounding, Samhitas, semantic relations, sam?sa, Vedic philology, interpretive challenges, linguistic analysis.