प्राधान्येन व्यपदेषा भवन्ति ।
prādhānyena vyapadeśā bhavanti |
(Unknown source; cited in the Sārārtha-varṣiṇī-ṭīkā on Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā)
“Statements occur on the basis of prominence [i.e., they can be based on a prominent aspect of what they describe and not necessarily on something that is literally true in every sense about their object].”
Alternate version
ādhikyena vyapadeśā bhavanti
(Unknown source; cited in the Amṛta-ṭīkā on Hari-nāmāmṛta-vyākaraṇa: 1683)
“Statements occur on the basis of profusion [i.e., in accord with something existing in profusion in the midst of the object of description].”
Commentary
A principle or description stated in śāstra may be intended to apply in most but not all cases, or, generally but not always completely, and thus is meant to be taken as a generalization or general guideline rather than a universally applicable and absolutely true explanation or directive. For example, Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa states in Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā (2.45) that the Vedas are “that the subject of which is related to the three guṇas” (traiguṇya-viṣayā vedāḥ), and Śrī Viśvanātha Cakravartī invokes this principle (nyāya) of prādhānyena vyapadeśā bhavanti in relation to this statement of Śrī Kṛṣṇato explain that in the statement Śrī Kṛṣṇa makes a generalization and Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s intention is not that every single statement in the Vedas pertains only to the three guṇas and thus that there is nothing said or taught in them which is related to that which is beyond the guṇas (nirguṇa), but rather that for the most part the subject matter in the Vedas is related to the three guṇas.