उक्तानुक्तदुरुक्तानां चिन्ता यत्र प्रवर्तते ।
वाक्यं तद् वार्त्तिकं प्राहुः वार्त्तिकज्ञा मनीषिणः ॥
uktānukta-duruktānāṁ cintā yatra pravartate |
vākyaṁ tad vārttikaṁ prāhuḥ vārttika-jñā manīṣiṇaḥ ||
(Parāśara Purāṇa)
“Wise knowers of a vārttika say a vārttika (gloss) is a statement in which stated, unstated, and poorly stated thoughts [in a text] are brought forth.”