Understanding the Question: We need to define the linguistic concept of Sphoṭa, which is a central theme in the philosophical works of grammarians like Bhartrhari.
Key Concepts and Approach: Language consists of individual sounds that vanish as soon as they are uttered. Sphoṭa theory explains how these fleeting sounds result in a stable, unified meaning in the listener's mind.
Detailed Solution:
Step 1: Etymology. The word Sphoṭa comes from the root sphuṭ, meaning "to burst forth" or "to manifest." It refers to the meaning that "bursts forth" upon hearing sounds.
Step 2: The Mechanism. Sounds (Dhvani) are individual and sequential. Meaning, however, is unified. Sphoṭa is the internal, indivisible linguistic unit that represents the complete meaning of a word or sentence.
Step 3: Psychological aspect. When a person hears the sounds "g-o-u" (cow), the individual sounds trigger the Sphoṭa of the word "cow," which then reveals the universal meaning/object instantaneously.
Conclusion: Sphoṭa represents the instantaneous revelation of meaning.