Hi, The first part of the sentence you quoted (guṇas tv āvṛtti-tantuṣu) is from a lexicon, though I am not sure immediately which one. So, rather than āvṛtti and tantu being coordinated meanings like "warp" and "weft," they are simply two unrelated meanings in which the word *guṇa* occurs, namely "repetition," i.e. "multiplication" (āvṛtti) and "thread" (tantu), with no particular specificity in the latter case of which kind of thread in a woven fabric.
"Thread" is, of course, a simple sense of *guṇa*, and one sees in mathematical literature that *guṇa* is the word used for multiplication. I hope this helps. Best, Dave -- David Buchta, PhD Senior Lecturer in Sanskrit Department of Classics Brown University On Fri, Sep 12, 2025 at 10:55 AM Matthew Kapstein via INDOLOGY < [email protected]> wrote: > Dear colleague, > > I believe that the tantu should be the warp of a woven textile and > the āvṛtti the weft; the thread, guṇa "referred to in this case" atra being > the latter. > > but perhaps others will have a better understanding of it, > Matthew > > Matthew T. Kapstein > Professor emeritus > Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes, PSL Research University, Paris > > Associate > The University of Chicago Divinity School > > Member, American Academy of Arts and Sciences > > https://ephe.academia.edu/MatthewKapstein > > https://vajrabookshop.com/product/the-life-and-work-of-auleshi/ > > > https://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501716218/tibetan-manuscripts-and-early-printed-books-volume-i/#bookTabs=1 > > > https://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501771255/tibetan-manuscripts-and-early-printed-books-volume-ii/#bookTabs=1 > > https://brill.com/edcollbook/title/60949 > > Sent with Proton Mail <https://proton.me/mail/home> secure email. > > On Friday, September 12th, 2025 at 4:31 PM, François Patte via INDOLOGY < > [email protected]> wrote: > > Bonjour, > > Is there a technical meaning for the word "tantu"? I came accross this > word in this sentence: > > guṇas tv āvṛttitantuṣv ity abhidhānād guṇaśabdo 'trāvṛttau vartate > > Thank you. > > François Patte > > > > _______________________________________________ > INDOLOGY mailing list > [email protected] > https://list.indology.info/mailman/listinfo/indology >
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