Abhidhā

Abhidhā is the direct, conventional sense of a word. Distinct from lakṣaṇā (secondary meaning, by relation) and vyañjanā (suggestion). In the interpretation of the mahā-vākyas ('tat tvam asi'), if taken in abhidhā they become problematic ('you are that' — how?); the bhāṣya explains that the correct understanding uses jahad-ajahal-lakṣaṇā, abandoning what contradicts and retaining the essential. Distinguishing abhidhā from lakṣaṇā is a key hermeneutical tool.