Paninian grammars

At an early stage the millennia old Sanskrit ritual, philosophical and scientific tradition was confronted with problems of language and meaning, especially with regard to the sacred texts at its root: the Vedas. At around 350 B.C. Panini composed a grammar of the language of the Vedas and the spoken high-standard language (which we now call Sanskrit) that pushed other grammars into oblivion.

The earliest critical commentaries on Panini’s grammar, in its full form consisting of almost 4000 rules and some annexes such as a list of ca. 2000 roots, are those by Katyayana and Patanjali (ca. 2nd century B.C.). In the course of the centuries several additions and adaptations have been made in the rules and in the list of roots which has led to different forms and interpretations of Panini’s grammar and also to new grammars that appeared under a new title even if they are largely derived from and inspired by Panini’s grammar. Paninian grammar is therefore not only a difficult and technical discipline, it has also been, over the millennia, a vibrant field of scholarly text production.

The proposed and by some or all transmitters accepted changes in the original text have made it difficult or impossible to reconstruct THE original grammar of Panini. Since the 17th century the most widely accepted version is the one commented upon by Bhattoji Diksita, which is the best starting point for a general study of Paninian grammar and its presentation in major commentaries through the centuries. The object of Bhattoji Diksita’s grammar is the Sanskrit as known to Panini and his earliest commentators, Katyayana and Patanjali.

Among alternative Paninian grammars the Prakriyasarvasva of Narayana Bhatta of Melputtur (also belonging to the 17th century) is as comprehensive as Bhattoji Diksita’s grammar but differs from it in both method and substance. It deals with Sanskrit as used not only by the three sages, Panini, Katyayana and Patanjali, but also by later authors of the Sanskrit tradition.

Consequently, two research axis are explored :

• « The Paninian grammar through its examples »
• « Alternative paninian grammar: Narayana Bhatta »