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The '''{{IAST|Mahābhāṣya}}''' ("great commentary"), attributed to ], is a commentary on the celebrated ] is one of the three most famous] grammarians of ancient India, other two being {{IAST|Pāṇini}} and Kātyayana who preceded Patañjali (dated to ca. ]). Kātyayana's work (nearly 1500 vārtikas on {{IAST|Pāṇini}}) is available only through references in Patañjali's work. | ||
| It was with Patanjali that Indian linguistic science reached its definite form. The system thus established is extremely detailed as to ] (phonology, including accent) and ] (grammar and morphology). Syntax is scarcely touched, but ] (etymology) is discussed, and these etymologies naturally lead to ] explanations. People interpret his work to be a defense of {{IAST|Pāṇini}}, whose Sutras are elaborated meaningfully. He also examines ] rather severely. But the main contributions of Patanjali lies in the treatment of the principles of grammar enunciated by him. | |||
| Kātyayana introduced semantic discourse into grammar, which was further elaborated by Patañjali to such an extent that {{IAST|Mahābhāṣya}} can be called a mix of grammar as such as well as a ''philosophy'' of grammar. ''Kāśika-vritti'' by Jayāditya and Vāmana (mentioned by Itsing) included viewpoints of other grammarians also which did nor conform to Patañjali's views. Many commentaries on {{IAST|Mahābhāṣya}} were written, of which {{IAST|Kaiyaṭa}}'s commentary named ''Pradīpa'' (ca. 11th century AD) is most celebrated. | |||
| After {{IAST|Kaiyaṭa}}, interest in the study of Sanskrit grammar according to traditional {{IAST|Pāṇini}}an sequence of sūtras started declining, and a new simplified system gained gound which was started by Buddhist scholar ] through his commentary on {{IAST|Pāṇini}} named ''Rūpāvatāra'' , which excluded Vedic sūtras of {{IAST|Pāṇini}} in which Dharmakīrti had no interest and dealt with 2664 sutras. | |||
| This new simplified system gradually culminated into Siddhānta-kaumudi which became so popular that overwhelming majority of Indians now avoid studying {{IAST|Pāṇini}}an sūtras according to {{IAST|Pāṇini}}an sequence , which was {{IAST|Mahābhāṣya}}'s plan also. Study of grammar according to {{IAST|Pāṇini}}an sequence is known as {{IAST|Asṭādhyāyi}} method, which has been largely replaced with ''Prakriyā'' (literally, 'process') method, in which {{IAST|Pāṇini}}an sūtras are studied according to categories like noun, pronoun, verb, etc. Hence the role of {{IAST|Mahābhāṣya}}, which was written according to {{IAST|Asṭādhyāyi}} method, in day to day education declined. But the importance of {{IAST|Mahābhāṣya}} in explaining the {{IAST|Pāṇini}}an formulas can never diminish. | |||
| ] (1813-1864) published the first part of the {{IAST|Mahābhāṣya}} of Patañjali in 1856, for the first time opening native Indian grammatical tradition to a wider European scholarly audience. | |||
| ==References== | |||
| *The {{IAST|Mahābhāṣya}} of Patañjali with annotation (Ahnikas I – IV), Translated by Surendranath Dasgupta, Published by Indian Council of Philosophical Research | |||
| *{{IAST|Mahābhāṣya}} of Patañjali (Śrīmadbhagavat-patañjali-muni-{{IAST|viracitaṃ Pātañjalaṃ Mahābhāṣyam) by Patañjali (in Sanskrit), Publisher: Vārāṇasī : Vāṇīvilāsa}} Prakāśana, 1987-1988. ,OCLC: 20995237 | |||
| *Bronkhorst, Johannes, 1992. Panini's View of Meaning and its Western Counterpart. In, Maxim Stamenov (ed.) Current Advances in Semantic Theory. Amsterdam: J. Benjamins. (455-64) | |||
| *Scharfe, Helmut, 1977. Grammatical Literature. Vol. V, Fasc. 2, History of Indian Literature, (ed.) Jan Gonda. Wiesbaden: Otto Harrassowitz. | |||
| *Staal, J.F. (ed.), 1985. A Reader on Sanskrit Grammarians. Delhi: Motilal Banarasidass. | |||
| {{ling-stub}} | {{ling-stub}} | ||
Revision as of 08:58, 3 September 2007
The Mahābhāṣya ("great commentary"), attributed to Patañjali, is a commentary on the celebrated Ashtadhyayi of Panini is one of the three most famousSanskrit grammarians of ancient India, other two being Pāṇini and Kātyayana who preceded Patañjali (dated to ca. 150 BC). Kātyayana's work (nearly 1500 vārtikas on Pāṇini) is available only through references in Patañjali's work.
It was with Patanjali that Indian linguistic science reached its definite form. The system thus established is extremely detailed as to shiksha (phonology, including accent) and vyakarana (grammar and morphology). Syntax is scarcely touched, but nirukta (etymology) is discussed, and these etymologies naturally lead to semantic explanations. People interpret his work to be a defense of Pāṇini, whose Sutras are elaborated meaningfully. He also examines Kātyāyana rather severely. But the main contributions of Patanjali lies in the treatment of the principles of grammar enunciated by him.
Kātyayana introduced semantic discourse into grammar, which was further elaborated by Patañjali to such an extent that Mahābhāṣya can be called a mix of grammar as such as well as a philosophy of grammar. Kāśika-vritti by Jayāditya and Vāmana (mentioned by Itsing) included viewpoints of other grammarians also which did nor conform to Patañjali's views. Many commentaries on Mahābhāṣya were written, of which Kaiyaṭa's commentary named Pradīpa (ca. 11th century AD) is most celebrated.
After Kaiyaṭa, interest in the study of Sanskrit grammar according to traditional Pāṇinian sequence of sūtras started declining, and a new simplified system gained gound which was started by Buddhist scholar Dharmakirti through his commentary on Pāṇini named Rūpāvatāra , which excluded Vedic sūtras of Pāṇini in which Dharmakīrti had no interest and dealt with 2664 sutras.
This new simplified system gradually culminated into Siddhānta-kaumudi which became so popular that overwhelming majority of Indians now avoid studying Pāṇinian sūtras according to Pāṇinian sequence , which was Mahābhāṣya's plan also. Study of grammar according to Pāṇinian sequence is known as Asṭādhyāyi method, which has been largely replaced with Prakriyā (literally, 'process') method, in which Pāṇinian sūtras are studied according to categories like noun, pronoun, verb, etc. Hence the role of Mahābhāṣya, which was written according to Asṭādhyāyi method, in day to day education declined. But the importance of Mahābhāṣya in explaining the Pāṇinian formulas can never diminish.
James R. Ballantyne (1813-1864) published the first part of the Mahābhāṣya of Patañjali in 1856, for the first time opening native Indian grammatical tradition to a wider European scholarly audience.
References
- The Mahābhāṣya of Patañjali with annotation (Ahnikas I – IV), Translated by Surendranath Dasgupta, Published by Indian Council of Philosophical Research
- Mahābhāṣya of Patañjali (Śrīmadbhagavat-patañjali-muni-viracitaṃ Pātañjalaṃ Mahābhāṣyam) by Patañjali (in Sanskrit), Publisher: Vārāṇasī : Vāṇīvilāsa Prakāśana, 1987-1988. ,OCLC: 20995237
- Bronkhorst, Johannes, 1992. Panini's View of Meaning and its Western Counterpart. In, Maxim Stamenov (ed.) Current Advances in Semantic Theory. Amsterdam: J. Benjamins. (455-64)
- Scharfe, Helmut, 1977. Grammatical Literature. Vol. V, Fasc. 2, History of Indian Literature, (ed.) Jan Gonda. Wiesbaden: Otto Harrassowitz.
- Staal, J.F. (ed.), 1985. A Reader on Sanskrit Grammarians. Delhi: Motilal Banarasidass.
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