पाणिनीयसूत्रव्याख्याने ऎतिहासिकतथ्यानि : एकमनुशीलनम् / Historical Evidences from the illustration of Pāṇinian Aphorism: A study

Abstract

ऎतिहासिकम् अध्ययनं प्रति संस्कृतसाहित्यस्य महत्त्वपूर्णं योगदानं वर्त्तते । अस्यामेव धारायां भगवत: पाणिने: सर्वोत्कृष्टा कृति: अष्टाध्यायी । सूत्रात्मकस्यास्य भुवनविदितस्य ग्रन्थस्य व्याख्यानं गवेषणाक्षेत्रे महोपकारकमस्ति । पणिनीयसूत्राणां व्यख्यानावसरे संगृहीता: उदाहरणशब्दा: विविधवैशिष्ट्यपरका:। वामनजयादित्याभ्यां विरचिता प्रसिद्धा वृत्ति: काशिका उदाहरणमण्डिता । काशिकायां संगृहीतानि उदाहरणानि प्रत्युदाहरणनि ऐतिहासिकतथ्यप्रदानि । काशिकाध्ययनं पाणिनीयसूत्रार्थज्ञाने महत् सहायकं भवति । प्रस्तुतं शोधपत्रं पाणिनीयसूत्राणां व्याख्यानावसरे प्रदत्तानाम् ऐतिहसिकतथ्यानाम् एकमनुशीलनं करोति ।  प्राचीनभारतस्य महनीयानां तत्त्वानां परिचयप्रदाने शोधवाङ्मये शोधपत्रमिदं यत्नमात्रम् ।

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Sanskrit literature have contributed immensely to the field of historical study, it is Pāṇini who in his Aṣṭādhyāyī, first set a linguistic model with historical datas for the description of language in 5^th Century B.C. Kāśikā-Vṛtti of Jayāditya and Vāmana is a well-coded gloss on Pāṇini’s Aṣṭādhyāyī.  The present study discusses some historical evidences found in Kāśikā in the form of examples and counter examples which are supplied by its authors to illustrate the working of the aphorisms of Aṣṭādhyāyī. Throughout the world, the scholars have shown great interest in the field of language-analysis and in this respect Sanskrit grammatical literature have contributed immensely by studying language-behavior of Ancient India. Like any other ancient language of any part of the globe, Sanskrit has been the successful means of carrying reflections of the ancient Indian cultural heritage. Sanskrit grammarians too have not lagged behind in this mission. As objective recorders of facts, Indian grammarians have tried to reveal various aspects for the study of ancient Indian history.  Knowledge of Panini’s grammar is essential for Sanskrit language. The name of Aṣṭādhyāyī comes before us by saying the grammar of Panini. Aṣṭādhyāyī is a composition of aphorisms. It is difficult to explain the meaning of aphorisms without the help of commentary text. The enormous commentaries are available on this. They deal with different perspectives of research and study. Kāśikā or Kāśikā-Vṛtti is a ‘gloss’ whose purpose is to precisely explain sūtras(aphorisms)  without leaving any doubt in the minds of the readers. To illustrate the working of aphorisms of Pāṇini’s Aṣṭādhyāyī, the author of   Kāśikā supply historical data in the form of examples and counter examples. Examples of Sanskrit grammatical text constitute a livelily norms of language-use which may be considered as one of its primary aspects. The description of this aspect of language-use in society in relation to various facts of social life tends to be interesting and the legitimate goal of historical investigation. It is taken for granted that the trimuni vyākaraṇa samples and records facts of ancient India from the source of natural speech. Coming unto the time of Jayāditya and Vāmana, the natural speech might be progressing rapidly towards a theoretical possibility. Still the historical recording mainly of diachronic nature noticed in the Kāśikā Vṛtti (KV) makes it appropriate a text of historical investigation. It will not be out of place to prepare below a brief but relevant outline of the nature and necessity of historical investigation when Pāṇini is claimed to be a scholar of the science of ancient Indian history   having the critical attitude of accurate recording of facts in his Aṣṭādhyāyī.