Sanskrit Vyakaran Shastra Ka Itihas 02

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text, "संस्कृत व्याकरण-शास्त्र का इतिहास, द्वितीय भाग" (History of Sanskrit Grammar, Part Two) by Yudhishthir Mimansak:

Book Title: संस्कृत व्याकरण-शास्त्र का इतिहास, द्वितीय भाग (History of Sanskrit Grammar, Part Two) Author: युधिष्ठिर मीमांसक (Yudhishthir Mimansak) Publisher: युधिष्ठिर मीमांसक (Yudhishthir Mimansak)

Overall Scope: This book is the second part of a larger work aiming to chronicle the history of Sanskrit grammar. Part Two, as indicated by the title and the publisher's preface, delves into various supplementary branches of grammar that are closely related to the core grammatical system, focusing on their historical development, key proponents, and commentators.

Key Themes and Contents:

1. Structure of Sanskrit Grammar (Pancha-anga): The book begins by explaining that traditional Sanskrit grammar is divided into five parts or "angas":

   • Shabdānushasana (Sutrapatha): The core grammatical rules, primarily associated with Panini's Ashtadhyayi.
   • Dhatupatha: A lexicon of verb roots.
   • Ganapatha: Lists of word classes (ganas) that require specific grammatical treatment.
   • Unadi-sutras: Rules for deriving nouns from roots with specific suffixes.
   • Lingānushasana: Rules for grammatical gender.

2. Khil-path (Supplementary Texts): The book uses the term "Khil-path" to refer to these supplementary grammatical texts (Dhatupatha, Ganapatha, Unadi-sutras, Lingānushasana). The author explains the term "khil" as having meanings like "barren land" or "appendix," suggesting these texts supplement the main grammatical work (Shabdānushasana). The author notes a historical trend where these supplementary texts were initially integrated but later separated for brevity, leading to some neglect, especially for the Ganapatha.

3. Historical Overview of Grammatical Branches: The bulk of the book is dedicated to tracing the history and key figures associated with each of these grammatical branches:

   • Dhatupatha (Lexicon of Roots):

     • The author traces the history of Dhatupatha from pre-Paninian times, mentioning proponents like Indra, Vayu, Bhāguri, Kāshakritsna (whose Dhatupatha is remarkably available and discussed in detail, including its translation and distinctive features), Shakatāyana, and Āpishali.
     • A significant portion is devoted to Panini's Dhatupatha, addressing critiques about its authenticity, its dual form (Laghu and Vriddha), its relationship to ancient texts, and its commentators.
     • The book lists numerous commentators on Panini's Dhatupatha, starting from Panini himself (inferred), Sunāga, Bhimasena, Dhārupārāyana, Ksheeraswami (with a detailed discussion of his work), Maitreyarakshita, Harayogi, Deva, Krishna Leelashuk Muni, Kashyapa, Atreya, Helārāja, and Sāyana.
     • It then moves to commentators on post-Paninian Dhatupathas, mentioning Kātantra (with its lineage of commentators like Sharvavarma, Durgasimha, Trilochana Das), Chandragomi, Kshipanaka, Devānandi, Vāmana, Pālyakirti, Bhojadeva, Buddhisāgara Suri, Bhadreshvara Suri, and Hemachandra Suri.

   • Ganapatha (Lists of Word Classes):

     • The author discusses the significance of Ganapatha, its origin, and its separation from the Sutrapātha.
     • It details pre-Paninian proponents like Bhāguri and Shāntanava.
     • Panini's Ganapatha is analyzed, including debates about its authenticity and its two forms.
     • Numerous commentators on Panini's Ganapatha are listed, from Panini himself to Purushottamadeva, Nārāyana Nyāyapanchānana, and others.
     • The book also covers post-Paninian Ganapatha proponents and commentators, including Kātantra, Chandragomi, Kshipanaka, Devānandi, Vāmana, Pālyakirti, Bhojadeva, Bhadreshvara Suri, and Hemachandra Suri.

   • Unadi-sutras (Derivational Suffixes):

     • The text explores the nature and purpose of Unadi-sutras, their relationship to the core grammar, and the historical debates surrounding them.
     • It discusses pre-Paninian proponents like Kāshakritsna, Shāntanava, and Āpishali.
     • A detailed analysis of Panini's Unadi-sutras (Panchapadi) is presented, including discussions on its authenticity and authorship claims.
     • A long list of commentators on Panini's Unadi-sutras is provided, starting from the Bhāshyakāra (Patānjali), Govardhana, Dāmodara, Purushottama Deva, Ujjvaladatta (with extensive discussion on his commentary), Didayashila, Shvetavāsin, Bhattoji Dixit, Nārāyana Bhatta, Mahadeva Vedanti, and others.
     • It also covers post-Paninian Unadi-sutra proponents and commentators like Kātantra, Chandracharya, Kshipanaka, Devānandi, Vāmana, Pālyakirti, Bhojadeva, Buddhisāgara Suri, Hemachandra Suri, and Malayagiri.

   • Lingānushasana (Grammatical Gender):

     • The author discusses the place of Lingānushasana in Sanskrit grammar and its importance.
     • It traces the lineage of its proponents, from pre-Paninian figures like Shantanu and Vyadi, to Panini himself.
     • A comprehensive list of commentators on Panini's Lingānushasana is provided, including Bhatta Utpala, Ramachandra, Bhattoji Dixit, Nārāyana Bhatta, Rāmānanda, and others.
     • It also covers post-Paninian Lingānushasana proponents, such as Chandragomi, Vararuci, Amarasimha, Devānandi, Shankara, Harshavardhana, Durgasimha, Vāmana, Pālyakirti, Bhojadeva, Buddhisāgara Suri, Arunadeva, and Hemachandra Suri.

   • Paribhāsha-path (Rules of Interpretation):

     • The book explains the definition and significance of Paribhāshās in Sanskrit grammar.
     • It discusses the historical development of Paribhāsha-texts, noting that many were not directly authored by the primary grammarians but compiled by later commentators.
     • Key proponents like Kāshakritsna and Vyadi are mentioned.
     • Panini's role in this area is discussed, along with commentators like Haradatta, Purushottamadeva, Seeradeva, Bhima, Vaidyanatha, and Nāgesha Bhatta.
     • It also covers post-Paninian Paribhāsha proponents such as Kātantra, Chandragomi, Shakatāyana, Bhojadeva, and Hemachandrāchārya.

   • Fit-sutras (Accentuation Rules):

     • The author emphasizes the necessity of Fit-sutras for understanding the accentuation of words, especially those not following standard grammatical derivation.
     • It delves into the debate about Panini's authorship of the Fit-sutras, presenting arguments from the Mahābhāshya and various commentators.
     • The book discusses the proponents of Fit-sutras, tracing their origins possibly to Shantanu or Shāntanava, and the commentary on these texts.
     • Key figures like Nagesha Bhatta and his critique of the Fit-sutras are mentioned.

   • Pratishākhyas and Other Vedic Grammatical Texts:

     • This section explains the nature and purpose of Pratishākhyas, their relation to Vedic phonetics, and the distinction between "Charana" and "Shakha."
     • It lists available and known Pratishākhyas for different Vedas (Rigveda, Shuklayajurveda, Krishnayajurveda, Samaveda, Atharvaveda).
     • For each Pratishākhya, it mentions the proponents (e.g., Shaunak for Rigveda, Kātyāyana for Shuklayajurveda, Taiṭṭirīya for Krishnayajurveda) and their commentators (e.g., Vishnumitra, Uvvata for Rigveda; Ananta Bhatta for Shuklayajurveda).
     • It also discusses other related Vedic grammatical texts like Atharva Chaturādhyāyī, Pratidnyā-sūtra, Bhāshika-sūtra, Rik-tantra, Sāma-tantra, Akshara-tantra, and Chhandoga-vyākarana, attributing them to various ancient scholars.

   • Philosophical Texts on Grammar:

     • The book recognizes that grammar, when delving into the nature of words, their origin, and meaning, transcends mere rules and enters the realm of philosophy.
     • It highlights the importance of Sphota theory, mentioning Sphotāyana as a key early proponent.
     • Other significant figures and texts discussed include Audumbarāyana (on word eternality vs. creation), Vyadi (known for his "Sangraha" text), Patañjali (whose Mahābhāshya is considered a philosophical treasure trove for grammar), Bhartrihari (author of the philosophical masterpiece "Vakyapadiya"), Mandana Mishra (on Sphota), Bharata Mishra, and various other scholars contributing to the philosophical aspects of grammar and Sphota.

   • Kāvya-Shāstra Authors with Grammatical Focus (Lakshya-pradhāna Kāvyashāstra):

     • This section discusses authors who wrote poetic works with a strong grammatical foundation, or grammatical texts presented in a poetic style.
     • Panini is prominently discussed for his attributed work "Jāmbavatīvijaya," which is presented as a grammatical treatise in poetic form. The author refutes Western scholars' skepticism about Panini's poetic abilities.
     • Other figures like Vyadi, Vararuci Kātyāyana, Patañjali, Bhatta Bhooma (author of Rāvanārjunīya), Bhaṭṭikāvya-kāra, and Halāyudha are mentioned as poets with grammatical expertise or grammatical works presented poetically.

4. Author's Perspective and Methodology:

   • Emphasis on Indigenous Tradition: Mimansak Ji strongly advocates for the indigenous Indian tradition and criticizes the undue influence of Western scholarship that often dismisses or reinterprets Indian texts based on pre-conceived notions, often influenced by colonial biases.
   • Critique of Western Scholarship: He directly confronts Western scholars and their Indian followers who, he argues, have corrupted the understanding of Indian literature and history.
   • Scholarly Rigor: Despite his strong stance, Mimansak Ji presents a meticulously researched account, citing numerous texts, commentaries, and historical sources. He engages with debates and differences in opinion among scholars.
   • Personal Struggles: The author candidly shares his personal health challenges, including surgeries, that caused delays in the publication of this volume, highlighting his dedication to completing the work.
   • Last Edition: Due to his health, he considers this the final revised edition.

5. Editions and Revisions: The preface and colophon detail the various editions, page counts, and additions made over time, indicating a continuous effort to refine and expand the work. The author notes that this particular edition has increased page count due to refinements and additions.

Overall Significance: "Sanskrit Vyakaran Shastra ka Itihas, Part Two" is a monumental work that provides a deep dive into the historical and literary context of the supplementary branches of Sanskrit grammar. It is characterized by its comprehensive coverage, critical analysis of sources, and a strong defense of the indigenous Indian scholarly tradition against perceived misinterpretations. The author's personal narrative adds a layer of sincerity and dedication to this scholarly endeavor. The book serves as an invaluable resource for anyone studying the evolution and history of Sanskrit grammar.