India as Known to Panini: A Study of the Cultural Material in the Ashtadhyayi c10.s1.25

c10.s1.25

Pāṇini has noticed the linguistic forms indicative of stages in academic progress. The stages of secular studies were expressed in terms of the particular treatise studied (*Granthāntādhike cha*, VI.3.79), *e.g.* 'studies the science of astrology upto the chapters *Kalā* and *Muhūrta*, *sakalam*, *samuhurtam jyautisham adhīte*; or reads grammar upto the treatise called *Saṅgraha* (*sasaṅgrahaṁ vyākaraṇaṁ adhīte*, *Kāśikā*). The completion of a course is indicated by the term *anta-vachana* (II.1.6), *i.e.* study upto its concluding chapter, for which older examples were, *sāgni adhīte*, 'he completes his studies upto the text called *Agni* (Books V-IX of the *Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa* dealing with the Fire ritual); or *seshṭi-paśu-bandham*, upto the text called *Ishṭi* (Books I-II of the *Śatapatha* dealing with the *Ishṭis* or New and Full-Moon sacrifices), and *Paśu-bandha* (Books III-V of the *Śatapatha*, dealing with the Soma sacrifices). Completion of a particular topic of study was called *vṛitta* (VII.2.26, *Neradhyayane vṛittam*); *e.g.*, in reply to the question 'How much has Devadatta read?', it was stated: *Vṛitto guṇo Devadattena*, *Vṛittaṁ pārāyaṇaṁ Devadattena*, 'Devadatta has finished the study of the topic called *guṇa* (*i.e.* strengthening of vowels in grammatical formations); or *pārāyaṇa* (Vedic recitations). Two linguistic forms were current to indicate the progress of studies, either by topics or the prescribed books completed.