India as Known to Panini: A Study of the Cultural Material in the Ashtadhyayi c10.s2.8

c10.s2.8

*NAMING OF BOOKS*—Pāṇini enunciates two general principles for the naming of literary works: (1) after the name of the author (*Kṛite granthe*, IV.3.116), *e.g.* *Vāraruchāḥ ślokāḥ*, the *ślokas* composed by Vararuchi; and (2) after the name of the subject treated (*Adhikṛitya kṛite granthe*, IV.3.87), *e.g.* *Saubhadra*, 'story of Subhadrā'; *Gaurimitra*, not explained; *Yāyāta*, story of Yayāti. These short stories were meant to popularise the great characters of ancient history. As examples of works named after subects, Pāṇini mentions (1) *Śiśukrandīya* ('a work based on the cry of the divine child Kṛishṇa at birth'); (2) *Yamasabhīya* ('relating to the assembly of Yama'); (3) *Indrajananīya* ('relating to the birth of Indra') (IV.3.88).