India as Known to Panini: A Study of the Cultural Material in the Ashtadhyayi c10.s3.t1.50

c10.s3.t1.50

*UPANISHAD*—It has been argued that Pāṇini does not refer to the Upanishads. So far as he is concerned, the word *Upanishad* forming part of the *Ṛigayanādi* group (IV.3.73) serves the same purpose as if it were read in a *sūtra*. On the basis of linguistic evidence Liebich had come to the conclusion that 'Not only the *Aitareya Brāhmaṇa*, but also the *Bṛihadāraṇyaka Upanishad* are certainly older than Pāṇini.' (*Pāṇini*, p. 37). The fact is that Pāṇini shows an acquaintance not only with the *Aitareya* and *Kaushītakī Brāhmaṇas* (cf. V.1.62) and the *Anubrāhmaṇas* of a later date, but also with the *Śrauta Sūtras* (IV.3.105) and the *Dharma Sūtras* which were developed as special subjects of study inside *Charaṇas* (IV.2.46). Pāṇini actually mentions the term Upanishad in one of the *sūtras* (*Jīvikopanishadāvaupamye*, I.4.79), where it denotes 'that which is secret.' This accords with its meaning known to Kauṭilya under the head *Aupanishadikam*. A term used originally as the name of esoteric religions texts, had acquired a pejorative sense by the time of Pāṇini. Keith also concludes on the basis of *sūtra* I.4.79 that Pāṇini was acquainted with the Upanishads (*Tait. S.*, H.O.S., p. clxvii).