India as Known to Panini: A Study of the Cultural Material in the Ashtadhyayi c4.6

c4.6

The Thesis reveals for the first time the deep relationship between the historical background of Pāṇini and Kauṭilya. The close proximity of their vocabulary and numerous items of cultural life common to both are worthy of greater attention, and point to underlying chronological relationships. Pāṇini is closely related in time to Kauṭilya by his numismatic data. It is very significant that there is not a single coin name in the *Arthaśāstra* which would reflect its late character. The numismatic evidence is completely in favour of its Mauryan date. Pāṇini must have preceded him by about a century or so.