India as Known to Panini: A Study of the Cultural Material in the Ashtadhyayi c6.33

c6.33

*TRADITION ABOUT PĀṆINI'S LIFE*—The Indian tradition about Pāṇini is embodied in the *Kathāsaritsāgara* of Somadeva (11th century) and the *Bṛihatkathāmañjarī* of Kshemendra (11th century) both of which were based on the original *Bṛihatkathā* of Guṇāḍhya. According to this, Pāṇini was a pupil of the teacher Varsha. He was not much known for his intelligence (*manda-buddhi*) and lagged behind in studies. Withdrawing for a time to the Himalayan seclusion he performed meditation and pleased Śiva who revealed to him a new system of grammar (*nava-vyākaraṇa*). His rival was Kātyāyana whom he finally overcame by his superior powers. Pāṇini's grammar eventually replaced the older Aindra system. He also became a friend of the Nanda emperor. This tradition is supported in detail by Yuan Chwang as shown below.