India as Known to Panini: A Study of the Cultural Material in the Ashtadhyayi c6.57
India as Known to Pāṇini: A Study of the Cultural Material in the Ashṭādhyāyī c6.57
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c6.57
(7) *PĀṆINI AND MAHEŚVARA*—The information that Pāṇini possessed a well-conceived ‘plan of his undertaking’ which was highly approved of by Īśvara Deva is of importance in crediting the grammarian with his full share of independent and original thinking in the execution of the *Ashṭādhyāyī*. The legend of Īśvara Deva indicates the traditional divine help usually associated with all pious undertakings. ‘The Ṛishi having received instruction, retired.’ It points to the period of Pāṇini’s intellectual labour and single-minded devotion to his work in quiet surroundings (*śuchāv-avakāśe*, *Bhāshya*, I.39).