India as Known to Panini: A Study of the Cultural Material in the Ashtadhyayi c6.84

c6.84

Their discussions, helpful in reconstructing a genuine text of the *Gaṇa-pāṭha*, create the impression that the Pāṇinian tradition attached as much authority to *gaṇas* as to *sūtras*. It is, however, difficult at present to ascertain in all cases whether a particular word was originally included in its *gaṇa*. The commentaries on Pāṇini have proceeded on the assumption that the basis of the *Gaṇa-pāṭha* is generally sound. We must agree with Dr. Bhandarkar that most of the words in the *gaṇas* must have been handed down from the time of Pāṇini himself, a good many being cited by Patañjali in his great commentary (*Ind. Ant.*, I.21). For example, the *Yaskādi* group (II.4.63) is analysed by the *Kāśikā*; out of a total of 36 words 16 have been directly traced to 5 different *gaṇas* of Pāṇini, *viz.* the first five words to *Śivādi* (IV.1.112); Kudri, Viśri, Ajabasti, Mitrayu to *Gṛishṭyādi* (IV.1.136); Pushkarsad to *Bāhvādi* (IV.1.96); Kharapa to *Naḍādi* (IV.1.99); Bhalandana again to *Śivādi* (IV.1.112); and Bhaḍila, Bhaḍita, Bhaṇḍita to *Aśvādi* (IV.1.110). Moreover, intrinsic evidence from the *sūtras* in support of *Gaṇa-pāṭha* is sometimes available; *e.g.* the reading of *Pravahaṇa* in IV.1.123 is presumed by the *sūtra* VII.3.28; or the reading of the *gaṇa Sarvādi* is authenticated by several *sūtras* of Pāṇini himself like *Pūrvādi* (VII.1.16), *Dvyādi* (V.3.2), *Ḍatarādi* (VII.¹.25) and *Tyadādi* (VII.2.102). The *Lohitādi-Katanta* group was included in the *Gargādi gaṇa* (IV.1.105), which like the *Bidādi* (IV.1.104) must be considered as one of the best preserved groups.