India as Known to Panini: A Study of the Cultural Material in the Ashtadhyayi c6.94

c6.94

*NATURE OF THE ORIGINAL VYĀKHYĀNAS*—Both Kātyāyana and Patañjali admit the necessity of a commentary (*vyākhyāna*) to elucidate the words of the *sūtras* (I.11). The earliest commentaries were of a simple nature intended for the practical purpose of teaching. They comprised the following elements: (1) *charchā*, or *pada-vigraha*, splitting up the *sūtra* into its component parts; (2) *udāharaṇa*, examples; (3) *pratyudāharaṇa*, counter-examples; and (4) *vāky-ādhyāhāra*, or *anuvṛitti*, repeating the words of a previous *sūtra* to aid in the meaning of the subsequent *sūtra*.¹ The explanation emanating from the *Sūtrakāra* or from those nearest to him in time must have been of this simple character. To them should be assigned illustrations like *anu-Śākaṭāyanam vaiyākaraṇāḥ* (I.4.86), *Śākaṭāyana-putraḥ* (VI.2.133), *Nanda-putraḥ* (VI.2.133) referring to both king Nanda and his son, and *Nand-opakra-māṇi mānāni* 'the weights and measures were first standardised by king Nanda, (II.4.21). The historical value of such early illustrations will be discussed in their proper places.