India as Known to Panini: A Study of the Cultural Material in the Ashtadhyayi c8.s13.t1.42

c8.s13.t1.42

*Ayānayīna*, a technical term mentioned in *sūtra*, V.2.9, denoted a gamesman fit to be moved to a square of safety. Patañjali comments on its meaning: 'By giving the sense as 'that which is to be carried to *ayānaya*' the meaning is not made quite clear as to which is *naya* and which is *anaya*.' (To this we reply). "The right hand move is *aya* and the left hand move *anaya*. (The pieces move both right and left with reference to the rival players seated opposite to each other). That square is called *ayānaya* in which pieces coming both from right and left (which virtually means the gamesmen of both players) are not attacked by their rivals. The gamesman that is desired to be moved to such a safe square is spoken of as *ayāna-yīna*, *Bhāshya*, II.373). On each side of the board there are such checkered squares in which rival gamesmen may rest without being attacked. This description holds good in the case of *chaupar* which thus appears to be an old game.