Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c8.s4.t2.3

v1.c8.s4.t2.3

The 15ᵗʰ volume of *Abhidharma-Jnanaprasthana-mahavibhasa-sastra* written by 500 Arhats and translated by Xuanzang mentioned that “one word had multiple meanings in Nighantu” written by ancient wise men. Further, the fifth volume of *Explanations on Mahayana-samuparigraha-sastra* written by Sunyata Bodhisattva and translated by Xuanzang mentioned that “one thing had multiple names in Nighantu”. All this show that *Nighantu* collected different names of synonyms. The explanation was consistent with actual conditions of which Nighantu was the earliest extant book in India.