Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c31.17

c31.17

**Higher and Specialized Study : (1) Of Grammar : Its Textbooks.** There is a course of specialized and advanced studies in *Vyākaraṇa* which was “the name for the general secular literature” (p. 169). The following textbooks were prescribed : (1) The *Chūrṇi*, which is the name of Patañjali’s famous commentary on Pāṇini’s Sūtras, usually called the *Mahābhāshya*, containing 24,000 slokas (p. 178). It cites the *Sūtras*, explains the obscure points, analyses the principles involved, and clears up many difficulties. "*Advanced scholars learn this in three years.*" (2) The *Bhartṛihari-Śāstra*, which was a commentary in 25,000 slokas on the former work by the great scholar Bhartṛihari, who "*was very famous throughout the five parts of India*" and who "*became seven times a priest and seven times returned to the laity*". He died in A.D. 651-2 (p. 180). (3) The *Vākyapadīya*, another work of Bhartṛihari, with 700 slokas and a commentary portion in 7,000 slokas. It is a "*treatise on the Inference, supported by the authority of the sacred teaching and on Inductive arguments*" (ib.). (4) The *Pei-na* (probably Sanskrit Beḍa or Veḍa), a grammatical work of 3,000 slokas composed by Bhartṛihari, with a commentary portion in 14,000 slokas attributed to his contemporary, Dharmapāla. It treats of "*the secrets of heaven and earth and of the philosophy of man*".