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{{short description|Sanskrit work of commentary}}
{{italic title}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2022}}


{{short description|Sanskrit work of commentary}}
'''''Mahabhashya''''' ({{langx|sa|महाभाष्य}}, IAST: ''{{IAST|Mahābhāṣya}}''',''''' {{IPA|sa|mɐɦaːbʱaːʂjɐ|IPA}}, "Great Commentary"), attributed to [[Patañjali]], is a commentary on selected rules of [[Sanskrit grammar]] from [[Pāṇini]]'s treatise, the ''[[Aṣṭādhyāyī]]'', as well as [[Kātyāyana]]'s ''Vārttika-sūtra'', an elaboration of Pāṇini's grammar. It is dated to the 2nd century BCE.{{Sfn|Kahrs|1998|p=13}}<ref>{{cite encyclopedia | title = Philosophical elements in Patañjali's Mahābhāṣya | encyclopedia = Encyclopedia of Indian philosophies | author = K. Kunjunni Raja | year = 1970 |editor=Harold G. Coward |editor-link=Harold Coward |editor2=K. Kunjunni Raja | volume = 5 (''The Philosophy of the Grammarians'') | pages = 115 | publisher = Motilal Banarsidass Publ | isbn = 81-208-0426-0 }}</ref><ref name="Scharf1996p1">{{cite book |last=Scharf |first=Peter M. |title=The Denotation of Generic Terms in Ancient Indian Philosophy: Grammar, Nyāya, and Mīmāṃsā |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Qh4LAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA1 |year=1996 |publisher=American Philosophical Society |isbn=978-0-87169-863-6|pages=1–2}}</ref>{{sfn|Cardona|1997|pp=[https://books.google.com/books?id=adWXhQ-yHQUC&pg=PA267 267]–268}}
 
{{EngvarB|date=May 2022}}
{{italic title}}
'''''Mahabhashya''''' ({{lang-sa|महाभाष्य}}, IAST: ''{{IAST|Mahābhāṣya}}''',''''' {{IPA-sa|mɐɦaːbʱaːʂjɐ|IPA}}, "great commentary"), attributed to [[Patañjali]], is a commentary on selected rules of [[Sanskrit grammar]] from [[Pāṇini]]'s treatise, the ''[[Aṣṭādhyāyī]]'', as well as [[Kātyāyana]]'s ''Vārttika-sūtra'', an elaboration of Pāṇini's grammar. It is dated to the 2nd century BCE vide itsings record of The buddhist Religion by ITSING, the chinese traveller who resided india for 16 years and studied in Nalanda University. reli.{{Sfn|Kahrs|1998|p=13}}<ref>{{cite encyclopedia | title = Philosophical elements in Patañjali's Mahābhāṣya | encyclopedia = Encyclopedia of Indian philosophies | author = K. Kunjunni Raja | year = 1970 |editor=Harold G. Coward |editor-link=Harold Coward |editor2=K. Kunjunni Raja | volume = 5 (''The Philosophy of the Grammarians'') | pages = 115 | publisher = Motilal Banarsidass Publ | isbn = 81-208-0426-0 }}</ref>


== Overview ==
== Overview ==
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Patañjali is one of the three most famous Sanskrit grammarians of ancient India, other two being Pāṇini and Kātyāyana who preceded Patañjali (dated to c. 250 BCE). Kātyāyana's work (nearly 1500 verses on {{IAST|[[Pāṇini]]}}) is available only through references in Patañjali's work.<ref>{{cite book|author=Peter M. Scharf|title=The Denotation of Generic Terms in Ancient Indian Philosophy: Grammar, Nyāya, and Mīmāṃsā|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Qh4LAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA1 |year=1996|publisher=American Philosophical Society|isbn=978-0-87169-863-6|pages=1–2}}</ref>
Patañjali is one of the three most famous Sanskrit grammarians of ancient India, other two being Pāṇini and Kātyāyana who preceded Patañjali (dated to c. 250 BCE). Kātyāyana's work (nearly 1500 verses on {{IAST|[[Pāṇini]]}}) is available only through references in Patañjali's work.<ref>{{cite book|author=Peter M. Scharf|title=The Denotation of Generic Terms in Ancient Indian Philosophy: Grammar, Nyāya, and Mīmāṃsā|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Qh4LAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA1 |year=1996|publisher=American Philosophical Society|isbn=978-0-87169-863-6|pages=1–2}}</ref>


It was with Patañjali that the Indian tradition of language scholarship reached its definite form. The system thus established is extremely detailed as to ''[[shiksha]]'' (phonology, including accent) and ''[[vyakarana]]'' (grammar and morphology). Syntax is scarcely touched, but ''[[nirukta]]'' (etymology) is discussed, and these etymologies naturally lead to [[semantics|semantic]] explanations. People interpret his work to be a defence of [[Pāṇini]], whose Sutras are elaborated meaningfully. Patañjali also examines Kātyāyana rather severely. But the main contributions of Patañjali lies in the treatment of the principles of grammar enunciated by him.{{Sfn|Cardona|2019|p=267–268}}
It was with Patañjali that the Indian tradition of language scholarship reached its definite form. The system thus established is extremely detailed as to ''[[shiksha]]'' (phonology, including accent) and ''[[vyakarana]]'' (grammar and morphology). Syntax is scarcely touched, but ''[[nirukta]]'' (etymology) is discussed, and these etymologies naturally lead to [[semantics|semantic]] explanations. People interpret his work to be a defence of [[Pāṇini]], whose Sutras are elaborated meaningfully. Patañjali also examines Kātyāyana rather severely. But the main contributions of Patañjali lies in the treatment of the principles of grammar enunciated by him.{{Sfn|Cardona|1997|p=267–268}}{{verify source|date=September 2023|reason=speculative fix for referencing error}}


Kātyāyana introduced semantic discourse into grammar, which was further elaborated by Patañjali to such an extent that ''{{IAST|Mahābhāṣya}}'' can be called a mix of grammar as such as well as a ''philosophy'' of grammar.{{Sfn|Cardona|1997|p=245}} ''Kāśika-vritti'' by Jayāditya and Vāmana (mentioned by Itsing) included viewpoints of other grammarians also which did not conform to Patañjali's views.{{Sfn|Cardona|1997|p=280}}
Kātyāyana introduced semantic discourse into grammar, which was further elaborated by Patañjali to such an extent that ''{{IAST|Mahābhāṣya}}'' can be called a mix of grammar as such as well as a ''philosophy'' of grammar.{{Sfn|Cardona|1997|p=245}} ''Kāśika-vritti'' by Jayāditya and Vāmana (mentioned by Itsing) included viewpoints of other grammarians also which did not conform to Patañjali's views.{{Sfn|Cardona|1997|p=280}}


The extant Mahābhāṣya text is available on 1228 of the 3981 sūtras of the Aṣṭādhyāyī. The Mahābhāṣya is divided into eighty five sections called āhnika consisting of subject matter of one day's study each. <ref>{{cite book|author=Madhusudan Penna|title=Vaiyakarana Bhusana Sara (Philosophy of Sanskrit Grammar)|url=https://www.exoticindiaart.com/book/details/vaiyakarana-bhusana-sara-philosophy-of-sanskrit-grammar-nak758/|year=2013|publisher=NEW BHARATIYA BOOK CORPORATION|isbn=9788183152136|pages=preface}}</ref>
The extant Mahābhāṣya text is available on 1228 of the 3981 sūtras of the Aṣṭādhyāyī. The Mahābhāṣya is divided into eighty five sections called āhnika consisting of subject matter of one day's study each.<ref>{{cite book|author=Madhusudan Penna|title=Vaiyakarana Bhusana Sara (Philosophy of Sanskrit Grammar)|url=https://www.exoticindiaart.com/book/details/vaiyakarana-bhusana-sara-philosophy-of-sanskrit-grammar-nak758/|year=2013|publisher=NEW BHARATIYA BOOK CORPORATION|isbn=9788183152136|pages=preface}}</ref>


==Mentions and commentaries==
==Mentions and commentaries==
*[[Satyapriya Tirtha]] (c. 1701 – c. 1744), a peetadhipathi of [[Uttaradi Matha]] belonging to [[Dvaita|Dvaita school of Vedanta]] wrote a commentary on ''Mahābhāṣya'' named ''Mahābhāṣya Vivarana''.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2CEj6wRqeRAC&pg=PA359|title=The Philosophy of the Grammarians, Volume 5|author=Sibajiban Bhattacharyya|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publ|year=1970|page=359|isbn=9788120804265}}</ref>
*[[Satyapriya Tirtha]] (c. 1701 – c. 1744), a pīṭhadhipati of [[Uttaradi Matha]] belonging to [[Dvaita|Dvaita school of Vedanta]] wrote a commentary on ''Mahābhāṣya'' named ''Mahābhāṣya Vivarana''.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2CEj6wRqeRAC&pg=PA359|title=The Philosophy of the Grammarians, Volume 5|author=Sibajiban Bhattacharyya|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publ|year=1970|page=359|isbn=9788120804265}}</ref>
*[[James R. Ballantyne]] (c. 1813 – c. 1864) published the first part of the {{IAST|Mahābhāṣya}} of Patañjali in 1856, for the first time opening native Indian grammatical tradition to a wider European scholarly audience.{{Sfn|Malkovsky|2001|p=23}}
*[[James R. Ballantyne]] (c. 1813 – c. 1864) published the first part of the {{IAST|Mahābhāṣya}} of Patañjali in 1856, for the first time opening native Indian grammatical tradition to a wider European scholarly audience.{{Sfn|Malkovsky|2001|p=23}}


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* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080302022125/http://www.sub.uni-goettingen.de/ebene_1/fiindolo/gret_csx.htm#PatMBhas ''vyaakaraN mahaabhaaShya''] in CSX at GRETIL.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080302022125/http://www.sub.uni-goettingen.de/ebene_1/fiindolo/gret_csx.htm#PatMBhas ''vyaakaraN mahaabhaaShya''] in CSX at GRETIL.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070819034059/http://hin.osaka-gaidai.ac.jp/cardona/ ''VyaakaraN Mahaabhaashya''] in Roman transliteration
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070819034059/http://hin.osaka-gaidai.ac.jp/cardona/ ''VyaakaraN Mahaabhaashya''] in Roman transliteration
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Mahabhasya}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mahabhasya}}

Latest revision as of 11:39, 29 January 2026



Mahabhashya (Script error: The function "langx" does not exist., IAST: Mahābhāṣya, sa, "Great Commentary"), attributed to Patañjali, is a commentary on selected rules of Sanskrit grammar from Pāṇini's treatise, the Aṣṭādhyāyī, as well as Kātyāyana's Vārttika-sūtra, an elaboration of Pāṇini's grammar. It is dated to the 2nd century BCE.[1][2][3][4]

Overview[edit | edit source]

Patañjali is one of the three most famous Sanskrit grammarians of ancient India, other two being Pāṇini and Kātyāyana who preceded Patañjali (dated to c. 250 BCE). Kātyāyana's work (nearly 1500 verses on Pāṇini) is available only through references in Patañjali's work.[5]

It was with Patañjali that the Indian tradition of language scholarship reached its definite form. The system thus established is extremely detailed as to shiksha (phonology, including accent) and vyakarana (grammar and morphology). Syntax is scarcely touched, but nirukta (etymology) is discussed, and these etymologies naturally lead to semantic explanations. People interpret his work to be a defence of Pāṇini, whose Sutras are elaborated meaningfully. Patañjali also examines Kātyāyana rather severely. But the main contributions of Patañjali lies in the treatment of the principles of grammar enunciated by him.[6][verification needed]

Kātyāyana introduced semantic discourse into grammar, which was further elaborated by Patañjali to such an extent that Mahābhāṣya can be called a mix of grammar as such as well as a philosophy of grammar.[7] Kāśika-vritti by Jayāditya and Vāmana (mentioned by Itsing) included viewpoints of other grammarians also which did not conform to Patañjali's views.[8]

The extant Mahābhāṣya text is available on 1228 of the 3981 sūtras of the Aṣṭādhyāyī. The Mahābhāṣya is divided into eighty five sections called āhnika consisting of subject matter of one day's study each.[9]

Mentions and commentaries[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Kahrs 1998, p. 13.
  2. ↑ K. Kunjunni Raja (1970). "Philosophical elements in Patañjali's Mahābhāṣya". In Harold G. Coward; K. Kunjunni Raja (eds.). Encyclopedia of Indian philosophies. Vol. 5 (The Philosophy of the Grammarians). Motilal Banarsidass Publ. p. 115. ISBN 81-208-0426-0.
  3. ↑ Scharf, Peter M. (1996). The Denotation of Generic Terms in Ancient Indian Philosophy: Grammar, Nyāya, and Mīmāṃsā. American Philosophical Society. pp. 1–2. ISBN 978-0-87169-863-6.
  4. ↑ Cardona 1997, pp. 267–268.
  5. ↑ Peter M. Scharf (1996). The Denotation of Generic Terms in Ancient Indian Philosophy: Grammar, Nyāya, and Mīmāṃsā. American Philosophical Society. pp. 1–2. ISBN 978-0-87169-863-6.
  6. ↑ Cardona 1997, p. 267–268.
  7. ↑ Cardona 1997, p. 245.
  8. ↑ Cardona 1997, p. 280.
  9. ↑ Madhusudan Penna (2013). Vaiyakarana Bhusana Sara (Philosophy of Sanskrit Grammar). NEW BHARATIYA BOOK CORPORATION. pp. preface. ISBN 9788183152136.
  10. ↑ Sibajiban Bhattacharyya (1970). The Philosophy of the Grammarians, Volume 5. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. p. 359. ISBN 9788120804265.
  11. ↑ Malkovsky 2001, p. 23.

Bibliography[edit | edit source]

Editions[edit | edit source]

  • Franz, Kielhorn (1892–1909). The Vyākaraṇa-Mahābhāṣya of Patañjali (2 ed.). Bombay: Government Central Book depot. In Sanskrit.

Secondary Literature[edit | edit source]

Further reading[edit | edit source]

  • The Mahābhāṣya of Patañjali with annotation (Ahnikas I–IV), Translated by Surendranath Dasgupta, Published by Indian Council of Philosophical Research
  • Mahābhāṣya of Patañjali (Śrīmadbhagavat-patañjali-muni-viracitaṃ Pātañjalaṃ Mahābhāṣyam) by Patañjali (in Sanskrit), Publisher: Vārāṇasī : Vāṇīvilāsa Prakāśana, 1987–1988., OCLC: 20995237
  • Bronkhorst, Johannes, 1992. Pāṇini's View of Meaning and its Western Counterpart. In, Maxim Stamenov (ed.) Current Advances in Semantic Theory. Amsterdam: J. Benjamins. (455–64)
  • Scharfe, Hartmut, 1977. Grammatical Literature. Vol. V, Fasc. 2, History of Indian Literature, (ed.) Jan Gonda. Wiesbaden: Otto Harrassowitz.
  • Staal, J.F. (ed.), 1985. A Reader on Sanskrit Grammarians. Delhi: Motilal Banarasidass.

External links[edit | edit source]

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