A GRAMMAR OF THE SANSKRIT LANGUAGE

The grammar of the Sanskrit language has a complex verbal system, rich nominal declension, and extensive use of compound nouns. It was studied and codified by Sanskrit grammarians from the later Vedic period (roughly 8th century BCE), culminating in the P??inian grammar of the 6th century BCE. The last grammar of Sanskrit language is in the ?Siddhahemchandrashabdaanushaasan? of Aacharya Hemchandracharya. Sanskrit grammatical tradition began in late Vedic India and culminated in the A???dhy?y? of P??ini, which consists of 3990 sutras (ca. 5th century BCE). About a century after P??ini (around 400 BCE), K?ty?yana composed v?rtikas (explanations) on the P??inian s?tras. Pata?jali, who lived three centuries after P??ini, wrote the Mah?bh??ya, the “Great Commentary” on the A???dhy?y? and V?rtikas. Because of these three ancient Sanskrit grammarians this grammar is called Trimuni Vy?karana. Jayaditya and V?mana wrote a commentary named K??ik? in 600 CE. It contains as much of the Sanskrit accidence as is necessary for the ordinary B.A. examination. Those who look higher, the author refers to the SiddhantaKaumudi and other indigenous works on grammar, without a careful study of which a scholar like knowledge of the Sanskrit language appears to him unattainable.