Studies on Panini's grammar - DWC

The grammar of the indeclinables 27
paribha~ä of 1. 4, 2 shows a great resemblance to the asiddhatva~
paribhä~as 6, 1. 86; 6, 4, 22 and 8, 2, 1. all these rules referring to the
mutual relation of sütras and their applicability, that these sütras without
exception have a restricted field of applicability (e.g. su. 6, 4,22 bears on
6, 4, 23-128; sü. 8, 2, 1 on 8 pä. 2-8, 4 fin ., su. 6, 1. 86 on a limited
subject), and finally that sü. I, 4, 2 itself follows immediately an adhikära
I, 4, 1 bearing as such on I, 4, 1-2, 2, fin. So the reader will be al most
or quite convinced that I, 4, 2 is likewise an adhikära with the same extent
of validity.
Partly then su. 2 is a fuller explanation of su. I, for whilst sü. 1 lays
down the rule that in the following three pädas technical terms exclude
each other, sü. 2 says more clearly that in section I, 4-2, 2, fin. and
spedally in the pada~bha~passage (1, 4, 14"':"-20) it is a feature of composi~
tion and redaction that definitions are often too wide and must be restricted
by following definitions; e.g. sü. I, 4, 17 defines padas as word~stems
before case~endings (except the sarvanämasthänas) and before denomina~
tive noun~suffixes 1), but immediately af ter th is sü. 18 de fin es the bha as
a word~stem before such endings and suffixes when beg inning with a
vowel; strictly speaking I, 4, 1 would be suffident to solve the diHiculty,
but I, 4, 2 combined with sü. 1 seems to make matters much clearer:
padas are word~stems before denominative noun~suHixes and case suffixes
which are no sarvanämasthänas and moreover begin with a consonant.
However, not only perhaps as a sort of comment on the preceding sütra,
but certainly by itself su. I, 4, 2 is an adhikära to I, 4-2, 2 fin. and is as
such particularly important for the interpretation of the ku~gati~passage as
will be afterwards shown 2).
A general remark may be inserted here. Whilst the subtle argumentation
with the aid of prevalence~rules seems to hàve been greatly developed
under the influence of the Purva~Mïmarp.sa, the sütras of Pä~ini may be
considered to be an improvement upon the general sütra~style, for whilst
striving for the same pregnancy as found in the Kalpa~Sütras the author of
the A~tädhyayï at the same time leaves matters less to the risk and caprice
of oral tradition. On the other hand the work was not put together as a
manual for foreigners, but written for scholars and teachers, thoroughly
acquainted with the language. Common sense and general knowledge are
presupposed, and the system of composition is not a matter of mechanica 1
algebraic calculation.
§ 31. Int e r pre t a t ion 0 f th e ad hik ä ras u. 2, I, 1.
Adhyäya 2 beg ins at the very outset with a pregnant and enigmatic
sütra 2, I, 1 samarthal} pac/a~vidhil} = a rule about words (here: declined
nouns 3) or indeclinables 4) as last member of a compound, and noun~
1) See § 42 note.
2) See § 49.
3) SP. 1. 4, H .
4) SP. 2, 4, 82 and I, I, 62 sq. with Böhtlingk's note to 62.