The Academy of Yoga and Oriental Studies (AYOS) oraganised a lecture on “Prevailing Sanskrit idioms as noticed by Panini with special reference to praise and reproach” at the Fakir Mohan Bhavan at Nayapalli hereon Saturday last.
The lecture was delivered by eminent scholar Professor Radhamadhav Dash of the Department of Sanskrit, Utkal University. The meeting was presided over by AYOS Director Dr Indulata Das. Mihir Kumar Mishra welcomed the guests and the audience.
Prof Dash said Panini, the great grammarian, hailed in circa sixth Century BC. His Astadhyayi is the grandest work in Sanskrit grammar. Sage Katyayana wrote Vartika on Astadhyayi in circa 2nd Century BC and sage Patanjali wrote Mahabhasya on the book in about 1st Century BC.
Panini, Katyayana and Patanjali are known as “Trimuni” or the “Sage triad” in Sanskrit grammar. later on, many books and commentaries were written on Astadhyayi. One of such books is Kasika Vritti, a commentary on Astadhyayi jointly authored by Jayaditya and Vamana in Circa 6th Century AD. The school of grammar which followed the tradition of Panini is known as Paninian grammar, Prof Dash pointed out.
In the Paninian grammar books idioms, phrases and sentences are used which reflect various ideal social norms of the time. The sociolinguistic attitudes have been attached importance in many places; for example, how to approach a guru, how to sit before him and how to receive knowledge from him, etc. There are also statements of reproach in the said literature, he said.
After the lecture was over there was a question-answer session in which many scholars participated and enriched the discussion by putting questions and expressing their views.