Which one of the following is a work of Panini on Sanskrit grammar ?
Which one of the following is a work of Panini on Sanskrit grammar ?
Options
The correct option is (C) Ashtadhyayi.
Why: The Ashtadhyayi ("Eight Chapters") is Panini's foundational treatise on Sanskrit grammar, composed around the 5th–4th century BCE. It systematises the rules of the Sanskrit language in nearly 4,000 concise sutras (aphorisms) and standardised classical Sanskrit.
Marking Scheme
- 11 mark for selecting option (C) Ashtadhyayi.
- 2No partial marks for MCQ.
Hint
The title means 'Eight Chapters' and is the classic rulebook of Sanskrit grammar.
Quick Oral Answer
Panini wrote the Ashtadhyayi, meaning 'Eight Chapters', which is the classic treatise on Sanskrit grammar — so the answer is option C.
Analysis & Explanation
This is a straightforward author-work matching question drawn from the study of literary sources used to reconstruct early Indian history.
Why (C) is correct: Panini's Ashtadhyayi is the earliest surviving systematic grammar of any language; its rule-based structure has even been admired by modern linguists and computer scientists.
Why the other options are wrong:
- (A) Sushrut Samhita — a treatise on surgery and medicine (Ayurveda) by Sushruta, not grammar.
- (B) Natyashastra — a work on dramaturgy, dance and music attributed to Bharata Muni.
- (D) Abhigyanshakuntlam — a Sanskrit play (drama) written by the poet Kalidasa, not a grammar text.
Exam trap: All four are famous Sanskrit works, so students who only recognise the names may guess wrongly. Pair each title firmly with its field — grammar, medicine, dramaturgy, drama — to avoid confusion.
Common Mistakes
- 1Choosing Sushrut Samhita by confusing a scientific text with a grammatical one.
- 2Selecting Abhigyanshakuntlam because it is a well-known Sanskrit work, ignoring that it is a drama by Kalidasa.
- 3Assuming Natyashastra deals with language rather than performing arts.
Interesting Facts
Panini's Ashtadhyayi, written around the 5th century BCE, contains about 4,000 grammatical rules and is regarded as one of the greatest intellectual achievements of the ancient world.
Modern linguists like Leonard Bloomfield praised the Ashtadhyayi as one of the most complete generative grammars ever devised, influencing the study of formal languages.
Panini is believed to have hailed from Shalatura in the north-west (present-day Pakistan), showing the geographical reach of early Sanskrit scholarship.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Ashtadhyayi and why is it significant?
The Ashtadhyayi is Panini's grammar of Sanskrit, composed in about 4,000 short rules called sutras. It standardised classical Sanskrit and is celebrated as the earliest known systematic and scientific grammar of any language in the world.
Who wrote Abhigyanshakuntlam and Sushrut Samhita?
Abhigyanshakuntlam is a famous Sanskrit drama by the poet Kalidasa, while Sushrut Samhita is a foundational treatise on surgery and Ayurveda attributed to Sushruta. Neither deals with grammar, unlike Panini's Ashtadhyayi.