Question
Download Solution PDFWhich one of the following statements about the grammarian Katyayana is correct?
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-I 2025 (General Studies) Official Paper (Held On: 13 Apr, 2025)
Answer (Detailed Solution Below)
Option 3 : He belonged to a period between Panini and Patanjali.
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Detailed Solution
Download Solution PDFThe correct answer is He belonged to a period between Panini and Patanjali.
Key Points
- Katyayana was an ancient Sanskrit grammarian who authored the Varttikas, a series of critical and explanatory comments on Panini's Ashtadhyayi.
- He is believed to have lived between Panini (circa 6th-5th century BCE) and Patanjali (circa 2nd century BCE).
- Katyayana's work primarily aimed to refine and explain the rules of grammar established by Panini, highlighting exceptions and additional rules.
- His contributions are considered crucial in the development of the Sanskrit grammatical tradition, as they bridge the period between Panini's system and Patanjali's Mahabhasya.
- He is also credited with enriching the grammatical system by addressing ambiguities and inconsistencies in Panini's work, ensuring its practical applicability.
Additional Information
- Panini:
- Panini was an ancient Indian grammarian and the author of the Ashtadhyayi, one of the foundational texts of Sanskrit grammar.
- His work is based on the principle of brevity and precision, making Sanskrit one of the most structured and scientific languages.
- The Ashtadhyayi consists of 8 chapters, with each chapter containing concise aphorisms (sutras) on grammar.
- Patanjali:
- Patanjali was a Sanskrit grammarian who wrote the Mahabhasya, a comprehensive commentary on Panini's Ashtadhyayi and Katyayana's Varttikas.
- The Mahabhasya is a critical text in the tradition of Vyakarana (Sanskrit grammar) and is regarded as one of the most important commentaries in Indian linguistic history.
- Varttikas:
- The Varttikas are supplementary rules and critical notes written by Katyayana to address gaps, ambiguities, and exceptions in Panini's Ashtadhyayi.
- These rules were later incorporated into the grammatical tradition through Patanjali's Mahabhasya.
- Sanskrit Grammar Tradition:
- The tradition of Sanskrit grammar (Vyakarana) is one of the six Vedangas (limbs of the Vedas), essential for understanding Vedic literature.
- It evolved over centuries through the contributions of scholars like Panini, Katyayana, and Patanjali.
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