The present grammar has been prepared with a view to meet the growing educational need of university students. The author has done his best to bring the present grammar up to the requirements of the students. In writing the various chapters of this book, the author has closely followed Panini, as explained by Bhattoji Dīkşita. Many of the rules given here are translations of the relevant Sūtras of Pāņini. The original Sutras are given in footnotes, where necessary. Sandhis and declensions are fully treated; compounds which dominate classical Sanskrit literature have received special attention; formation of feminine bases has been illustrated; Taddhita affixes have been arranged in an alphabetical order. A special feature of the present grammar is the chapter on the "Conjugation of Verbs." The general rules given are amply illustrated by examples. All the verbs which change their pada when preceded by particular prepositions are given in an alphabetical order. The chapter on Syntax contains almost everything given in the first 20 chapters of author's Guide to Sanskrit Composition; the chapter on Prosody is based on the Chandomañjarī and the Vrttaratnakara. The author has spared no pains to make the book as useful and as complete as possible.
The present Grammar has been prepared with a view to meet the growing wants of the Indian University students. The University examiners have been, of late, ovincing a desire to exact a more thorough knowledge of the obscurer and therefore more difficult parts of Sanskrt Grammar, than was required formerly. In fact, a student of the present day, with Sanskrt for his second language, must, it he wishes to pass his University examinations with credit, acquire more than a general knowledge of the various departments of Sanskrt Grammar; while none of the grammars now accessible to the Indian student with the exception of one or two, supply him with the necessary information on the various topics discussed in the original Sanskrt works. Dr. Bhandarkar's books, though ingeniously sketched and admirably executed, are admittedly meant to introduce a student to the vast field of Sanskrt Grammar. Dr. Kiolborn' Grammar aims more at brevity and perspicuity than at fullness of treatment with conciseness. Prof. Whitney's grammar is too elaborate, and therefore too high for the ordinary student. Prof. Monier Williams' grammar, and others, though excellent in themselves, aro expressly written for European students and are more suited to them than to the Indian student. I have, therefore, done my best to bring the present Grammar up to the requirements of the high standard.
Now, a few words on the scope and arrangement of the work and I will conclude. As remarked by Dr. (Now Sir) Bhandarkar "Grammar was not an empiric study with Pánini and the other ancient grammarians of India." In fact in the bands of the ancient Grammarians of India, Sanskṛt Grammar rose to the dignity of a science and must be studied as such. To quote the words of the learned Doctor again "its study possesses an educational value of the same kind as that of Euclid and not much inferior to it in degree. For to make up a particular form the mind of the student has to go through a certain process of synthesis." To split up, therefore, a general rule of the ancient Indian grammarians into a number of the particular cases it comprehends, as is done by some modern writers on Sanskrit grammar, is not to build up but to destroy, not to simplify the difficulties of the student but to embarrass him. For a Grammar, then, to be practical and correct, in my humble opinion, it must be based on indigenous works understood and studied in their genuine scientific spirit. In writing the various chapters of this book (except the one on the 'Conjugation of Verbs') I have closely followed Panini as explained by Bhattoji Dikshit (the Kasbiká of Vámana being also occasionally referred to). Many of the rules given are traslations of the Sutras of Papini, much matter being thus compressed into a small compass. The original Sutras, where necessary, are given in foot-notes as helps to memory. Sandlas and declensions are very fully treated. Compounds which play such an important part in Sanskrt literature, and which, yet, are very summarily disposed of in many grammars, have received special attention, almost everything in the Siddhanta Kaumudi being included. The formation of feminine bases which is not considered separately in other grammars has been treated of bere in a separate chapter (VI). The seventh chapter deals with the Taddbita affixes (i. e. affixes forming secondary nominal bases) which, for the convenience of the student and the occassional referer, have been arranged here in an alphabetical order, each followed by a number of the derivatives formed by it. The question of gender which so much perplexes the foreigner has been dealt with in the eighth chapter, while the ninth treats of "Indeclinables." The first nine chapters thus form what inay be called the first part of the book, in as much as they deal with all that relates to the noun (declinable and indeclinable ). But a special feature of the present Grammar is the chapter on the 'Conjugation of Verbs.' No part of Sanskrt Grammar is more difficult and perplexing and therefore more calculated to tire out the patience of the young student, than the 'Conjugation of Verbs.' It is, therefore, written with a special attention to the student's difficulties. The general rules given are amply illustrated by examples. Almost all the roots which are likely to puzzle the student in conjugating them in a particular tense or mood have been fully conjugat- ed. In the eleventh chapter, all the verbs which change their Pada when preceded by particular prepositions are given in an alphabetical order with illustrations where necessary. Two more chapters, one on syntax and the other on prosody, have also been added. The chapter syntax contains almost everything given in the first 20 chapters of Prof. Apte's 'Guide to Sanskrt Composition,' the same original having been followed by both. The chapter on prosody is based on the Chhandomanjari and the Vṛttaratuâkara, The book closes with a long list of verbs (added at the suggestion of my publishers) containing almost all the roots in Sanskrt and giving the 3rd pers. sign in the important tenses and moods.
Book's Contents and Sample Pages
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