वाक्यपदीयपदानुक्रमणिका- Word Index of Vakyapadiya

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Panini, Katyayana, and Patanjali are three of the most important names in the field of grammar (Vyakaranasastra). Bhartrhari wrote a commentary on Mahabhasya of Patanjali which is known as Vakyapadiya. As shown by the author, Bhartrhari established the philosophical dimension of Vyakarana in the Brahmakanda of Vakyapadiya. The author, Professor Sripada Satayanaryana Murthy has been at the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute as the Infosys Foundation Chair under the Academic Development Programme supported by the Infosys Foundation. During this tenure, apart from his basic research project, he has worked on Bhartrhari's Vakyapadiya. Earlier we have published his commentary on the Brahmakanda of Vakyapadiya titled Balabodhini.

Professor Sripada Satayanaryana Murthy along with his colleagues has prepared a word index of the three kandas of Vakyapadiya (Brahmakanda, Vakyakanda and the Padakanda). This valuable source material for scholars is an outcome of his research done during his tenure at the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute. I hope that this work will be an important asset for all students of Sanskrit in general and all those interested in ancient Indian grammar in particular.

"Vyakarana" refers to Sanskrit grammar and represents one of the six auxiliary disciplines i.e Vedangas to be studied along with the Vedas. It deals with the rules of Sanskrit grammar and linguistic analysis to establish the correct interpretation of words and sentences. The specialty of this Vyakaranasastra is while giving the etymology of a word, it establishes the correct word and its pronunciation along with its correct usage. Though there are many works on Vyakarana, Panini's work: Astadhyayi, has become prominent. Panini, Katyayana, and Patanjali are considered as the Sage-trio in this sastra. Of these, Panini composed sutras (formulae) in Vyakarana, Katyayana wrote Vartikas and Patanjali gave commentary to those sutras and vartikas. The work of this trio constitutes as Paniniyam. Bhartrhari has written a commentary on Mahabhasya, consisting of three kandas, in which he has discussed Paninian theory regarding sabdabodha.

Vakyapdiya by Bhartrhari is just not a treatise on Vyakarana, but its a profound, philosophically grounded work that can be mentioned after Panini, Katyayana and Patanjali in the age-old tradition of this Vedanga. It is clear by the name of the book, that it basically deals with an analysis of "pada" which is a word and "vakya" which is a sentence.

This work is divided into three kandas the first being Brahmakanda, next, the Vakyakanda and the last, Padakanda. The Brahmakanda essentially is the part that deals with the establishment of sabda as brahma itself. This kanda also establishes the most famous sphota theory. The second one, Vakyakanda has its contents revolving around the sentence structure and analysis. The last and the largest Padakanda, or Prakirnakanda has different internal chapters that deal with the word, it's essentialities, structural and philosophical analysis.

We find interesting discussions on the pros and cons of the theories of several other shastraic authors. Bhartrhari successfully analyzes and negates the theories that existed before him when not in line with the Vyakarana. Patanjali's Mahabhashya, finally establishes the theory that is acceptable to Vyakarana tradition. He also wrote a commentary on Mahabhasya named dipika, but unfortunately, it is not fully available today.

The scholars who work with Vyakarana theories almost unfailingly refer to this author from time to time. Without Bhartrhari's references, not a single idea seems to be well-proposed to the learners of the Vyakarana Shastra. The lucid language, the quick style, the well-handled simplicity of words intermingled with the profundity and depth is very much equally applaudable to students and scholars of all levels.

**Contents and Sample Pages**