Mahabhashya

(“Great commentary”) A commentary
on the Ashtadhyayi of Panini, written
by Patanjali, the grammarian, in the
second century B.C.E. Panini’s text gives a
complete and accurate description of all
the forms of the Sanskrit language and
set the standard for the language after
401
Mahabhashya
his time. Although the Ashtadhyayi is
considered a masterpiece, it appears to
invite more detailed commentary
because it is written in a series of aphorisms or sutra. Each of these aphorisms
provides the basis for those which follow. Panini’s ultimate purpose is to give
a complete account of the language in
the briefest possible space. Aside from
expanding and expounding Panini’s
grammar, Patanjali also gives some useful information of his own. The
Mahabhashya contains the earliest
known reference to the Greeks.