Question

Who is the author of the famous Sanskrit grammar treatise "Ashtadhyayi"?

• A. Kalidasa
• B. Panini
• C. Chanakya
• D. Patanjali

Hint:

Associate key historical figures with their famous works: Panini $\rightarrow$ Ashtadhyayi, \quad Patanjali $\rightarrow$ Mahabhashya, \quad Chanakya $\rightarrow$ Arthashastra.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Concept: "Ashtadhyayi" is one of the most important and foundational works in the field of Sanskrit grammar. It is a comprehensive and highly systematic treatise consisting of around 4,000 concise rules (called sutras) that describe the structure of the Sanskrit language. The text is known for its scientific approach to linguistics and has influenced both ancient and modern studies of language.
Step 1: Understanding the work "Ashtadhyayi".
"Ashtadhyayi" literally means "eight chapters" and is divided into eight sections, each dealing with specific aspects of Sanskrit grammar such as phonetics, morphology, and syntax.
Step 2: Identifying the author.
The treatise was composed by the ancient Indian scholar Panini, who is regarded as one of the greatest grammarians in history. His work laid the foundation for classical Sanskrit and standardized its grammatical structure.
Step 3: Evaluating the options.

• Kalidasa $\rightarrow$ A renowned Sanskrit poet and playwright (incorrect)
• Panini $\rightarrow$ Author of "Ashtadhyayi" (correct)
• Chanakya $\rightarrow$ Known for political treatise "Arthashastra" (incorrect)
• Patanjali $\rightarrow$ Wrote "Mahabhashya", a commentary on Panini's work (incorrect)

Step 4: Additional insight.
Panini's "Ashtadhyayi" is considered a milestone in the history of linguistics. Its rule-based structure resembles modern computational grammar systems, and it continues to be studied worldwide for its precision and depth.