CHAPTER VI

OBSERVATIONS (Based on ~ a n i d i ~ i k a )

The cultural and spiritual treasurers of Ancient In-

dia, is embedded in the Sanskrit language and the litera-

ture composed in it. Almost all the vernacular languages

of India had either their orgin or development from the

Sanskrit language which lavishly nourished these languages

giving the vital energy for their existence. There is no

wonder that languages like Hindi, Bengali, which belong to

Aryan Branch of Indo-European family, have got a vo-

cabulary, the majority of which, is exactly the same or

derived from the Sanskrit language. What deserves spe-

cial mention is that Sanskrit was able to exert a great influ-

ence on Malayalam language which genealogically be-

longed to an entirely different family i.e., The Dravidian

family of language.

The earliest known work in Malayalam viz

~annas'sariimayanam . . shows evidence of the influence of

Sanskrit language in Malayalam. Though in works like

102

Kannasiarimayanam, . . Bhigavatam, Bharatamala etc. the

language used in Malayalam mixed with Tamil, it can be

seen that Sanskrit words are also inteiwoven in it. Even in

the work Krish~agitha which is treated as a work in pure

Malayalam language, the influence of Sanskrit is not neg-

ligible. With the advent of Manipravala period, Sanskrit

words with Sanskrit suffixes began to appear in works like

Kavya, Campi etc. It can even be stated that in the

Malayalam language of the Manipravsla period, the num-

ber of Malayalam words became decreasingly few in num-

ber. The fluent usage of Sanskrit words is widely seen in

the Ramayana of Ezhuthaccan and in what are known as

the Attakkatha literature and Tullal literature. In the works

of later period also Sanskrit words were abundantly used,

but of course devoid of Sanskrit suffixes. Hence a knowl-

edge of Sanskrit language and its grammL is an essential

requirement for the appreciation of the Malayalam litera-

ture both of ancient and modern origin.

When we speak of the Sanskrit language the sci-

ence of grammar expounded by Psnini is quite intrinsic

and not very easy to comprehend all on a sudden. Among

the efforts calculated to achieve the purpose of familiarising

Sanskrit grammar to the student of Malayalam language, 103

the work zrmmmwritten by Velutheri Kesavan Vaidyan

is the earliest one1. This work, consisting of 224 verses in,

Malayalam language, deals with Sanskrit grammar under

various tiles as Padaprakaranam, Vibhaktiprakaranam etc.

A.R does not make any direct reference to this work. But

he admits the fact that native scholars like Nedungidi,

Paccu ~ i t h a t u etc. have initiated a scheme in this direc-

tion. A.R. felt that a work on Sanskrit grammar written in

Malayalam language itself, is an urgent need of his period.

According to him a general knowledge of the whole San-

skrit grammar is more helpful and hence desirable in the

case of a student of Malayalam, than the mere study only

a few sarga-s of a Sanskrit kavya. Since there was no

such text, in Malayalam language, deal i~g with Sanskrit

grammar, A.R. set himself upon the task of writing a work

in Malayalam, with this objective in his mind. Hence in an

attempt to study ~anidipika with a viewto assessing the

magnitude of A.R's contribution, the criterion is to be the

specification of the extent to which this work is helpful to

the student of Malayalam, in understanding the grammar

of Sanskrit language. Hence an attempt is made here to

highlight the characteristicfeatures of ~ a ~ i d i ~ i k a and to

point out the innovations introduced in it.

CHARECTERISTIC FEATURES OF MANID~PIKA

As a work written to complement the knowledge of

Sanskrit to the learners of Malayalam language it can be

seen that ~anidTpika has got certain characteristics of its

own. Prominent among them are (i) Description of San-

skrit grammar in comparison with Malayalam language and

its grammar. (ii) Presentation of the topics of grammar

with an apt and lucid introduction (iii) Illustration of rules

with examples enlisted in tables and schedules and (iv)

citation of the relevant views of grammarians other than

Panini.

(i) Description of Sanskrit Grammar in com-

parison with Malayalam language and its grammar.

The purpose behind the composition of M.D.

being the supplement of the knowledge of Sanskrit gram-

105

mar to a learner of Malayalam, A.R resorts to the descrip-

tion of Sanskrit grammar in comparison with the grammar

of Malayalam language and usagesfound in it. This char-

acteristicfeatures is evident although the work.

While familiarising the alphabets of Sanskrit lan-

guage, he narrates their division and subdivisions. Then

he points out the difference of Malayalam and Sanskrit in

regard to the alphabets. The mvarieties of WZER viz

m. B the pairs of letters viz a, 0, m,m and & and the

letter 9 are peculiar to Malayalam alone. (Sanskrit does

not have 4. a o @ and 9)2

While dealing with letters known as m A . R . says

that Sanskrit grammarians treat the sounds ?T. y, q

and 5 as 3my. Wth regard to the grammar of Malayalam

language also, this is the accepted view. He then remarks

that modern linguistic studies do not favour the grouping

of q under m. Hence he names the former three only

as and says that this is quite relevant and applicable

to grammar of Malayalam language also.

106

While dealing with srr+ra,A.R points out that they

are of two fold in nature as itn (-3 and h

(f%?bVFV]. He adds that what is known as m. in

Sanskrit is what is known as m . i n Malayalam language.

A.R continues saying that as in the case of Malayalam

grammar, the qualifying words viz. %?m=m=! of 4xmwq

and @mare known as w#r$m and fWf&hm respec-

tively, in Sanskrit also. Though there is thus a similarity in

naming &zmm as or t%mhbm as the case

may be, Sanskrit grammar differs from Malayalam gram-

mar in the respect that Sanskrit has separate linga, vibhakti

and vacana for ikvvr unlike in Malayalam. He then

illustrates this peculiarity of Sanskrit language with suit-

able examples.

Again, while dealing with the qdanta forms of San-

skrit language, A.R cites side by side, the Malayalam

terms arrlmyo, w b g , qmcsnlmgo, rnjoanlkoav+ etc. which

is readily intelligible to the student of Malayatam4 A.R clearly

points art the discrepancy between the avyaya of San-

107

skr~t language and that of Malayalam language. In

Malayalam,sTE-wq is described is'6a3ml~&so n l~ rnwp? '

meaning a word standing out separately within a class or

group, is termed as'mwpo: But in Sanskrit m means

a word which has no variant declensional or conjugational

forms like m rn a, m etc. He clearly illustrates

this by citing a number of e~amples.~MD abounds in such

instances of dealing Sanskrit grammar in connection with

Malayalam language, its grammar and usages found in it.

One such instance is quoted here " ~lm~&".j%~, ~ m a u ~

1J3nf7mJ ~ n j m f i o emmil ~ o n g 3 0 m m3a~0, m j m p mm

rnaauq mqml cmacn~mxal~ irm~3ml ~mq6ml IL! rrudmemoml ng)m

rnslma ouocnifi~mmrmld L~csrm3vnya&~s3"~

(11) Presentation of the topics of grammar with

an apt and lucid introduction:-

A.R. is an expert in the elaboration of details per-

taining to rules. His method of elucidation is characterised

by an initial introductions of a topic of grammar before

going into the details of the various rules connected with it.

After the two %viclGF~+~ AR gives a concise in-

troduction in which he informs the reader of the four sec-

tions of M.D and says that this four-fold division is in

accordance with the same in Kgralapanineeiyam. At the

beginning of coming underi%mmw, A.R intro-

duces the same by describing as to what is meant by

*. He then educates the reader of the three types

of viz vmmi%, e, and vmil% and speci-

fies that he is to deal with Vmlvf% and ?rma%. He

informs the readerthat TvRmi%will be dealt later on when

it is required in the context.

While beginning the second section, w, A.R. gives an introduction in which he states that forma-

tion of both the declensional and conjugational forms, con-

stitutes the contents of this section. So also, atthe begin-

ning of *, A.R. gives detailed introduction in which

he clearly points out that the subject matter of this section

is der~vation of the stem portion named -. He then

points out that %iamm is thus, conceived of two sec-

t~ons of which are deals with 5@id?m which are derived

from roots by the addition of Krt suffixes and the other

section deals with d?Mmwhich are derived from nouns

by the addition of &&rsuffixes.

Introducing the fourth section a~mzg5mA.R states

that in the f?wmw, he has dealt with the formation of

nominal stews( -)and verbal stems gmmffi+lf?m.

In he has dealt with declensional forms and

conjugational forms. Hence it is quite appropriate on his

part to deal with the connection of these fully formed words.

Hence in the fourth section he deals with the sense con-

veyed by case endings and conjugational endigns and their

semantic combination known as m.

Such an introductive style of explanation on topics

of grammar is definitely, of great help to the student in

understanding the grammar of the language.

(Ill) Illustrations of rules with examples enlisted in

classified tables and schedules:-

A noteworthy feature of MD.is the method of illus-

tration of rules and grammatical points. In additions to

giving numerous examples for the function of rules, A.R

has adopted a method using tables and schedules not only

for citing examples for rules but also for the correct

comphrehension of certain grammatical points by the stu-

dent. In MO, one can meet with a number of such tables

and schedules which go to make the work more and more

readable and intelligible.

The f % m t ~ ~ begins with a table in which the alpha-

bets of the Sanskrit language are exhibited on the basis of

the~r classifications as w and ZmTiand the varieties of

these two groups are noted here with reference to their

place of articulation. Additional samjiia-s like &mf? (to the

vowelsa. 3, x, and q)FRTU?:to the dipthongs T, d, ?,

and 3) and @&+pertaining to consonants) can also

be understood from this table . By means of this table.

111

A.R. has given a clear picture of classification of sounds

of Sanskrit, to the beginners on Sanskrit grammar.

In the subsection titled ?izcbm of %emms A. R

gives a broad schedule wherein the classification of San-

skrit words, is represented in agreement with the classifi-

cation of words in Malayalam language7, Afterthus giving

an idea to the student about the classifications of words,

A.R remarks that such a classification is not relevant to

Sanskrit, though this table would help the student in this

direction. Hence he gives another schedule in which words

of Sanskrit language are tabulated in accordance with the

grammar of Piinini.8

In the midst of of %mms, after dealing

with the general rules of Waf%, AR presents a table in

which w&% is shown with reference to preceding vowels,

following vowel, the specific vowels which gets the substi-

tution and the number of related rules in MD. Since A.R

has given a number of such tables on various points in the

course of the work, this table is reproduced here for citing

one of them.

At the end of F~~RFPI, A.R gives a table which

pinpoints the substitutes that replace the final qof a pada.

This helps the learner in discriminating the substitutes of q

and the condition under which the substitution takes place.

While dealing with the sounds known as d ' R A. R

presents a table in which sounds coming under this 7m1,

are specifically shown with the details like their sense and

their nature as stem or suffix.1°

In the ws@mT? of A.R gives a table in

which the classification of h into and 3mar with

their further aubdiusious and of Enginto %4l% and !p33

with their subdivisions are graphically represented "

While dealing with casual forms (m m) in

@bm~qA.R . gives a table in which roots their caursal

113

forms and their fully furnished words in lakara-s T, f;;T+

and 5 and are enlisteded concisely.

While dealing with m?qq in l%mlmw he gives a

schedule in which a number of roots are enlisted along

with the suffixes g and m t h e stems derived by their flex-

ion and the nominative case singular forms of these in the

three genders

The table, given in FFmr-while dealing with the

suffixes named ydl added to numerals, so as to form or-

dinals like m, f$&rr, ?@TI etc. shows under specific

headings numerals along with their ordinal forms in three

genders.

In addition to showing tables and schedules, A.R

precisely gives examples for various rules and has com-

pletely shown thel%zw of many a stem and root. By

there tabular statements, A.R has made a graphic and

pictorial representation of grammatical details.

(iv) Citation of the relevant views of grammarians

other than Piiqini

While dealing with Sanskrit grammar in MD, A.R

makes the reader aware of the viewpoints of grammar-

ians other than P2nini. In the subsection titled ?%cfhm

of SakatSyana A.R refers to the view of the grammarian

mm who holds the view that root viz wig is the base of

all words and nominal stems are derived from these roots

by the addition of qiqsuffixes. Here sika!gyana opines

that all stems are der iva t i vep . A.R adds that this view

is not favoured by almost all the grammarians and ety-

mologists known a s m . 1 2 So also while dealing with the

change of the final letter qof a Pada, A.Rquotes the view

of Jainendra according to whom qwRoptionally replaces

thepa~fiintarnakira'~. So also while dealing with femi-

nine forms in the %,yd~nchmof , A.R men-

tions the view of the grammarian Vsguri, in rule No.76,

'cu~~mism3omo i o l m d c - n ~ o q c s d d m ~ m m r n ~ mw.r~~mI." A c -

cording to Viguri, almost all the stems get the feminine

form by adding the vowel XI to them. Thus the pairs of

femine forms like-, !%?IT. v. m, e, fim. F< TI

can be easily explained.

INNOVATIONS INTRODUCED IN MANID~PIKA

In his preface to MD, A.R. states that he has com-

posed M.D. cordance with the school of grammar initi-

ated by Panini. Still, he has introduced therein certain

innovations about which, he feels, it is his duty to mention,

a few words in the preface. Also in his introductory state-

ments following the - of MD, A.R speaks about

the innovations introduced therein. These innovative at-

tempts of A.R are now dealt with.

The Technical Device Of 314Y

PZinini has conceived the fourteen MAeswarasLtra-s

as the foundation for his magnificient edifice known as

Ast. These fourteen sitras are provided with a single con-

sonant at the end it is known as w. or qw7. Also Panini 116

has added these m:s to 3Fhr, m, m, q etc.

The purpose served by these q v a - s is of a manifold

nature. They help to coin terms like e, qnl, etc. known

as m. Various operations are entertained by roots,

stems etc. on the basis of the specific wp-7 added to

them A.R.has made a unique innovation by dispensing

with these wpw -s in MD. With regard to letters the

purpose of the addition of ~T=JFJ-s are achieved by the

various terms given to them by using these terms to de-

note them whenever and wherever required. He uses the

terms, -(to denote vowels), mm (for casonants),

(forvowels 3 , 3, =, q), ~ .u4e~3 (for v. d, $, dl), 9~49

( S . Y , 3 . - 6 ) , ~ ( f o m . ~ , ~ ) , ~ , m # ~ , E i f 6 T r

(for the five letters respectively of each of the five

d - s , ), (forthe initial four letters of each varga,x 1 . -a, T, 3, s ) and M (for 4, J, 3, a ). He uses the

term p or mhfm to denote a suffix which can bring forth

to its base y, or %respectively and the term xgw

for these suffixes which cannot bring y to their basest5.

Panini achieves this purpose by adding the viz 7

or 7 and by framing the rule@sf?I a (1-1-5). In this way

A.R has secured the same purpose which P@ini achieves

by means of m. Since a general familiarisation of San-

skrit grammar is intented by the auther in the composition

of MQ, omission of wpm-s and the consequent mysf ,

adds to the simplicity of MD.and makes it more attractive

to the students of Malayalam.

2. Rules Based On T h e Sequence Of T h e

Rules Of AstSdhySyi. . . Papini mentions the rule T! mrdq(1-4-2) in

which he points out that the latter rule in the sequence of

As! gets preedance overthe former in instances where a

tie arises in the function of two rules. Again, he gives the

rule yh'r tk~(8-2-1) by which the rules of mwqvwm4

gets the chance to operate treating the rules of Rmft as

null and void. In f?m3 also, the former can operate dis-

carding the latter ruie, by the force of the rule $?nfki-?

A.R has dispensed with these rules and has achieved the

purpose by other means.

According to Phini in thejuxtaposition of the words

and the rule F? and s, the vf% rule mhwmc operates

and makes it i s m . + -by the substitution of y by q.

Now the rule &:~IIQNN (8-3-19) of f%nRoperates here

and u is removed by the ah. We get the combined form

as n, ' ~ s . Since the elision by the rule a h : s ~ ~ c h c r l i i l

is optional, another form n, is also obtained.

In the combinedfomix, =a sandhi nrle 1ikearQ-p

cannot operate since from the point of this rule of m q g ~ ,

the operation of the rule a ' ~ q : ? ~ ~ c h q w is null and void and

the combined form is treated as m ?p$ wherein guna

cannot operate.

A.R without resorting to the rule y@%%Zqsays that

the s and q of q and m, can be uttered with elision,

meaning that l6pa also is a way of utterance. By this

statement the existence of q or q is accepted when it is

uttered by way of lopa and so in the instance m + ?p$

where 9 is uttered by way of ah, Sandhi rule viz

need not operateq6 In the combination of the word +

mk, A.R usesthe same technique.17 Then A.R. dispenses

with the technique of Asiddhatve then A.R. dispenses

treating the operations of f%lf$ as dw~fwldI. In this

aspect A.R has started a new scheme of operations, in

M.D.

3. Introduction of the new terms m, Of the twenty one case suffixes like, 3j. dl, T e t c .

the first group consisting of five suffixes viz, 9, dl. m.,

m, and the other group consisting of suffixes like

mi, have distinctive purpose to serve in the process of

formation of declensional forms. PZvini gives the term

wh'rwm to the the first group. With regard to the latter

group, the term or R is given by Pgnini, not to the

suffixes, but to the bases proceeding these suffixes. A.R

finds this as a barrier to uniformity. It would have been

easier if either of these two groups of suffixes or the bases

of these two groups of suffixes are given separate desig-

nations. A.R therefore coins a term m. (based on the

I20

term FdTRwy of Paflini) and gives this term wvm

to the bases proceeding the first group of suffixesla

Dr.K.Vijayan records his appreciation for this talent, of

A.R, which paves the way not only for uniformity but also

for simplicity.lg

4. Omission of single-syllabled terms and the like.

A.R has dispensed with the single-syllabled and

meaningless terms like , 9 etc. He has also dispensed

with J K Z J X T ~ and ?wfh?pm enjoined by Panini. He

has incorporated their purpose by resorting to the '&wm

on which they are based. Also while dealing with whf?Tr,

he does not mention all the stems comprehended under

that m. With a practical mind, he omits stems like 'Fs,l?Vf

etc wh~ch are relavant to Vedas alone. In his opinion the

terms like m, &, 2-+, m- A etc.

are significant terms given by earlier grammarians and

they are preferable to the single syllabled and meaning-

less terms like az, W e t c of P-mini. All these innovations

introduced by A.R, help the work more and more acces-

sible to the student of Malayalam.

REFERENCES

1. Vide Dr. K .Vijayan

Introduction to ~ a ~ i d i p i k a p 10

2. Vide MD p.23

3. Vide MD p.27

4. Vide MD p.28

5. Vide MD p.28

6. Vide MD p.95

7. Vide MD p.29

8. Vide MD p.30

9. Vide MD p.35

10. VideMDp.102

11. VideMDp.114

12. Vide MD p.31

13. Vide MD p.61

14. Vide MD p. 58

15. Vide MD p.130 & 149 16. Vide MD p 33

17. Vide MD p.45

18. Vide MD p.63

19. Vide introduction to MD p.15