Talk:Mahābhāsya

By Swami Harshananda

Mahābhāsya literally means ‘the Great Commentary’.

The Astādhyāy of Pāṇini (5th century A. C.) has been considered as a unique and unparalleled work of Sanskrit grammar. In fact it is the best in any grammar of any language by well-known scholars of Sanskrit and Indology.

As the very name indicates, it is a work in aṣta or eight adhyāyas or chapters. It has total 3996 sutras or aphorisms. The Mahābhāsya is a commentary on the Astādhyāy by Patañjali (200 B. c.). It covers only 1228 sutras. It is written in a simple conversational style. It throws much light on contemporary life and culture.

Whether this Patañjali is the same as the author of Pātañjali Yogasutras, has been hotly debated. However, tradition considers the two to be identical.

References

• The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore