Ashtadhyayi Foundation Chapters 1 & 2

The Ashtadhyayi of Panini is the magnum opus of the famed grammarian who lived circa 600BC. Literally, “Ashtadhyayi” means “The book that has 8 Chapters for study“. This book is the source for Sanskrit Grammar, and is the ultimate choice for serious linguists and scholars.

In the Ashtadhyayi there are 8 chapters, with each chapter having 4 quarters known as padas. Thus there are a total of 8×4 = 32 padas that are broad Topic Heads.

The Ashtadhyayi is basically a treatise on WORD-CONSTRUCTION. It gives the precise method for constructing words based on Root Sounds listed in an Appendix called the Dhatupatha, known as “Roots of the Sanskrit Language”.

Words are of two broad types – VERBS (Tinganta) and NOUNS (Subanta).

This book gives a detailed English commentary on the foundation chapters 1 & 2, i.e. on the initial eight padas.