Bhatti as Quoted in the Durghatavrtti

Summary

Nilanjana S. Shah’s study focuses on the Durghatavrtti, a twelfth‑century grammatical treatise by Saranadeva that addresses difficult usages in classical Sanskrit poetry. While ostensibly a commentary on Panini’s grammatical sutras, the Durghatavrtti is also a valuable record of textual variants and interpretative traditions. Saranadeva examines passages from epic poets such as Ashvaghosha, Kalidasa, Bharavi and Bhatti (author of the Bhattikavya), identifying constructions that appear to violate grammatical rules. He then marshals alternative sutras, varttikas and interpretative devices to justify those usages within the Paninian framework. In many cases he cites opinions from earlier grammarians like Maitreyarakshita, Bhagavṛttikara and anonymous scholars, preserving viewpoints otherwise lost. Shah notes that Saranadeva’s analysis covers voice, case relations, compounds, nominal derivatives, verbal forms and sandhi. By juxtaposing problematic readings and their resolutions, the Durghatavrtti provides insights into how Sanskrit scholars navigated the tension between descriptive grammar and poetic licence. The article emphasises that textual critics rely on such commentaries to reconstruct authentic readings of classics: Mallinatha and other commentators often adopt Saranadeva’s preferred readings. In the section dealing with Bhattikavya, Saranadeva discusses around seventy instances, offering grammatical justifications and occasionally correcting scribal errors. Shah concludes that the Durghatavrtti not only assists in interpreting difficult passages but also underscores the richness of the grammatical tradition, where creativity and rigour coexist. The meticulous scholarship preserves the voices of multiple generations of grammarians and highlights the enduring interplay between grammar and literature.