A Note on the Sabdanirnaya

Summary

This brief note examines a lesser‑known Sanskrit grammatical treatise called the Śabdanirṇaya. The author identifies the work as a compilation concerned with the correct usage of words and discusses its probable date and authorship. By comparing citations in later commentaries, the note argues that the Śabdanirṇaya predates the medieval grammatical tradition and may belong to the early centuries of the common era. The treatise is organised as a lexicon of problematic words, providing etymologies and prescribing correct forms according to Pāṇinian rules. The author points out that the work was known to scholars of the Prākṛt grammars and that its explanations sometimes depart from Pāṇinian doctrine, indicating an independent school of thought. The note also records manuscript sources for the Śabdanirṇaya, noting their condition and provenance. Although short, this contribution draws attention to an under‑studied text and invites philologists to edit and publish a critical edition. The author emphasises that such preliminary notices are essential to mapping the development of Indian grammatical literature.