New Verses of Panini
By Krishnadeva Upadhaya
Summary
This scholarly note announces the discovery of verses attributed to Pāṇini, the legendary Sanskrit grammarian, which are not found in standard collections. The author describes how commentaries on works like the Kāvya‑prakāśa and the Bhāṭṭikāvya quote stray verses that expound grammatical points, and he collates them with a manuscript of the Bhūta‑saṅgraha. One verse explains why certain suffixes cannot be added to roots because of phonological rules; others clarify the correct gender of nouns or the proper application of verbal endings. The author argues that these verses likely formed part of a now‑lost epic poem called “Pāṇiniya‑charita”, which narrated episodes from the life of Kṛṣṇa and contained learned digressions on grammar. By comparing references in the commentaries of Rāmabhadra and Sāyaṇa, he surmises that Pāṇini may have been both a grammarian and a poet. The note presents the Sanskrit text of several verses, provides provisional translations and discusses their relevance for the history of Sanskrit literature.
Conclusion
The note concludes that the newly found verses attributed to Pāṇini enrich our understanding of his legacy. They show that grammatical knowledge circulated not only through technical sūtras but also through didactic poetry. Whether Pāṇini himself composed these verses or later scholars wrote them in his name, they attest to the reverence accorded to him and invite further exploration of Sanskrit anthologies and commentaries for lost fragments.