Mahābhāṣya

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The Mahābhāshya ("great commentary"), attributed to Patañjali, is a commentary on the celebrated Ashtadhyayi of Panini is one of the three most famous works in Sanskrit grammar. In was with Patanjali that Indian linguistic science reached its definite form. The system thus established is extemely detailed as to shiksha (phonology, including accent) and vyakarran (grammar and morphology). Syntax is scarecely touched, but nirukta (etymology) is discussed, and these etymologies naturally lead to semantic explanations. People interpret his work to be a defense of Panini, whose Sutras are elaborated meaningfully. He also attacks Kātyāyana rather severely. But the main contributions of Patanjali lies in the treatment of the principles of grammar enunciated by him.

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