In Search of Numerals and Measures within Pāṇini’s Aṣṭādhyāyī

Ṛṣi Pāṇini was the first Indian grammarian to divide, explain and express it scientific way. We tried to locate numerals (non-symbolic way) inserted in it to explain grammar. He could not use symbols of mathematical scripts as these were not invented then. Existence of Pāṇini: (a) The period when Pāṇini, the first systematic grammarian flourished, referred to 4th century BCE[1] again it has been revised and stated as according to Kathā-sarit-sāgara he was disciple of Varsha who lived at Pātaliputra the reign of Nanda, the father of Chandragupta[2]. (b) Pāṇini, the grammarian, perfected Sanskrit grammar about 700 BCE[3]. (c) It is said that Varsha lived in the city of Pataliputra under the reign of King Nanda, the father of Chandragupta. Therefore, it is not entirely unlikely that Pāṇini lived in the 4th century BCE. (An einer anderen Stelle desselben Werkes wird gesagt, dass Varsha in der Stadt Pataliputra unter der Regierung des Königs Nanda, des Vaters von Ḱandragupta, gelebt habe. Dass Panini im 4 Jahrhundert gelebt hat, ist, wie wir später sehen warden, nicht ganz unwahrscheinlich[4].) (d) Pāṇini was immediately preceded the rise of Chandragupta and his Śudra dynasty and was placed in the second half of fourth century BCE[5]. [1] The History of Indian Literature by Albrecht Weber, Page-3. [2] ibid, page-217. [3] History of Hindu Mathematics, Vol.I, page-2. [4] Pāṇini’s Grammatik by Otto Böthtlingk, Page-XVI [5] Pāṇini - His place in Sanskrit Literature by T. Goldstücker, page-95.