Mnemonics in Sanskrit
Introduction
- This section begins with the basic building block of Panini's entire scheme of things.
- These are called Maheshwara-sutras.
Maheshwara-sutras
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Panini's entire Sanskrit grammar rests on these 14 fundamental sets of sutras known as Maheshwara-sutras.
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These are numbered 1 to 14:
- ai u N
- r 1 K
- e o N
- ai au C
- ha ya va ra T
- la N
- na ma na na na M
- jha bha N
- gha dha dha S
- ga ba ga da da S
- kha pha cha tha tha ca ta ta V
- ka pa Y
- sa sa sa R
- ha L
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He has used this fundamental set of sutras to refer all grammatical things.
Observations about the Sutras
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Each Sutra is an ordered set of letters (e.g., ha ya va ra T).
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Set 1 is a, i, u
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The consonants at the end of each (like N) is to be removed and have to be ignored.
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a i u N means a i u.
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g ba ga da da S; S has to be removed.
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Sutras 1-4: Vowels (a, i, u, r, l, e, o, ai, au). The color code is yellow.
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Sutras 5-14: Consonants.
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Example: ha L ends with l.
Termination Tag
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First Sutra a i u N ends with N
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13th Sutra sa sa sa R ends with R
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These (N, R, etc.) are considered merely as a termination tag.
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They are not included in calculations.
Distribution of Letters
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ka Varga (ka, kha, ga, gha, na).
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These are distributed throughout the sutras.
- Sutra 7 has na.
- Sutra 9 has gha.
- Sutra 10 has ga.
- Sutra 11 has kha.
- Sutra 12 has ka.
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Other groups are also scattered.
Intelligence Behind the Arrangement
- The order appears obscure.
- However, understanding the transformation rules reveals the intelligence behind it.
- Efficient rules in an arbitrary fashion is the charm of Panini's work
Panini's Use of Mnemonics
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Panini used plenty of mnemonics.
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Examples:
- a i u N (combining a, i, u and N).
- ka pa Y.
- ga ba ga da da S.
Operation of Mnemonics
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If you say ac:
- Start from 'a' and continue to 'c'.
- The ordered set is all letters in between
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This is the formula he uses.
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Suppose you say ha L it means whole set.
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So ha L means consonants set.
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Suppose khay; he will use all that in his 3983 rules in several places he will use.
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The ordered set is kha, pa, ca, ta, ca, ta, ta, ka, pa. You have to look where kha is and keep on taking all up to where i is
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Then that represents the list column 1 and 2 ka, kha, ga, gha, na, ca, ch, ja, jha, na etcetera.
Data Structures
- These are kind of data structures, data representation and things of that kind through the mnemonics.
Sutra Understanding
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Example Sutra: iko yan-aci.
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This contains three mnemonics:
- ik.
- yan.
- ac.
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Basically what he is saying if ik is followed by ac, then simply replace ik by yan.
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If one knows mnemonics as per Panini, one can show a complex idea very beautifully.
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Firstly, said that Ik is followed by ac.
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In Maheshwara-sutra, it means starts from i goes up to k:
- You have to ignore i,r.
- Ik = i,r.
- ac; known that a i, u, r, l, e, o, ai, au.
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yan; 5th Sutra is ha ya va ra T 6th Sutra la N > y, v, r, 1
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There are 3 sets A, B, C
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A has i, u, r, 1
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B is consists all of vowels
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C contains y, v, r, l
Application of Sets
Example: iko yan-aci
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Consider the words "prati" and "ekam”.
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"prati" = prat + i
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"ekam" = +e
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Part of ik that is i
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e is part of ac
Rule Application
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If "ik" is followed by "ac", then replace "ik" with "yan".
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1-1 correspondence.
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Replace i with y
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Remove i and instead e, prat + e+y + kam (Pratyekam)
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Understands step by step, but still if you know ik, if you know is yan, if you know if know is ac then can do complex operations
Efficacy of Mnemonics
- If you understand the power of mnemonics, one may be able to construct any sentence in sanskrit out of will.
- Richness of using mnemonics a is the special charm of this part of the data structure.
Summary
- Mnemonics are very rich and unique data representations to give instructions in different ways.
- Panini uses mnemonics very intelligently to construct rules.
- Panini's rules around mnemonics makes it easy to remember.