Page:Systems-of-Sanskrit-Grammar-SK Belvalkar.pdf/23

Systems of Sanskrit Grammar

[ - § 12 Panini: His Date 15 the Vedas have done much to throw a doubt over the starting point for Ancient Indian Literature accepted by Professor Max Müller and other writers, the best thing, in the absence of any positive evidence, is a suspension of judgment. In another place (pp. 6-7) we have given reasons for agreeing with Goldstücker in accepting the priority of Yaska over Panini. Perhaps 700 to 600 B. C. would be as near an approximation to Päāņini's time as, in our presnt state of knowledge, or rather want of knowledge, we are likely to get. 12. The view that Panini cannot be placed before B. C. 350 examined. The fact that Panini in iv. 1.49 ( TERRigerataforse) mentions Yavanas (and the female formation Yavanānī from the stem) has led most western scholars to put down Panini to a date not earlier than B.C. 350. The underlying assumptions are: i. that 'Yavanas' can designate none but the Ionian Greeks, and ii. that India did not have her knowledge of 'Yavanas' prior to Alexander's invasion, B. C. 327. Now regarding point i. the late Dr. Rajendralal Mitra in his 'Indo- Aryans' gave ample evidence to prove that for no period of Indian history could we be quite, certain that the word Yavana necessarily designated the Ionian Greeks. But even if we agree to wave this consideration for the pre- sent, point ii. is by no means a settled fact. The 'v' sound in the word Yavana' represents an original digamma (T) in Greek; and as the digamma was lost as early as B. C. 800, the Sanskrit word 'Yavana' must be at least as old as the ninth century before Christ. The Ionians appear in history long before B. C. 1,000 and it is not at all improbable that the Indians knew them, as well as their neighbouring races, such as Assyrians ( Skythians (rata), Medes (--), Persians (T), Parthians (T), etc.-perhaps centuries before Alexander's invasion. At any rate if Indian troops are