Aṣṭādhyāyī is a grammar text or Vyākaraṇaśāstra written in Sūtras by Pāṇini. The text consists of 8 Adhyāyas (Chapters) and each adhyāy consists of 4 Pādas (Sub-chapters). The text contains about 3995–3997 Sūtras including the 14 Maheśvara/Pratyāhāra Sūtras a type of compressed Varṇa Mālā (Vowel and Consonant list). Depending on the Ms. two Sūtras may be treated as one at various places in the text. Aṣṭādhyāyī is part of the 6 Vedāṅgas (Imagined body parts of the Vedic texts in the form of a person that is Vedapuruṣa) which are listed as Chanda (Feet of the Vedas), Kalpa (Hands), Jyotiṣa (Eyes), Nirukta (Ears), Śikṣā (Nose), Vyākaraṇa (Mouth). This Ms. contains Maṅglācaraṇa in (f. 1b), Pratyāhāra Sūtras, Sūtras of Adhyāya 1 and subsequent Pādas are in (f. 2a), (f. 5b), (f. 10a), (f. 14b); Adhyāya 2 (f. 19b), (f. 24a), (f. 25b), (f. 30a); Adhyāya 3 (f. 34a), (f. 42b), (f. 52a), (f. 60a); Adhyāya 4 (f. 65a), (f. 72b), Pāda 3 (f. 81b) is incomplete, it ends with sūtra 4.3.160 Gopayasoryat, Pāda 4 (f. 89a) is also incomplete, it starts from sūtra 1.4.64 Bahvacpūrvapadāṭṭhañ; Adhyāya 5- (f. 95b), (f. 101b), (f. 108b), (f. 114a); Adhyāya 6 (f. 122a), (f. 132a), (f. 140b), (f. 147b); Adhyāya 7 (f. 154b), (f. 158b), (f. 163b), (f. 168b); Adhyāya 8 (f.b172b), (f. 176b), (f. 181a), (f. 187a). This Ms. is written 5 lines per folio. There are double red vertical margins on each side of folio. Cover and back page are blank. The (Pūrna Virāma) full stop style vertical brackets are in red. Mistakes are covered with yellow or blacked out. Some corrections in the margins. The Ms. is dated in (f.190b) 1866 Vikrama Saṃvata mārgaśirakṛṣṇa 10 (1809 CE, Sunday, 31 Dec) written in red.
Sanskrit Grammar, Vyākaranaśāstra, Vedāṅga Literature.