Aṣṭādhyāyī

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. does not contain Maṅglācaraṇa(ceromonial initiation verse) nor the Pratyāhāra sutrās. The manuscript is contains only the 1st Adhyāya, 4th Pāda, Sutrā No. 54 Svatantraḥ Kartā in which Kartā is missing. This Ms. is written in 5 lines per folio. There are double red vertical margin on each side of folio. Cover and back page contains title. Significant syllables and words rubbed with orange powder for highlighting. Mistakes are covered with yellow or blacked out. Some corrections and additions in the margins.