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KALPADRUKOŠA Yaska's Nirukta is a running commentary on the Nighanțu, purporting to give the meanings of the terms occurring therein with reference to their use in the Vedic literature. But it is not merely a commentary. It contains much original matter in the shape of philological as well as theological discussions, besides containing a good many traditions.' It is divided into twelve chapters, each containing from three to seven pādas. Two supplementary chapters (parisistas), the first of which has been commented on by Durgācārya, are usually found at the end, but they are of doubtful authenticity. The twelve chapters have been grouped into three Kāndlas : I to III, Naighanțukakānda, corresponding to the first three chapters of the Nighanļu; IV to VI, Naigamakānda, corresponding to the fourth chapter of the Nighantu ; and VII to XII, Daivatakānda, corresponding to the last chapter of the Nighanļu. The first chapter begins with a classification of the words into nāman, ākhyāta, upasarga, and nipāta ; then follow discussions as to the nature and meanings of the last two, as to whether all words are derived from verbal roots and whether it is necessary and possible to give derivations in each case, and lastly, as to whether the Vedic Mantras have any meanings at all. The first pāda of the second chapter lays down his method of procedures and mentions a number of linguistic phenomena which are accepted as facts in modern Philology. The rest of the book is devoted to the exposition of the Nighanțu, except the first
Eg. arhit ga: ? Hafa Alternat Frateetse milagita : Nir. II. 8. 2. arafat ? aragtesurfacit, petanghalanta, Trit grugatfad facrtaat: ibid., XII. 1. , eto.
Cf. Lakshman Sarup, Nighanțu and Nirukta, Introduction,
p. 39.
__' तयेषु पदेषु स्वरसंस्कारी समर्थी प्रादेशिकेन गुणेनान्विता स्यातां तथा तानि निद्र्यात् । marafradsat sarafra faaari sifarea: taal etc. Nir., II. 1.1.
