Consider the following statements about Patanjali's Mahabhashya :

Consider the following statements about Patanjali’s Mahabhashya :

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It makes a mention of Kautilya.
It is a book on grammar and refers to historical personalities only incidentally.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

1 only

2 only

Both 1 and 2

Neither 1 nor 2

Answer is Right!

Answer is Wrong!

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CDS-2 – 2021

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Both statements are correct. Patanjali’s *Mahabhashya* is a detailed commentary on Panini’s *Ashtadhyayi*, making it a foundational text on Sanskrit grammar. While its primary focus is linguistic, it contains numerous references to historical events, personalities, and societal conditions of the time (c. 2nd century BCE), making it a valuable source for historical information, though this is incidental to its main purpose. It does mention Kautilya, the author of *Arthashastra*.

The *Mahabhashya* is a commentary on grammar but serves as an incidental source for historical information. It mentions Kautilya and provides insights into the socio-political life of the Shunga period.

Patanjali is generally placed in the 2nd century BCE, during the Shunga dynasty. The *Mahabhashya* is a key text in the Indian grammatical tradition. The mention of Kautilya in the *Mahabhashya* is often cited as evidence for the pre-Patanjali date of *Arthashastra*.

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