xvi AMARAKOŚA In the beginning of the Dharanikośa (12th cent.), in verses 2 and 4 respectively, are to be found 'yasya jñanadayasindhoh', the very beginning of the Ak., and 'samahṛtyanyatantrāṇi' (v. 2).¹ Owing to this popularity, numerous commentaries have been written on it in Sanskrit as well as the regional languages of India. 2 It was translated into Chinese by Gunarāta of Ujjayini in the 6th cent. A.D.³ In Italy, the text in Grantha script with an Italian translation was publish- ed in 1798. An edition in French appeared in two volumes in Paris (1839, 1845).5 The kośa was studied in Tibet also, for there is a Tibetan version of it published in 1912.6 Thus the literature connected with the Ak. forms a literature by itself (See New Catalogus Catalogorum, vol. 1 (rev.), pp. 318-32). The earliest beginnings of lexicographical literature in Sanskrit are the Nighantu-s. They are a collection of Vedic words, intended mainly for helping the interpretation of Vedic texts. The Nirukta of Yaska, who is considered older than Pāṇini (4th cent. B.C., Keith), is a commentary on the Nighantu-s and the most important work of this class. We find in it the derivation and explanation of many ¹ Ed. DCPRI, Poona 1968, p. 1. 2 The principal eds. are (a) with comm. of Maheśvara, ed. V. Jhalakikar and Dr. R. G. Bhandarkar, BSS, 1886. (b) Nam., ed. Anundoram Borooah (incomplete), Berham- pore 1887. (c) Nam. with comm. of Kṣirasvāmin, ed. V. G. Oka, Poona 1913. (d) Nām., rev. ed., OBA, Poona 1941. (e) Ak. with comm. of Bhānuji Dīkṣita, NSP, Bombay 1905. (f) Nam. with comm. of Sarvänanda, Tikäsarvasva, TSS 38, 43, 51, 52. 3 Max Müller, India: What can It Teach Us?, p. 328. 4 NCC, vol. I (rev.), ed. V. Raghavan, p. 324. 5 ibid. Ed. S. C. Vidyābhūṣaṇa, Bibliotheca Indica, 1912.
