INTRODUCTION THE present monograph comprises the three THE lectures delivered at the University of Mysore on September 17, 18 and 19, 1957. The First lecture describes in brief the development of Old Indo- Aryan from Early Vedic to Classical Sanskrit through its two intermediate stages Late Vedic and Early Sanskrit. The name Sanskrit was unknown to Pāṇini. I have ventured to suggest that Kālidāsa was one of the first to use the name unmistakeably for the language. It may be noted that he does not use any name for Middle Indo-Aryan or Prākąta but refers to it as “the easy” language (Kumāra- sambhava vii. 90). Professor Sivarama Sastry tells me that the name Sanskrit occurs in the Rámāyana (Sundara-kāņda) where Hanumān first approaches Sītā and thinks about the language in which be would accost her. He is doubtful whether “Samskrta” speech, fit for a Brahmin, would be opportune as Sītā might then mistake him for Rāvaņa in disguise. This reference to the Samskſta speech is of course earlier than Kālidāsa's, but it probably means the “correct diction of a Brahmin ”. Anyway.“ Sams- kệta ”here (samskytām vācam) is an adjective. As a matter of fact our ancient forefathers did not recognise any foreign language. To them language either was "purified” or “cultivated ” (samskṛta) or “off-standard” (apabhrmśa) or « rustic" was
