पृष्ठम्:Laghu paniniyam vol1.djvu/८

PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION.

OUR fathers justly held the subject of Grammar
(Vyakarana) in high esteem, and defined it as a
Sastra (science) and a Vedanga. In any literature, true
mastery is impossible without a thorough grasp of the
grammar of the language, and this is especially the case
with Sanskrit. A living language may be learned, with-
out much grammar; but, without an adequate grounding
in grammar, it is not easy to learn a dead, classical lan-
guage. It is a matter of common knowledge, that, under
the old indigenous scheme of education, Indian youths
began the study of Sanskrit, not, as they now do, with a
reader, but with a simplified grammar, containing the
elementary rules of declension and conjugation. This
practice is even now followed, and the student who does
not purpose to acquire the reputation of a grammarian
(vaiyakarana) takes to such other studies as he cares for,
the classical treatises on grammar, of which Sanskrit
has such an abundant number-almost all of matchless
excellence-being only studied by special students of
the subject. Specialisation in the different branches of
Sanskrit lore-however desirable, in the interests of a
revival of genuine classical scholarship in India, is not
now common, and, following the traditions of the West,
the greater number of modern students of Sanskrit desire
only such an equipment in grammar and phonetics as
would enable them to understand and enjoy the gems of