154 On the Introduction of Writing into India. [No. 2. 



etymologically with the Latin tecctus. Thus it is used by the 

 Commentator to Nir. I. 20, where he says that former teachers 

 handed down the hymns granthato'' rthatas'cha, "according to their 

 text and according to their meaning." In the later literature of 

 India grantha was used for a volume, and in granthahuti, a library, 

 we see clearly that it has that meaning. But in the early liter- 

 ature grantha does not mean pustaJm, or a book ; it means simply a 

 composition, as opposed to a traditional work. 



This distinction between traditional works, and works composed 

 by individual authors, is of frequent occurrence in Panini. From 

 IV. 3, 101. to 111. he gives rules how to derive the titles of works 

 from the names of those by whom they were proclaimed (tena 

 proktam). But in most cases these derivations are used by Panini 

 as intermediate links only, in order to form the names of Charanas 

 who read and preserve these works. Never, he says (IV. 2, 66.), 

 use the derivation, which would be the title of a work, in the case 

 of hymns (chhandas) or Brahmanas. Do not call a work proclaim- 

 ed by Katha, Katbam, but only speak of Kathas, i. e. those who 

 hand down the works proclaimed by Katha. Another still more 

 significant restriction is made by Panini. With reference to modern 

 works, he says you may use the neuter in the singular or plural, 

 instead of the plural of the masculine. The Brahmanas taught by 

 Tajnavalkya may be spoken of as such. But the ancient Biahmanas 

 first proclaimed by Bhallava, &c, can only be spoken of as "the 

 Bhallavins" (Bhallavidse), because it is only in the tradition of his 

 descendants that the works of Bhallava and other ancient sages 

 may be said to live. 



However we examine the ancient Sanskrit phraseology with 

 regard to books and their authors, we invariably arrive at the same 

 results. In the most ancient literature, the idea even of authorship 

 is excluded. Works are spoken of as revealed to and communicated 

 by certain sages, but not as composed by them. In the later liter- 

 ature of the Brahmana and Sutra period the idea of authorship is 

 admitted, but no trace is to be found anywhere of any books being 

 committed to writing. It is possible I may have overlooked some 

 words in the Brahmanas and Sutras, which would prove the exist- 

 ence of written books, previous to Panini. If so, it is not from 

 any wish to suppress them. I do believe that the Brahmanas were 



