ABSTRACT
Of the origin of grammar they give the following account :-One of their kings, called Samalvahana, i.e. in the classical language, S&tavahana, was one day in a pond playing with his wives, when he said to one of them" Mdudakam dehi," i.e. do not sp1"inkle the uiaier on me. 'I'he woman, however, understood it as if he had said modakam. dehi, i.e, bring sweetmeats. So she went away and brought him sweetmeats. And when the king disapproved of her doing so, she gave him an angry reply, and used coarse language towards him. Now he was deeply offended, and, in consequence, as is their custom, be abstained from all food, and concealed him-'self in some corner until he was called upon by a sage, who consoled him, promising him that he would teach people grammar and the inflexions of the language. Thereupon the sage went off to Mahadeva, praying, praising, and fasting devoutly. Mahadeva appeared to him, and communicated to him some few rules, the like of which Abul'aswad Addu'alt has given for the Arabic language. The god also promised to assist him in the further development of this science. "I'hen the sage returned to the king and taught it to him. This was the beginning of the science of grammar.
