Page:Systems-of-Sanskrit-Grammar-SK Belvalkar.pdf/101

 [ - $ 74 Special Features of Sarasvale of Panini-render plausible the inference that the Sārus- vata school, like the Kätautra, arose in response to a defl. nite demand. This time the demand probably came from the Muhammedan rulers of India who felt it necessary to promote the study of Sanskrit, were it only for the pur- poss of criticising works written in that language. Thus Gaisuddin Khilgi the peaceful and enlightened ruler of Malva, Salemshah (1555 to 1556) the emperor who ruled Delhi during Humayun's wanderings, and Jahargir, the Conqueror of the world-all these alike encouraged the study of the Sarasvata grammar as being the one calen- lated to produce greatest results with the least effort. Indian princes like Udayasing of Udepur (1679 A. D.) also found it easier and less likely to interfere with their usual enjoyments to study this grammar. We shall presently consider the special features to which the Särasvata owed its popularity amongst the aristocracy; in the meanwhile it may be assumed as very probable that the Muhammedan rule of India is to be credited with having produced the demand which eventually led to the rise of the school of grammar with which we are at pre- sent concerned. 93 74. Special features of the Sarasvate.-These special fea- tures are not very far to seek; and prominent amongst them is brevity of treatment. When we remember that schools like those of Jainendra and Bopadeva, whose avowed object was to curtail and improve upon Panini as far as practicable, could not conveniently treat of their subject in less than 3000 and 1200 sütras respectively; or that the school which in current opinion was labelled the short school--Katantra--has more than 1400 sūtras, 1 It is necessary to emphasise this in order to counteract the tendency to lock upon the Islam as a purely destructive force. The instance before us is only one cat of many.