Question

What is the significance of Anubandhas in Paninian sutras?

• A. They indicate grammatical operations but are omitted in the final word form
• B. They represent vowels in pronunciation
• C. They mark sentence endings
• D. They indicate poetic meter

Hint:

Anubandha (It marker) → Technical grammatical marker removed in final form

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Understanding the Question: Pāṇini uses a meta-language (a language to describe language). We need to explain the function of Anubandhas within his rules.
Key Concepts and Approach: Anubandhas (also known as it-varṇas) are like "coding markers" or "tags" attached to roots and suffixes to signal how they should behave.
Detailed Solution:
Step 1: The role of coding tags. When Pāṇini lists a suffix as "NvuL", the letters 'N' and 'L' are Anubandhas. They are not part of the word; they are instructions.
Step 2: Instructional Value. The 'N' might tell the grammar to strengthen the root vowel (Vṛddhi), and the 'L' might tell it where the accent should go.
Step 3: The elision process. Once the instruction is noted by the "program" (the grammar rules), the markers are deleted via the sūtra "tasya lopaḥ" (1.3.9). They never appear in the final Sanskrit word.
Conclusion: Anubandhas are operational markers that are omitted in the final form.