Correct Option
The correct option is (b).
Explanation
Panini (c. 5th–4th century BCE) was a seminal ancient Indian grammarian. His work marked the transition from Vedic Sanskrit to Classical Sanskrit. He is best known for his treatise called the Ashtadhyayi (Eight Chapters), which formulated the rules of Sanskrit grammar with mathematical precision.
Statement-wise Analysis
- Statement 1 is Incorrect. Panini prepared a grammar for Sanskrit, not Prakrit. His work standardized the language, distinguishing the spoken language of his time (Bhasha) from the older Vedic dialect (Chandas). Prakrit grammars were developed much later by other scholars (e.g., Vararuchi).
- Statement 2 is Correct. Panini arranged vowels and consonants in a specific, non-alphabetical order known as the Shiva Sutras. This arrangement allowed him to refer to groups of sounds using concise abbreviations (pratyaharas) within his grammatical rules.
- Statement 3 is Correct. The structure of the Ashtadhyayi is highly algorithmic and concise. Panini used a system of abbreviations, meta-rules, and recursive logic that functions very similarly to modern algebraic formulae or computer programming code.
Key Takeaway: Panini is the author of the Ashtadhyayi, a foundational text on Sanskrit grammar (Vyakarana), known for its algebraic logic and scientific arrangement of phonemes.