''Shabdamanidarpanam'' (Kannada: ಶಬ್ದಮಣಿದರ್ಪಣಮ್), also spelled ''Śabdamaṇidarpaṇam'', is a comprehensive and authoritative work on
Kannada grammar written by
Kesiraja
Kēśirāja, also spelled Keshiraja ( kn, ಕೇಶಿರಾಜ), was a 13th-century Kannada grammarian, poet and writer. He is particularly known for authoring '' Shabdamanidarpana'', an authoritative work on Kannada grammar. According to Dravi ...
in 1260 CE.
[E.P. Rice – pp 111] This work, which literally means "Jewel-mirror of Grammar", remains to-date a comprehensive and authoritative work on Kannada grammar. The rules here are set forth in ''kanda'' metre and is followed by a prose commentary in ''vrutti'' (illustrative commentary by the author himself) and is considered a writing of high value.
[Sastri (1955), p359] Though Kesiraja followed the model of Sanskrit grammar of the Katantra school and that of earlier writings on Kannada grammar, his work has an originality of its own.
[Sahitya Akademi (1988), p. 1476]
''Shabdamanidarpanam'' is the earliest extant work of its kind, and narrates scientifically the principles of
old Kannada
Old Kannada or Halegannada ( kn, ಹಳೆಗನ್ನಡ, Haḷegannaḍa) is the Kannada language which transformed from ''Purvada halegannada'' or ''Pre-old Kannada'' during the reign of the Kadambas of Banavasi (ancient royal dynasty of Kar ...
language and is a work of unique significance.
[Encyclopaedia of Indian literature vol. 5, Sahitya Akademi (1996), pp. 3929]
Mention of early poets
The text of ''Sabdamanidarpanam'' starts with an invocation of the great Kannada poets of earlier generations who are considered as authorities by Kesiraja, as cited by him.
Grammar topics
Significance of grammar
In the very beginning of the ''Shabdamanidarpanam'', in the preface section, Kesiraja explains the significance of Grammar in the context of a language and its learning:
Adjectives
In one of the aphorisms (''sūtra'') of ''Shabdamanidarpanam'', Kesiraja gives a list of forms ending in /-tu/ and /-du/ labelling them as ''guNavaachi'' (ಗುಣವಾಚಿ), the
adjective
In linguistics, an adjective (abbreviated ) is a word that generally modifies a noun or noun phrase or describes its referent. Its semantic role is to change information given by the noun.
Traditionally, adjectives were considered one of the ma ...
s.
[''Word-structure in Dravidian'' – By R. Śrīhari, B. Ramakrishna Reddy, Dravidian University, pp. 28]
Lexicography
''Shabdamanidarpanam'' is important from the view of
lexicography
Lexicography is the study of lexicons, and is divided into two separate academic disciplines. It is the art of compiling dictionaries.
* Practical lexicography is the art or craft of compiling, writing and editing dictionaries.
* Theoreti ...
. An attempt at lexicon-making is provided in several parts of the work. The work has the list of verbal roots and words containing ḷ and ḹ sounds. There is also a chapter called 'prayŌgasāra' where Kesiraja has quoted a number of rare words along with their meanings.
[Lexicography in India : Proceedings of the First National Conference on Dictionary Making in Indian Languages, By Bal Govind Misra, page 82]
Sound forms
;Articulate sounds
;Inarticulate sounds
Notes
References
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Kannada grammar
Kannada literature
1260 books