--- In Pali@yahoogroups.com, "Ong Yong Peng" <pali.smith@...> wrote:

>
> Dear Jim,
>
> thank you for your reply. It is quite pleasant to learn of a Pali
> grammar in Devanagari script.

Dear Yong Peng,

I believe most modern Indian editions of Pali works are based on
Sinhalese and Burmese sources.

> Would you be able to give us a quick review of the ancient Pali
> grammar materials. I know CSCD contains the following list:

It is much too difficult for me to give a quick review without a lot
of preparation and checking but I think I can manage a basic
classification of the works you list from the CSCD so that you can at
least get some idea of how they're related. I have also included the
Ekakkharakosa under "Dictionaries". These works come under the
philology section found in the bibliography of the Critical Pali
Dictionary as follows:

5. Philology
5.1 - 5.3 Grammar.
5.4 The 14 minor texts.
5.5 Roots.
5.6 Dictionaries.
5.7 Metrics.
5.8 Rhetoric.

The works you list from the CSCD can be placed as follows:
5. Philology
5.1 - 5.3 Grammar.
5.1 Kaccaayanabyaakara.na
5.1,4 Padaruupasiddhi
5.1,5 Baalaavataara ga.nthipadatthavinicchayasaara (?)
5.2 Saddaniiti [This work consists of 3 volumes: Padamaalaa,
Dhaatumaalaa, and Suttamaalaa; the last one is not included in
CSCD ver. 3]
5.3 Moggallaanabyaakara.na
5.3,111 Moggallaanapa~ncikaa-.tiikaa
5.3,5 Payogasiddhipaa.tha
5.6 Dictionaries.
5.6.1 Abhidhaanappadiipikaapaa.tha
5.6.1,2 Abhidhaanappadiipikaa.tiikaa (Catura"ngabala)
5.6.2 Ekakkharakosa
5.7 Metrics.
5.7.1 Vuttodayapaa.tha
5.8 Rhetoric.
5.8,1 Subodhaala`nkaarapaa.tha
5.8.1,1(?) Subodhaala`nkaara.tiikaa

> [Byaakara.na gantha-sa`ngaha : Collection of grammar texts]
> (byakarana, or vyakarana in Sanskrit, means grammar)

It can also be "vyaakara.na" in Pali.

> . Kaccaayanabyaakara.na
> . Moggallaanabyaakara.na
> . Saddaniitippakara.na (padamaalaa)
> . Saddaniitippakara.na (dhaatumaalaa)
> . Padaruupasiddhi
> . Moggallaanapa~ncikaa
> . Payogasiddhipaa.tha
> . Vuttodayapaa.tha
> . Abhidhaanappadiipikaapaa.tha
> . Abhidhaanappadiipikaa.tiikaa
> . Subodhaala`nkaarapaa.tha
> . Subodhaala`nkaara.tiikaa
> . Baalaavataara ga.nthipadatthavinicchayasaara
>
> Abhidhaanappadiipikaapaa.tha, a book of synonyms?

Yes, and homonyms too. It's like a thesaurus but all in verses. Very
useful.

> Baalaavataara, elementary grammar?

More or less. I don't think it is an easy grammar to digest without a
lot of help from a skilful Pali teacher. Perhaps it is intended as a
textbook for those teaching grammar to young monks.

Best wishes,
Jim