The Mahåbhå¶ya of Pata¤jali is a monumental work in the tradition of Påƒinian grammar.Pata¤jali explains a large number of the sµutras of Påƒini and Kåtyåyanaís vårttika thereupon. Composed in a lively and absorbing conversational style, the Mahåbhå¶ya has set a model for exegetical writings for all time. The present volume, published posthumously, is a reproduction of an incomplete manuscript of late Professor Surendranath Dasgupta. It provides English translation and annotations on the first four sections (åhnikas) of the first chapter (prathamâdhyåya) of the Mahåbhå¶ya with corresponding romanized texts of the sµutras and the vårttikas. The value of the work lies not so much in the translation of the text but in the very thorough discussions on all topics in the annotations which take into account several commentaries and later works of the grammatical tradition. This great work will attract attention not merely of scholars of Sanskrit grammar, but also of philosophers of language.