ṣOnaka | ष्Oनक | SOnaka
ṣO/naka | ष्O/नक | m. (patr. fr. ṣunaka | षुनक |, g. bidādi | बिदादि |) N. of various authors and teachers (also with Indrota and Svaidāyana; esp. of the celebrated grammarian, author of the Ṛg-veda Prātiśākhya, the Bṛhad-devatā, and various other works; he is described as the teacher of Kātyāyana and especially of Āśvalāyana; he is said to have united the Bāṣkala and Śākala Śākhās, and is sometimes identified with the Vedic Ṛṣi Gṛtsa-mada; but according to the Viṣṇu-Purāṇa, Ś˚ was a son of Gṛtsamada, and originated the system of four castes; he is quoted in ĀśvŚr.; APrāt. & VPrāt.; the various legends about him are very confused), ŚBr.; Up.; MBh. &c.
pl. the descendants and pupils of Ś˚, Hariv.
pl. the descendants and pupils of Ś˚, Hariv.