The classic work by a renowned scholar has several advantages over other similar works because of its distinct features. lt is much more copious than other lexicons for Sanskrit students. It contains nearly double as much material as other Sanskrit works of the same character. Another merit of the work is that it is the only one of its kind that is transliterated and can thus be used with advantage by comparative philologists not conversant with the Devanagari alphabet. Futher it is etymological in character and gives a derivative analysis of all the words it contains. This enhances its utility from a linguistic point of view and its practical value to the students. it would help the students better remember the meanings of words once they are equipped with their derivation. Lastly it is the only lexicon of its type that indicates not only with respect to words, but also to their meanings, the literary period to which they belong and the frequency or rarity of their occurence--a feature which is so important for both the scholars and the students. About the Author Arthur A. Macdonell's services to the study and research of Sanskrit literature are too well-known to need any introduction and too vast and varied to be covered in brief. From writing a Sanskrit Grammar to preparing a Vedic Index, he has indebted the students and scholars of Sanskrit alike, in many ways. Macdonell was educated at the University at Gottingen, Universities of Leipzig and Tubingen, and Oxford University. He was Boden Professor of Sanskrit and Keeper of the Indian Institute, Oxford. He was elected Fellow of Royal Danish Academy; Fellow of the British Academy. Vice-President of Council of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland. His published works include: Sarvanukramani of the Rigveda (1886); A Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1892); Vedic Mythology (1897); A History of Sanskrit Literaturece (19); Brihaddevata (194); Vedic Grammar (191); Vedic Index of Names and Subjects (1912); A Vedic Grammar for Students (1916); A Vedic Reader for Students (1917).