[10] Bimal Krishna Matilal in his The word and the world refers to the debate of nirkuta vs. vyakarana as an interesting philosophical discussion between the nairuktas or etymologists and the pāṇinīyas or grammarians.
[9] Śākaṭāyana's emphasis on etymology and the derivation of words from roots influenced subsequent linguistic thought and shaped the way language was analyzed and understood.
[9] The acceptance and criticism to his theories demonstrate the dynamic nature of the Indian intellectual tradition; debate and discourse were encouraged and valued.
[12] Śākaṭāyana's ideas have been interpreted as aligning with the philosophical school of Mīmāṃsā, which emphasizes the eternal nature of words and their meanings.
[13] The legacy of Śākaṭāyana's thought extends beyond India, as his ideas have been studied by scholars of comparative linguistics and philosophy.