नाट्यशास्त्रम् (प्रथम भाग - अभिनवभारती एवं हिन्दी टीका सहित)

16 THE NATYASASTRA [ I. 117-

117-118. Hence I have devised the drama in which meet all the departments of knowledge, different arts and various actions. So, (O, Daityas) you should not have any anger towards the gods; for a mimicry of the world with its Seven Divisions (sapta dvīpa)¹ has been made a rule of, in the drama.

119. ¹ Stories taken out of Vedic works as well as Semi-historical Tales (itihāsa) [so embellished that they are] capable of giving pleasure, is called drama (nāṭya).

120. ¹ A mimicry of the exploits of gods, Asuras, kings as well as house-holders in this world, is called drama.

121. And when human nature with its joys and sorrows, is depicted by means of Representation through Gestures, and the like (i.e. Words, Costume, and Temperament or Sattva) it is called drama."

Offering Pūjā to the gods of the stage

122-123. The Brahman said to all the gods, "Perform duly in the playhouse a ceremony (yajana) with offerings, Homa,¹ Mantras², (sacred) plants, Japa³: and the offerings in it should consist of eatables hard as well as soft (bhojya and bhakṣya⁴).

124. Thus this Veda (i.e. this Nāṭyaveda) will have a

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117-118 (B. 119-120; G. 116). ¹ According to the Purāṇic geography the world was divided into seven continents such as Jambu, Plakṣa, Śālmali, Kuśa, Krauñce, Śāka and Puṣkara. Each of these continents was further subdivided into nine regions, and Bhārata (India) is a region of the Jambu continent.

119 (123L-1248; G. 119) ¹ B. reads one couplet more after this.

120 (B. 121b-122a; G. 117) ¹ We read 120b as kṛtānukaraṇaṃ loke nāṭyam etad bhaviṣyati, but B. G. differently.

121 (B. 122b-123a; G. 118).

122-123 (B. 125b-127a; G. 120-121). ¹ homa—offering oblations to gods by throwing ghee into the consecrated fire.

² mantra—formula of prayer sacred to any deity.

³ Japa—repeating a mantra or muttering it many times.

⁴ खरविशदमभक्ष्यार्थं भक्ष्यमिति केचित्, खरं भटभृत्यादि विशदं मोदकादि.