नाट्यशास्त्रम् (प्रथम भाग - अभिनवभारती एवं हिन्दी टीका सहित)

-II. 11 ] DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAYHOUSE 19

are the outcome of their [mere] will but men's [creative] activity should be carefully guided by rules [laid down in the Śāstras]. Hence, listen about the method of building a playhouse and of the manner of offering Pūjā at the site [of its construction].

7-8. There are three types of playhouses devised by the wise Viśvakarman [the heavenly architecht] in the treatise on his art (śāstra). They are oblong (vikṛṣṭa),² square (caturasra) and triangular (tryasra).

The three sizes of the playhouse

8-11. Their sizes vary : they may be large (jyeṣṭha), middle-sized (madhya) and small (avara). The length (lit. measurement) of these [three types] fixed in terms of cubits as well as Daṇḍas, is one hundred and eight, sixtyfour or thirtytwo. They² should [respectively] have [sides] one hundred and eight, sixtyfour and thirtytwo [cubits or Daṇḍas]³ long. The large playhouse is meant for gods⁴ and the middle-sized one for kings, while for the rest of people, has been prescribed the smallest [theatre].⁵

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7-8 (B.G. same).

8-11 (B.G. same). ¹ Some are for identifying the oblong, the square and the triangular types respectively with the large, the middle-sized and the small playhouses, but Ag. very rightly objects to this. He says. According एतान्येव त्रीणि ज्येष्ठादीनि इति केचित् अन्ये तु प्रत्येकं त्रित्व मिति नवैतेऽत्र भेदा इत्याहुः—एतदेव युक्तम् to Ag's view there will be the following nine types of playhouses : (i) large oblong (ii) large square, (iii) large triangular, (iv) oblong (v) medium square, (vi) medium triangular, (vii) small oblong, (viii) small square and (xi) small triangular. For a free translation of the passages in this chapter (8, 17, 19, 24-28, 33-35, 43-53, 63,68, 69-92) relating to the construction of the playhouse see D. R. Mankad, "Hindu Theatre" in IHQ. VIII. 1932. pp. 482 ff.

² They i. e. the large, the middle-sized and the small.

³ As the measurements described are both in terms of cubits and daṇḍas (4 cubits), eighteen kinds of playhouse will be available.

⁴ Ag (I. p.51) thinks that by gods, kings and other peoples mentioned in this passage characters in a play have been meant. But this view does not seem to be plausible. So the other view, mentioned by him, which takes gods and kings etc. as spectators may be accepted.

⁵ After this, B. reads three couplets which go rightly between 20 and 24. G. also holds the same view.