नाट्यशास्त्रम् (प्रथम भाग - अभिनवभारती एवं हिन्दी टीका सहित)

20 THE NĀṬYAŚĀSTRA [ II. 12-

The table of measurement

12-16. Listen now about the measurement of all these theatres, which has been fixed by Viśvakarman. Units of these measurements¹ are: Aṇu, Raja, Bāla, Likṣā, Yūkā, Yava, Aṅgula, cubit (hasta) and Daṇḍa.

8 Aṇus	=	1 Raja
8 Rajas	=	1 Bāla
8 Bālas	=	1 Likṣā
8 Likṣās	=	1 Yūkā
8 Yūkas	=	1 Yava
8 Yavas	=	1 Aṅgula
24 Aṅgulas	=	1 cubit
4 cubits	=	1 Daṇḍa.

With the preceding table of measurement I shall describe them (i.e. the different classes of playhouses).

The playhouse for mortals

17. An [oblong] playhouse meant for mortals¹ should be made sixtyfour cubits in length and thirtytwo cubits in breadth.

Disadvantage of a too big playhouse

18-19. No one should build a playhouse bigger than the above; for a play [produced] in it (i.e. a bigger house) will not be properly expressive. For anything recited or uttered in too big a playhouse will be losing euphony due to enunciated syllables being indistinct¹ [to spectators not sitting sufficiently close to the stage].

20. [Besides this] when the playhouse is very big, the expression in the face [of actors] on which rests the Representation

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12-16 (B. 15-19, G. same). ¹. The table of measurement given here agrees substantially with the one given in the Arthaśāstra of Kauṭilya (see IHQ. VIII. p. 482 footnote).

17 (B. 20, G. same). ¹ A medium oblong playhouse is meant here. It is described in detail later on. See 33-38, 43-45, 63-65 below.

18-19 (B. 21-22, G. same). ¹ anabhivyakta-varṇatvād. B. reads aniḥsaraṇa-dharmatvād. In spite of Ag's acceptance of this reading it may not be considered genuine.