नाट्यशास्त्रम् (प्रथम भाग - अभिनवभारती एवं हिन्दी टीका सहित)

22 THE NATYASASTRA [ 1. 28-

27-28. Under the asterism Puṣyā (Cancri) he should spread [for measurement] a piece of white string which may be made of cotton, wool, Muñjā grass or bark of some tree.

Taking up the string

28-31. Wise people should prepare for this purpose a string which is not liable to break. When the string is broken into two [pieces] the patron¹ [of the dramatic spectacle] will surely die. When it is broken into three a political disorder will occur in the land, and it being broken into four pièces the master of the dramatic art² will perish, while if the string slips out of the hand some other kind of loss will be the result. Hence it is desired that the string should always be taken and held with [great] care. Besides this the measurement of ground for the playhouse should be carefully made.

32-33. And at a favourable moment which occurs in a (happy) Tithi¹ during its good part (su-karaṇa)² he should get the auspicious day declared after the Brahmins have been satisfied [with gifts]. Then he should spread the string after sprinkling on it the propitiating water.³

The ground plan of the playhouse

33-35. Afterwards he should measure a plot of land sixty-four cubits [long]¹ and divide the same [lengthwise] into two [equal] parts. The part which will be behind him (i.e. at his back) will have to be divided again into two equal halves. Of these halves one [behind him] should be again divided equally into two parts, one of which will be made the stage (raṅga-śīrṣa) and the part at back the tiring room (nepathya).

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27-28 (B. 33b-34a, G. 30b-31a).

28-31 (B. 34b-37, G. 31b-34). ¹ svāminaḥ = prekṣāpateḥ. Ag.
² prayoktur = nāṭyācāryasya. (Ag.)

32-33 (B. 38-39a, G. 35). ¹ tithi—a lunar day.
² karaṇa—a half of a lunar day, see below 43-45 note.
³ G. omits 33a.

33-35 (B. 39b-41a, G. 36-37). ¹ See 17 above and the note 1 on it.