नाट्यशास्त्रम् (प्रथम भाग - अभिनवभारती एवं हिन्दी टीका सहित)

36 THE NATYASASTRA [(III. 22-

22. In its middle should be drawn two lines vertically and horizontally (i.e. parallel to the sides), and in the apartments made by these lines, should be installed the different gods.

23-30. In the middle of this (maṇḍala), should be put Brahman who has lotus as his seat¹. Then one should first of all put in the east Śiva with his host of Bhūtas, Nārāyaṇa (Viṣṇu), Indra, Skanda (Kārtikeya), Sūrya, Aśvins, Candra, Sarasvatī, Lakṣmī, Śraddhā and Medhā, in the south-east Agni, Svāhā, Viśvedevas, Gandharvas, Rudras and Ṛṣis, in the south Yama, Mitra with his followers, Pitṛs, Piśācas, Uragas and Guhyakas, in the south-west the Rākṣasas and all the Bhūtas, in the west the Seas and Varuṇa, in the north-west the Seven Winds² and Garuḍa with other birds, in the north Kuvera, Mothers of the Nāṭya, Yakṣas with their followers, in the north-east leaders of Gaṇas such as Nandin, Brahmarṣis and the host of Bhūtas in their proper places.

31. And [in the eastern] pillar should be placed Sanatkumāra¹, in the southern one Dakṣa², in the northern one Grāmaṇī (lit. leader of Gaṇas)³ and in the western one Skanda (Kārtikeya).

32. According to this rule all the gods in their [proper] form and colour should be placed in their respective positions.

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hasta-tāla or tāla i.e. the interval between the tips of the thumb and the middle-finger stretched in opposite directions. अङ्गुष्ठमध्यमाङ्गुल्यौ ये हस्तेन प्रसारिते । तद्द्वयोरन्तरं तालमाहुर्मनीषिणः ॥ SR. VII. 1046. Otherwise it will be impossible to accomodate the maṇḍala on the stage which is eight cubits wide (See NŚ. II. 33-35). The ancient commentators like Śaṅkuka and others pointed out how absurd it would be take hasta in the passage in the sense of cubit. (see Ag. I. p. 75).

22 (B.23. G.23).

23-30 (B.24-31, G.24-31). ¹ According to Ag. a lotus is to be described in the centre of maṇḍala. ² For the seven winds see the Vāmana P. (see Vidyalankar, JK. sub voce).

31 (B.32, G.32). ¹ Sanatkumāra—one of the great ṛṣis, and a son of Brahman.

² Dakṣa—one of the lords of the creation (prajāpati), son of Pracetas. There were other Dakṣas besides. See Vidyalankar, JK. sub voce.

³ See above 1-8 note 7.

32 (B.33, G.33).