नाट्यशास्त्रम् (प्रथम भाग - अभिनवभारती एवं हिन्दी टीका सहित)

214 THE NĀṬYAŚĀSTRA [ XIII. 9-

that he will take should according to his own measure [of the hand] be four or two Tālas or one Tāla wide.

9-10. In case of [characters such as] gods and kings the steps should be four Tālas wide, of the middling [type of characters] two Tālas, and of women and persons of the inferior type one Tāla wide.

The time for their steps

10-11. [And the time required for the steps should be] four or two Kalās or one Kalā only. [Steps] of the superior [characters] should take four Kalās, those of the middling type two Kalās and those of the inferior type one Kalā only.

The tempo of their Gait

12. An expert in the theatrical art should apply three kinds of tempos—slow, medium and quick—to the Gait [of different characters] according to their nature.

13. The Gait of the superior [characters should be] slow, that of the middling [characters should have] the medium [tempo, while the Gait of] the inferior [characters should be] quick and copious. [Thus] should be applied the three tempos according to the spirit [of the different characters].

14. So much about the rules regarding the timing and tempo [of the steps]. O the sinless ones, listen now about the manner of taking steps [suitable to different characters].

The natural Gait

15. In his natural [Gait] a superior [character] is to raise his knee up to the height of the waist and in case of Cārīs to be used in fighting the same (i.e. the knee) is to be raised up to the height of the breast.

16-19. With the graceful steps of the Pārśvakrāntā Cārī and

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9-10 (B.XII.9-10, G.9-10). 10-11 (B.XII.10-11, G.10-11).
12 (B.XII.12, G.12). ¹ B. reads layam budhaḥ
13 (B.XII.13, G.13). ¹ sattvam—cittavṛttiḥ (Ag.).
14 (B.XII.14, G.14). 15 (B.XII.15, G.15).
16-19 (B.XII.16-19, G.16-19).