नाट्यशास्त्रम् (प्रथम भाग - अभिनवभारती एवं हिन्दी टीका सहित)

224 THE NATYASASTRA [XIII. 110

Gait of a Parasite

110. The Gait of a Parasite (viṭa) should be made graceful. [An actor] is to represent (lit. go) the Gait of a Parasite by putting forward Ākuñcita (Kuñcita) feet within one Tāla and holding the Kaṭakāvardhamāna hands with the proper Sauṣṭhava and letting [these] hands follow the feet

Gait of the Kāñcukīya

112-113. [The Gait] of the Kāñcukīya (armour-bearer)¹ should be made [suitable] to his particular age and condition. When he is not old² his Gait should be as follows : With the feet raised half a Tāla high and simple steps he should walk carrying his limbs like one who is treading (lit. touching) upon mud.

114. But in case of his being [thoroughly] old he should walk with the trembling body and raise the feet slowly and with [every] step he is to take his breadth.

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110 (B.XII.110, G.109). 111 (B.XII.110, G.110).

112-113 (B.XII.112-113, G.111-112). ¹ The word kañcukīya (kañcukin) should be translated as 'armour-bearer' and not as 'chamberlain' which term should be used for sannidhātṛ; see Kauṭilya's Arthaśāstra (2. 4. 23). BhP. (p. 292) defines the Kāñcukīya as follows :

अकामा ब्राह्मणाश्चैव कञ्चुकोष्णीषवेत्रिणः । ज्ञानविज्ञानसम्पन्ना कञ्चुकीया स्मृता बुधैः ॥

(Passionless Brahmins who have knowledge and wisdom being in charge of (the king's) armour and crown, and holding the cane-stick (as symbol of their authority), are called Kāñcukīyas by the wise).

² a-vṛddhasya. This adjective of the kañcukīya contradicts the following (probably very late) definition : अन्तःपुरचरो वृद्धो विप्रो गुणगणान्वितः । सर्वकार्यार्थकुशलः कञ्चुकीत्यभिधीयते । जरावैकल्ययुक्तेन विशेद् गात्रेण कञ्चुकी । This passage has been wrongly ascribed to Bharata in Rucipati's commentary to the Anargharāghava (ed. in Kāvyamālā, p. 109). The kāñcukīya in the plays ascribed to Bhāsa (i.e. Svapna, Pratimā, Abhi. Pañca. Dūta. and Bāla.) does not show any trace of old age. The kañcukin in the Śak. deplores that the cane-stick which he had taken up as the symbol of his office, has become in old age the support of his body which he could move with difficulty (V.3.). From this it may be assumed that he was appointed before old age came upon him.

114 (B.XII. 144, G 113). ¹ For an old kañckin see Śak. loc. cit Mudrā, II, etc, 9. and III. 1.