नाट्यशास्त्रम् (प्रथम भाग - अभिनवभारती एवं हिन्दी टीका सहित)

240 THE NATYASASTRA [ XIV. 17-

Indicating distance great, small and medium

17. The same place if much walked over will be taken as a distant land. And near by lands or lands of medium distance are to be indicated likewise (in the same principle)¹.

Movement of gods and demigods

18-20. According to the various needs of the plot (lit. play) gods and demigods are to move to cities, forests, seas or mountains through the sky, by an aerial car, by their occult power or by different other acts. But while in disguise in a play they (i. e gods and demigods) are to move on the ground, so that they may be visible like human beings (lit. through human causes)¹.

Movement of men in Bhāratavarṣa

21. The gods and demigods can at their will move to any of [the nine] divisions [of the Jambudvīpa], but it is prescribed that men are to move in Bhārata [varṣa] (India) alone.

Departure for a distance place

22. If a person departs on business to a distant place this is to be indicated by closing the Act [with his departing] and mentioning again this fact in an Introductory Scene (praveśaka).

Time allowed for the events of an Act

23. To indicate the attainment of an object one is to traverse a measure of distance. But in case of failure in this matter (lit. in non-attainment of the object) the Act should be brought to an end.

24. [Incidents in a play occurring for] a Kṣaṇa, a Mūhurta, a Yāma and a day are to be accommodated in an Act in pursuance of the Germ (bīja) [of the play].

25. But a month or a year is [to be considered] finished with the end of an Act; and events occurring more than one year after, should not be put in an Act.

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16 (B.XIII.16. G.16).
17 (B.XIII.17, G.17). ¹ For an example of this see Uttara I.
18-20 (B.XIII.18-20, G.18-20). ¹ B.G. add one couplet after this.
21 (B.XIII.21, G.22). 22 (B.XIII.23, G.23). 23 (B.XIII.24, G.24).
24 (B.XIII.25, G.25). 25 (B.XIII.26, G.26).