नाट्यशास्त्रम् (प्रथम भाग - अभिनवभारती एवं हिन्दी टीका सहित)

356	THE NATYASASTRA	[ XX. 8.

8-9. Plays of the Vīthī, the Samavakāra, the Ihāmṛga, the Utsṛṣṭikāṅka (Aṅka), the Vyāyoga, the Bhāṇa, the Prahasana and the Ḍima classes should be made devoid of the Graceful Style. I shall hereafter describe the different methods of constructing plays.

The Nāṭaka

10-11. [A play] which has for its subject-matter a well-known story¹, for its Hero a celebrated person of exalted nature (udātta)² or which describes the character of a person descending from a royal seer³, divine protection [for him], his many super-human powers⁴ and exploits such as, success [in different under-takings] and amorous pastimes, and which has appropriate number of (lit. richly furnished which) Acts (aṅka)⁵ and Introductory Scenes (praveśaka), is called a Nāṭaka.⁶

12. Character of kings, their acts and movements represent-ing many States and Sentiments and arising from (lit. made by) their joys and sorrows [when described in a play] is styled a Nāṭaka.

The Act

13. After considering the denouement (kārya) suitable to the particular stage [of the plot] an Act should be constructed by expanding the Turning point (bindu) [of the play]. It should be furnished with a group (gaṇa) [of characters].¹

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8-9 (C. 8-9; B.XVIII. 8-9).
10-11 (C. 10-11; B.XVIII. 10-11). ¹ It must occur in some form in a Purāṇa, Itihāsa (Rām. and Mbh.) or any other celebrated work (e.g. Bṛhatkathā).
² Rāma, Kṛṣṇa and Udayana are examples of such persons. This and the other conditions mentioned in the note above exclude living persons as Heroes of the Nāṭakas. Cf. ND, p. 27.
³ Janaka and Viśvāmitra are examples of such persons.
⁴ Divine personages may be introduced in a Nāṭaka only as Heroes of an Episode (patākā) or Episodical Incident (prakarī). See Ag. and ND. (loc cit).
⁵ For the description of Act (aṅka) see below 13-15,23.
⁶ For a description of the Introductory Scene (praveśaka) see below 19-21; 27-35.
12 (C.12; B.XVIII 12).
13 (C.13, B.XVIII. 13). ¹ C. reads this couplet differently.