नाट्यशास्त्रम् (प्रथम भाग - अभिनवभारती एवं हिन्दी टीका सहित)

-XXIII. 100 ] THE COSTUMES AND MAKE-UP 425

Colours of different tribes

99. Kirātas¹, Barbarians² (barbara), Andhras³, Dramilas,⁴ Kāśīs⁵, Kosalas⁶, Pulindas⁷ and the inhabitants of the South (dākṣiṇātya)⁸ are mostly known to be brown (asita lit. not white).

100. Śakas¹, Yavanas², Pahravas (Palhavas)³ and Vāhlikas (Bāhlikas)⁴ who dwell in the North should be made almost reddish yellow (gaura).

---

99 (C.102, K.XXI.88b-89a). ¹ Colours mentioned in this and the following passages probably show that the groups alloted a special colour are approximately of the same complexion and not actually of the colour mentioned. These passages seem to give a valuable information about some ethnological features of ancient India. Pre-Aryan people including the Dravidians (Andhras and Dramilas) were not fair in complexion. The separate mention of the Southerners after Andhras and Dramilas (Draviḍas) taken along with some Northern tribes like the Kāśīs and Kosalas, seem to show that the NŚ. here records the tradition of their once living in the North. Kirāta—a hill tribe probably living in the Himalayan region; see Mbh. XII. 207, 43.

² Barbara—Some non-Āryan tribe mentioned very rarely in Skt. literature (Mbh. XII. 207. 43). This may be a synonym of Mleccha as well.

³ Andhra—This tribe is well-known in history and literature.

⁴ Dramila—Known in Pali (Mahāvaṃsa) as Damila (modern Tamil).

⁵ Kāśī—The tribe after which the ancient kingdom of Kāśī and the city of that name was known.

⁶ Kosala—The tribe giving name to the ancient kingdom of Kosala.

⁷ Pulinda—An aboriginal people living probably in the Vindhya region. See Mallinātha on Raghu, XVI. 32; also Paṇha I. 1. and Ṇāyā I. 1.

⁸ They may be members of Kol and other tribes living in the South.

100 (C.103; K.XXI.19b-90a). ¹ Śaka—Hoards of nomadic tribes from Central Asia who descended on the Indian plains in about 200 B.C. ; mentioned in Manu 10, 44.

² Yavana—Probably the same as Yona in Aśoka's edicts. They seem to have been Perso-Greeks and their descendants.

³ Pahrava (Pahlava)—Usually taken to mean Parthians who annexed the Western Punjab in about 140 A. C.

⁴ Vāhlika (Bāhlika)—Inhabitants of the region known as Balkh.

⁵ Read उत्तरां पश्चिमां श्रितम् (उत्तरां पश्चिमां दिशम्, K. उत्तरां ये श्रितं दिशम् C.). The tribes mentioned here came to from their home in the North-West.

54