नाट्यशास्त्रम् (प्रथम भाग - अभिनवभारती एवं हिन्दी टीका सहित)

518	THE NATYASASTRA	[XXVII. 42-

playwright into that of another it is also to be recorded by the experts as his Blemish¹.

42. When anyone knowingly (lit. not out of ignorance) interpolates (lit. mixes) in [his] play the name of another author then his Blemish in it being definite, should be recorded in due order¹.

43. When anyone produces a play using costumes and languages in violation of the rules [regarding the same laid down in the Śāstra] then his Blemish about the same should be recorded¹.

Limitation of human efforts in a play

44. Who is able to observe properly the rules of [constructing] plays or producing [them on the stage]? Or who can be bold or keen (lit. eager) enough in mind to [claim to] understand properly all that have been said¹?

45. Hence one should include in plays words which have deep significance, are appoved of by the Vedas as well as the people, and are acceptable to all persons¹.

46. And no play (lit. nothing) can be devoid of any merit

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¹ This seems to show clearly that theatrical Directors did not hesitate sometimes to insert passages taken from one playwright's work into that of another to add to the effect of the latter. K. omits this passage.

42 (C.43). ¹ From this it appears that the practice of putting in the name of the author of a play in the Prologue (prastāvanā) was not a very old one. This seems to explain the absence of the authors name in dramatic the works ascribed to Bhāsa. K. does not have this passage.

43 (C.44; K.41). ¹ From a close study of avalable plays it does not appear that the rules laid down in the Śāstra were very scrupulously followed, or it is also likely that the rules regarding the use of different languages in a play, changed with the linguistic development as well as other conditions connected with the use of languages.

44 (C.45; K.47). ¹ This seems to point out that no Śāstra can exhaustively lay down all the rules which can never be made very clear and precise, for many things in theatre relate to so many fluctuating factors.

45 (C.46; K.43). ¹ One should mark the stress put on the Vedas and the popular practice in connexion with the Nāṭya. See NŚ. XXVI. 118-120.

46 (C.47; K.44).