नाट्यशास्त्रम् (प्रथम भाग - अभिनवभारती एवं हिन्दी टीका सहित)

-XXVII. 54] SUCCESS IN DRAMATIC PRODUCTION 519

or totally free from faults. Hence faults in the production of a a play should not be made much of¹.

47. But the actor (naṭa) should not [for that reason] be careless about Words, Gestures and Costumes¹ of minor importance (lit. non-essential) as well as about [minor] Sentiments and States², dance, vocal and instrumental music and popular usages³ of the same kind [relating to the performance].

Spectators of a performance

48. These are [the rules] defining the characteristics of the Success. I shall hereafter describe that of [an ideal] spectator¹ (prekṣaka)¹.

49-52. Those who are possessed of [good] character, high birth, quiet behaviour and learning, are desirous of fame and virtue, impartial, advanced in age, proficient in drama in all its six limbs, alert, honest, unaffected by passion expert in playing the four kinds of musical instruments, acquainted with the Costumes and Make-up, the rules of dialects, the four kinds of Histrionic Representation, grammar, prosody, and various [other] Śāstras, are very virtuous, experts in different arts and crafts, and have fine sense of the Sentiments and the States, should be made spectators¹ in witnessing a drama².

53. Anyone who has (lit. is characterised by) unruffled senses, is honest, expert in the discussion of pros and cons, detector of faults and appreciator [of merits], is considered fit to be a spectator in a drama.

54. He who attains gladness on seeing a person glad, and sorrow on seeing him sorry and feels miserable on seeing him miserable is considered fit to be a spectator in a drama¹.

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¹ This is a very wise counsel for the hasty critics of a play.
47 (C.48; K.45). ¹ nepathye, K. (nepathyaiḥ, C).
² rasabhāvanṛttagīte, K. (°nṛtyagītaiḥ, K).
³ lokayukte, K. (°yuktyā, C).
48 (C 49; K.46). ¹ preṣkakānām (prekṣaṇānām, C.praśnikānām, K).
49-52 (C.50-53; K.47-50). ¹ prekṣaka, C; prāśnika, K.
53 (C.54; K.51).
54 (C.55; K.52). ¹ The critic must be a man with sympathy.