नाट्यशास्त्रम् (प्रथम भाग - अभिनवभारती एवं हिन्दी टीका सहित)

520 THE NATYASASTRA [ XXVII. 55-

55-56. All these various qualities are not known to exist in one single spectator. And because objects of knowledge. are so numerous and the span of life is so brief$^1$, the inferior common (lit. men) in an assembly which consists of the superior, the middling and the inferior members cannot be expected to appeciate the performance of the superior ones.

57. Hence an individual to whom a particular dress, profession, speech and an act belong as his own, should be considered fit to appreciate the same.

Various classes of spectators

58. Different are the dispositions of women and men, young and old who may be of superior, middling or inferior talents, and on such dispositions [the Success of] a drama rests.

Disposition of different spectators

59. Young people are pleased to see [the presentation of] love, the learned a reference to some [religious or philosophical] doctrine$^1$, the seekers of money [topics of] wealth, and the passionless in topics of liberation (mokṣa).

60-61. Heroic persons are always pleased in the Odious and the Terrible Sentiments, the personal combats and battles, and the old people in Purāṇic legends, and tales of virtue. And [the common] women, children and the uncultured men (mūrkha) are always delighted with the Comic Sentiment and [remarkable] Costumes and Make-up (nepathya)$^1$.

61-62. Thus the man who is fit to assume a particular role by imitating the States of the latter, can be considered a spectator possessing the [necessary] qualifications.

Assessors in a performance

62-64. These should be known as spectators in connexion with a drama. But there being any controversy (saṃgharṣa)

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55-56 (C.56-57; K.53-54). $^1$ K. reads 55b as follows विज्ञेयस्याप्रमेयत्वाद् अल्पत्वाद् चायुषस्तथा.
57 (C.58; K.55). 58 (C.59a, 60b; K.56).
59 (C.59b-60a; K.57). $^1$ samayāśrite, C. (samayānvite, K.).
60-61 (C.61; K.58). $^1$ K. omits 61a 61-62 (C.62; K.59).
62-64 (C.63-64; K.60-61). $^1$ This is a very elaborate arrangement for judging in every detail the Success of a performance.