CHAPTER THIRTYFOUR

TYPES OF CHARACTERS

Three types of character in a drama

1. Whether male or female, characters (prakṛti) in general [in a play] are of three types : the superior, the middling and the inferior¹.

A superior male character

2-3. A man who has controlled his senses, is wise, skilled in various arts and crafts, honest, expert in enjoyment¹, brings consolation to the poor, is versed in different Śāstras, grave, liberal, patient and munificent, is to be known as a “superior” (uttama) character².

A middling male character

3-4. A man who is an expert in dealing with people, well-versed in books on arts and crafts as well as in Śāstras, has wisdom and sweetness [of manners] is to be known as a “middling, (madhyama) character¹.

An inferior male character

5-7. A man who is harsh in words, ill-mannered, low-spirited, of small intelligence, irascible, violent, can kill his friend, can kill anyone cruelly, is treacherous, haughty in words, ungrateful, indolent, expert in insulting the honoured persons, covetous for women, fond of quarrel, doer of evil deeds and stealer of others’ property, is to be known as an “inferior” (adhama) character. Similarly female characters too are of three kinds¹.

A superior female character

8-10. I shall now speak in due order of female characters. A woman who has a tender nature, is not fickle or cruel,

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1 (C.1b-2a; K.XXIV.1). ¹ C. reads before this one additional couplet.
2-3 (C.2b-4a). ¹ Emend bhagalakṣā into bhogadakṣā.
² Cf. K. XXIV. 86b-88a).
3-4 (C.4b-5a). ¹ Cf. K.XXIV. 88b-89.
5-7 (C.56-7a). ¹ Cf. K.XXIV. 89b-92a.
8-10 (C.8b-11a). ¹ Read smitabhāṣiṇya.