नाट्यशास्त्रम् (प्रथम भाग - अभिनवभारती एवं हिन्दी टीका सहित)

.XXXIV. 24 ] TYPES OF CHARACTERS 529

18-20. Gods are self-controlled and vehement (dhiroddhata), kings are self-controlled and light-hearted (dhīralalita)¹, the councillors are the self-controlled and exalted (dhīrodātta), and Brahmins and merchants are the self-controlled and calm (dhīrapraśānta) classes of Heroes. To these again belong the four classes of Jesters.

The four types of Heroines

20-21. These are always the Heroes in dramatic works (lit. poetical composition). I shall now speak of the Heroines who are of four classes : a goddess, a queen, a woman of high family and a courtezan .

21-22. These may, according to their characteristics, be of four types: self-controlled, (dhīrā), light-hearted (lalitā), exalted udāttā) and modest (nibhṛtā)¹.

22-23. Goddesses may possess all these qualities, and women of high family may be exalted and modest, while the courtezans and the crafts-women light-hearted and exalted¹.

Two classes of employment for characters

24. The characters [in a play] are of two kinds : external (bāhya) and internal (ābhyantara)¹. I shall now describe their characteristics².

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18-20 (C.18; K.XXIV.4). ¹ syur dhīrlalitā nṛpāḥ. K. (lalitas tu nṛpaḥ smṛtaḥ, C.).

20-21 (C.19; K.XXIV.5). ¹ C. reads after this, three and a half additional (corrupt) couplets (C.20-23a) which may be tentatively translated as follows: They (Jesters) are serially [of two types]: lowborn and cultured. They are to be attached to gods, kings, ministers, and Brahmins. And in his separation [from the beloved] a friendly maidservant clever in conversation, who feels distressed at his misfortune should be attached to the king. Among many (lit. in the multiplicity of) male characters in a play, the chief one is called the Hero. When in a play (lit. there) more [male characters] than one meet the misfortune and get back the prosperity, then one whose conditions appear remarkable should be taken as the Hero.

21-22 (C.23b-24a; K.XXIV.6-8a). ¹ C. omits 20b-21 and reads 20a as follows एते तु नायका ज्ञेया नानाप्रकृतिलक्षणाः. We with K.

22-23 (C.24b-25; K.XXIV.8b-9). ¹ K. reads 22b as follows दिव्याराजाङ्गना श्वेता गुणैर्युक्ता भवन्ति हि.

24 (C.26; K.XXIV.12b). ¹ Read prakāro dvividhaḥ smṛtaḥ

² K. omits 24b.

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