CHAPTER THIRTYFIVE

DISTRIBUTION OF ROLES

1. I shall [now] speak of the distribution of roles in a play or of the kinds of men by which different roles are to be represented.

General principles of distribution

2. After considering together from their gait, speech and movements of the limbs as well as their strength and nature¹, the experts are to employ² actors to represent different roles [in a play]³.

3. Hence the selection of actors should be preceded by an enquiry into their merits. The Director (lit. the master) will not feel difficulty¹ in the choice [if such a procedure is followed].

4. After ascertaining their natural aptitudes he is to distribute roles to different actors¹.

The role of gods

5-6. Persons who have all the limbs intact, well-formed and thick-set, who are full-grown (rayo'nvita) not fat or lean or tall or lazy, who have vivacity, pleasant voice and good appearance, should be employed to represent the role of gods¹.

The role of the Rākṣasas, the Dānavas etc.

7-8. Persons who are fat, and have a large body and a voice like the peal of thunder (lit. cloud), furious looking

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1 (C. K. same). ¹ vibhāgam (vinyāsam, K.).
² K. reads 1b. with a slight variation.
2 (C.2a; K.2). ¹ sattvaśīlaiḥ, K. (sattvaśīla°, C.).
² Emend yuṣṭād, K. into yujyād.
³ 2b. and the following thirteen couplets have been omitted by C.
3(K.3). ¹ Literally, 'this will not bring weariness to the intellect of the Director.'
4 (K.4). ¹ This passage is slightly corrupt.
5-6 (K.5-6). ¹ This seems to be comparable to the Hellenic conception of gods.
7-8 (K.7-8). ¹ Cf. Bhaṭṭi, II. 30.