नाट्यशास्त्रम् (प्रथम भाग - अभिनवभारती एवं हिन्दी टीका सहित)

-XXXVI. 58 ] THE DESCENT OF DRAMA 559

Nahuṣa approaches Bharata

52. Then the king with folded palms said to me, ‘O revered sir, I should like to see this dramatic performance established on the earth.

53. I have been promised earlier the help of your professional service (ācāryaka)$^1$. O the best of Brahmins, I have now got it directly (vyaktabhāvāśrayaṃ kṛtvā)$^1$.

Urvaśī and the mundane drama

54. In the house of my grandfather (Purūravas) this [drama] together with his work has been described by Urvaśī to the members of the harem.

55. But when the members of the harem were distressed by the death of the king who turned mad$^1$ due to her disappearance from the earth, this (dramatic art) was lost.

56. I wish this again to be openly produced on the earth, so that the sacrifices to be done on different days of the moon (tithi) may be rendered auspicious and happy.

57. Hence plays (bandha, lit. composition) relating to many characters produced in my house through the graceful movements of women, will add to your fame’.

Bharata grants the request and sends his sons to the earth

58-61. ‘Let this be so’ said I then [in reply] to Nahuṣa the king, and I called my sons along with the gods in a spirit of conciliation and said to them :

‘This king Nahuṣa begs us with folded palms that you may go down with your associates to the earth to produce the drama there. The drama being properly produced there, I shall make an end of your curse and you will no longer be despised by Brahmins and kings. So go down to the earth to

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52 (C.54; K.XXXVII.7b-8a).
53 (C.55; K.XXXVII.8b-9a). $^1$ Read 53a as follows: पूर्वमाचार्यकं देव भवती हि प्रतिश्रुतम्.
54 (C.56; K.XXXVII.9b-10a).
55 (C.57; K.XXXVII.10b-11a). $^1$ See Viṣṇu P. IV. 6, 7. Ref, JK.
56 (C.58; K.XXXVII. 11b-12a). 57 (C.59; K.XXXVII.12b-13a).
58-61 (C.60-63; K.XXXVII.13b-17a),