नाट्यशास्त्रम् (प्रथम भाग - अभिनवभारती एवं हिन्दी टीका सहित)

-I. 78 ] THE ORIGIN OF DRAMA 11

67-68. Seeing this injury to them,¹ Indra sat in meditation to ascertain the cause of break in the performance and found out that, surrounded on all sides by the Vighnas (evil spirits), the Director (sūtradhāra) together with his associates (actors) had been rendered senseless and inert.

69-70. Then with eyes turning in anger he rose and took up that best banner staff (dhvaja), brilliant with all the jewels set in it. With this Jarjara Indra beat to death the Asuras and the Vighnas who were hanging about the stage [for mischief].

71-73. The Vighnas together with the Dānavas having been slain, all the gods said in joy. “O [Bharata,] you have got a divine weapon with which all destroyers of a play have been made jarjara (beaten to pulp). Hence it will have the name of Jarjara.¹

73-75. The remaining enemies too who may come to do violence to [actors] will fare like this.” To the gods, Indra then said with pleasure, “Let it be so : this Jarjara will be the protection of all actors.”

75-76. [And afterwards], when the play was ready and Indra's festival continued in full force, the remaining Vighnas began to create terror for the rest of the actors.

76-78. Having noticed these attempts caused by the insult of the Daityas¹ I, along with my sons, approached Brahman [and said], “O the holy one and the best of gods, the Vighnas (the evil spirits) are determined to destroy this dramatic performance ; so enlighten me about the means of its protection.”

---

67-68 (B. same ; G. 65-66) ¹ tatra teṣāṁ saḥ (sūtradhārasya, B.G.)
69-70 (B. same ; G. 67-68).
71-73 (B. 71-72, 73b ; G. 69-70, 71b). ¹ This is evidently an instance of folk-etymology. We read 72b. as, नाट्याविघ्न'त्रिणः सर्वे येन ते जर्जरौकृताः : (C.) but B. G. जर्जरीकृतसर्व्वङ्गा येनैते दानवाः कृताः and adds one hemistich as follows:— यस्मादनेन ते विघ्नाः सासुराः जर्जरीकृताः.
73-75 (B. 73b-75, G. 72-78).
75-76 (B. 76, G. 74).
76-78 (B. 77-78 ; G. 75-76).
¹ daityānām (madarthe, B.)