नाट्यशास्त्रम् (प्रथम भाग - अभिनवभारती एवं हिन्दी टीका सहित)

12 THE NATYASASTRA [ I. 78-

78-79. “O the high-souled one,” said Brahman then to Viśvakarman,¹ “build carefully a playhouse of the best type.”

79-81. After constructing it according to this instruction¹ he (i.e. Viśvakarman) went with folded palms to Brahman’s court [and said], “O god, please have a look at the playhouse which has [just] been made ready.” Then Brahman, along with Indra and and all other good (lit. the best) gods, went to have a view of the playhouse.

82-88. On seeing it Brahman said to the rest of gods, “You ought to co-operate in the protection of the playhouse in its several parts [and of the objects relating to dramatic performance]: Candra (the moon-god) to protect the main building; the Lokapālas (guardians of the worlds) its sides, the Maruts its four corners, Varuṇa the space [within the building], Mitra the tiring room (nepathya), Agni its plinth¹, clouds the musical instruments², deities of four Colour-groups (varṇa)³ the pillars, the Ādityas and the Rudras the space between the pillars, the Bhūtas (spirits) the rows [of seats = dhāraṇī], the Apsarasas its rooms, the Yakṣiṇīs the entire house, the ocean-god the ground, Yama the door, the two Nāga kings (Ananta and Vāsuki) the two blades of the door (dvārapatra)⁴, the Rod⁵ of Yama the door-frame, Śiva’s Pike the top of the door.

88-93. ¹ Niyati and Yama (Mṛtyu) were made two door-keepers, and Indra himself stayed by the side of the stage. In the

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78-79 (B. 79; G. 77). ¹ Viśvakarman is the architect of the gods, He is very frequently met with in the Purāṇas. There was also a Vedic deity of this name. See Vidyalankar, JK, sub voce.

79-81 (B. 81-,82; G. 79-80). ¹ Kṛtvā yathoktam evam tu gṛhaṁ padmodbhavājñayā. B. G. read in place of this hemistich a complete śloka.

82-88 (B. 83-89a; G. 81-87a). ¹ Vedikā raṅga-vedikā tatra tīkṣṇo' dhiṣṭhātetyarthaḥ (Ag.).
² bhāṇḍa iti tripuṣkare sopakaraṇe (Ag.)
³ Such deities are nowhere to be met with.
⁴ dvārapatra (dvāra-pārśve G.) ⁵ See NŚ. III. 1-8 note 5.

88-93 (B. 89b-95a; G. 87b-92a). ¹ B. reads a couplet between 91a and 91b.