नाट्यशास्त्रम् (प्रथम भाग - अभिनवभारती एवं हिन्दी टीका सहित)

-I. 99 ] THE ORIGIN OF DRAMA 13

Mattavāraṇī was placed Lightning which was capable of killing Daityas, and the protection of its pillars was entrusted to the very strong Bhūtas, Yakṣas, Piśācas and Guhyakas. In the Jarjara was posted Thunder (vajra) the destroyer of Daityas, and in its sections (parva) were stationed the best and powerful gods. In the topmost section was placed Brahman, in the second Śiva, in the third Viṣṇu, in the fourth Kārtikeya and in the fifth great Nāgas such as, Śeṣa, Vāsuki and Takṣaka.”

93-94. Thus for the destruction of the Vighnas, gods were placed in different parts of the Jarjara, and Brahman himself occupied the middle of the stage. It is for this reason¹ that flowers are scattered there [at the beginning of the performance].

95. Denizens of the nether regions such as, the Yakṣas, the Guhyakas and the Pannagas were employed to.protect the bottom of the stage.

96. Let Indra protect the actor who assumes the role of the hero, Sarasvatī¹ the actress assuming the role of the heroine, Oṃkāraḥ² the Jester and Śiva the rest of the characters (dramatis personæ).

97. He (Brahman) said that the gods who were employed to protect it (i.e. the play) would be its guardian deities.

Brahman pacifies the Vighnas

98-99. In the meanwhile gods in a body said to Brahman, “You should pacify the Vighnas by the conciliatory method (sāman). This (method) is to be applied first, and secondly the making of gifts (dāna); and (these proving futile) one should afterwards create

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93-94. (B. 95b-96 ; G. 92b-93). ¹ See NŚ. V. 74.
95 (B. 97 ; G. 94).
96 (B. 98 ; G. 95). ¹ Sarasvatī mentioned here seems to be the Vedic goddess of the same name. See Ṛk. I, 142.9 and JK. sub voce.
² Oṃkāra as a deity is very rarely to be met with.
97 (B. 99 ; G. 96).