The Sanskrit drama : $b in its origin, development, theory and practiceKeith, Arthur Berriedale
History
The Sanskrit drama : $b in its origin, development, theory and practice
Keith, Arthur Berriedale
Sanskrit drama -- History and criticism
The farce, Prahasana, [739] on the other hand, has every sign of
popular origin and vogue. The subject is the poet’s invention; it deals
essentially with the tricks and quarrels of low characters of every
kind. There is but one act, and only the first and last junctures; the
comic sentiment predominates. The Daçarūpa recognizes three kinds; the
pure is that in which heretics, Brahmins, men- and maid-servants and
parasites are represented in appropriate costume and language; the
modified represents eunuchs, chamberlains, and ascetics in the garb,
and with the speech, of lovers; and the mixed is styled so because it
contains the elements of the Vīthī, and is filled with rogues. Only the
first and last are recognized by the Nāṭyaçāstra, the second being
included in the third, while Viçvanātha recognizes the possibility of
there being only one hero or several, and allows the use of two acts in
such a case, as in the Laṭakamelaka. The graceful and violent manners
are excluded.
The monologue, Bhāṇa, [740] has also an obviously popular character and
origin. The subject-matter is invented by the poet; a parasite sets
forth his own or another’s adventures, appealing to both the heroic and
the erotic sentiments by descriptions of heroism and beauty in the
verbal manner. There are only the first and last junctures, and but one
act. The actor speaks in the air, repeating answers supposed to be
received. The elements of the Lāsya are specially in place, a fact
which shows that we have here a formal version of a primitive mimetic
performance. Viçvanātha gives as example the Līlāmadhukara; the
Çāradātilaka is one of the best known.
The garland, Vīthī, [741] has a certain similarity to the Bhāṇa in that
it includes frequent speeches in the air, and is in one act. But it is
played by one or two actors, or, according to Viçvanātha on one view
found in the Nāṭyaçāstra, by three, one of each station in rank. The
leading sentiment is the erotic, but others are hinted at. The graceful
manner is forbidden by the Nāṭyaçāstra, but enjoined by the other
authorities, and the elements of the garland are available. Only the
first and last junctures are employed, but all the elements of the plot
are present. The theorists are sadly at a loss to explain the name
garland; it is suggested that the several sentiments are gathered into
it as into a garland, or the meaning ‘way’ or ‘road’ is accepted in
lieu. The only example given by Viçvanātha is the Mālavikā, which is
not the Mālavikāgnimitra; the first act of the Mālatīmādhava is styled
Bakulavīthī, but is in no sense even taken by itself an example of this
type.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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