Dasarupaka (critical study)
by Anuru Ranjan Mishra | 2015 | 106,293 words
This page relates ‘Technical Aspects of a Dima� of the English study of the Dasarupaka of Dhananjaya: an important work on Hindu dramaturgy (Natya-shastra) from the tenth century dealing with the ten divisions of Sanskrit drama (nata), describing their technical aspects and essential dramaturgical principals. These ten types of drama are categorised based on the plot (vastu), hero (neta) and sentiment (rasa)
Part 11 - Technical Aspects of a Ḍima
The հܰ of ղٲᲹ contains the technical aspects like:
- benedictory (Իī),
- prologue (屹),
- intimation scene (nepathya),
- interlude scene (ṣk첹),
- aside (svagata),
- aloud (ś),
- confidential (貹ٲ) and
- epilogue (ٲⲹ).
Benedictory (Nāndī):
The benedictory (Իī) verses are used for the welfare of the audience and the actors. The poet usually prays to his god through the beneictory [benedictory?] verses, which may bring the grace of deity. In the հܰ, the author ղٲᲹ has prayed to lord Shiva to remove the pain and to protect people from the enemy.
ղٲᲹ has given Nāndī of three verses
1) �parikaritamindumaulerjayati..,�
2) �辱ṅg� kurvankujamayamiva vyoma..,� and
3) �ū峾ⲹԳܰԾ...�
Prologue (Prastāvanā):
The prologue (屹) is the introductory part of the drama, conducted by the ūٰ and ṭ�, վūṣa첹 or ٳ貹첹 and comes after the Nāndī. In the հܰ, ղٲᲹ has used ūٰ and ś첹 to manage the prologue. Both of them have introduced the plot indirectly through the comic conversations. The character of 岹 enters with angry mood, when ś첹 praised demons that they were stronger than the gods like who even without the hands and body troubled the moon.
Intimation scene (Nepathya):
The intimation scene (nepathya) constitutes one of the five types of intermediate scenes (ś첹, ṣk첹, ū, ṅkⲹ and ṅk屹)and also is called ū or intimation scene. It presents off-stage events through any character for the actors present on the stage. All type of dramas use this intimation scene, as it is not possible to present all the scenes on stage. In the հܰ too ղٲᲹ has used it as per the necessity.
Introductory scene (Viṣkambhaka):
The introductory scene (ṣk첹) also constitutes one of the five types of intermediate scenes (ś첹, ṣk첹, ū, ṅkⲹ and ṅk屹). The scene introduces the past and the future events. In the հܰ, Vastaraja has used it in every act except the third act, which describes the future events. In the Viṣkambhaka of the first act, 岹 decides to make the gods angry against the demons after the altercation with . In the Viṣkambhaka of the second act, the attendants of Tripurāsura decide to instigate Ѳś, and վṣṇ to quarrel with each other. Again, in the Viṣkambhaka of fourth act, Śܰ and Viśadāśaya become worried, thinking about the words of Tripurāsura, because, the gods are united to kill them. Therefore, Śܰ was finding the ways and means to protect them.
Aloud (Prakāśa) and Aside (Svagata):
The aloud (ś) and aside (svagata) are the two technical terms used frequently in every drama by authors. The dialogues, which are heard, by the audience and the co-actors are called aloud (ś). The dialogues, which are not heard, by the audiences and the co-actors but which are uttered to oneself, are called aside (svagata). These two are also used in the հܰ frequently by the author.
Personal address (Apavārita):
The personal address (貹ٲ) is the conversation with another actor making aside from the co-actors on the stage. This technical term is used in the հܰ twice in the third act, by Իī, for پⲹ, when he was fighting with the demons.
Epilogue (Bharatavākya):
The epilogue (ٲⲹ) is the concluding prayer in general, performed at the end of a drama by an actor or more than one actor to conclude the dramatic enactment. In the հܰ, the character of Indra recites the epilogue verse for the sake of all.
He prays to Ś to protect the people from the folly and darkness and to be present in the heart of good men:
cūḍācandrāvadātena ……hṛdayam 峾.