358. 396 CHAPTER VII

396 CHAPTER VII

We have already stated that, according to Bharata, there are only four Alankaras. But according to the latest Ālankārika, Appayya Dīkșita, their number is 124. The question, therefore, that naturally arises, is, did Bharata know only of four linguistic decorations ? Was the pre- Bharata dramatic language so inornate ? The evidence of the literary history is against such a conclusion. We have stated before that the Natya Sastra assumed its present form sometime about the 5th century A. D. We know of so many dramas, which are acknowledged to be of earlier dates, the dramas of Bhasa, for instance. We find in these dramas more linguistic embellishments used than those of which the author of the Natya Sastra talks. The question, therefore, is, did he not take all the literary facts into consideration before making any statement regarding them ? A closer study of the work leads us to a totally different conclusion. It may be stated as follows :- Bharata draws a distinction between Alankara and Lakşana. According to Bharata, Alankāras are only four, but Lakşanas are thirty-six. Şat trimsat lakşananyevam kāvyabandheșu nirdiśet (N. S., 200). It may be pointed out in this connection that Bharata's text, as given in the Chowkhamba edition, quoted above, is different from that, given at the top of the pages of the Abhinavabharatī, published in the Gaekwad's Oriental Series. The latter runs as follows :- Şat trimśadetāni tu lakșaņāni Proktāni vai bhūșaņa sammatāni Kāvyeșu bhāvārthagatāni tajjñaih Samyak prayojyāni yathārasantu A. Bh., Vol. II. 295.