45. 48 CHAPTER 1

48 CHAPTER 1

(iii) Transient emotions, the invariable concomitante of the basic mental state.

THE NECESSITY OF INFERENCE. The chief content of Rasa, according to this theory, is the basic mental state. But it is beyond the reach of the imitative art to present it directly.1 The imitative art has only two means of presentation. 1. The literary language, which is the primary means of presentation of the situation. The stage-limita- tions are such as do not allow the scenic presentation to go as far in the representation of the real as the language can. 2. The psycho-physical training to bring about physi- cal changes, in which an emotion expresses itself, or which invariably accompany it. By this means the effect of the basic mental state, the mimetic changes, and the invariable concomitants of it, the transient emotions, are presented. The basic mental state does not admit of presentation even in words, hence the necessity of inference. Thus, according to Srī Sankuka, the basic mental state is known through inference only. And he holds that in maintaining this view he has the support of Bharata himself. For, Bharata, in his aphoristic definition of Rasa, does not mention the word "Sthayin" though it is the most important, inasmuch as Rasa is nothing but Sthayin itself inferred from situation, mimetic changes and transient emotions. He interprets the aphorism of Bharata to mean that the basic mental state, inferred from Vibhāva etc., is Rasa. (Vibhavanubhavavyabhicaribhyah (Sthayinah) Samyogāt-Anumānāt, Rasasya nispattiḥ-anumānajanyā pratītiḥ). The dissolution of the compound makes it clear 1. A, Bh. Vol. I. 275.