20. NĀȚYASĀSTRA 17

NĀȚYASĀSTRA 17

contain verses. In mediaeval times the kārikās in such works as the Kāvya-prakāśa were called sūtras. Therefore, it is quite possible that the original kernel of the Nātyasastra was in mixed prose and verse. Next we have to consider the significance of the words 'anuvamsya' in citing certain āryā and anustubh verses. In the first place it is important to note that verses headed by these words occur mostly in the 6th and 7th chapters and very rarely in others (such as in chap. 19 verses 46-58 of the Ch. ed. and chap. 17 verses 107-119 of the K. M. edition). The expression आनुवंश्यश्लोक occurs very frequently in the Mahābhārata, e. g. in Ādiparva 95.9, 27, 30-31, 46. In the M. B. simply the word आनुवंशं is also used, e. g., वनपर्व 87. 16 'यत्रानुवंशं भगवाआमदग्न्यस्तथा जगौ। विश्वामित्रस्य तां दृष्टा विभूतिमतिमानुषीम्।।'. In वनपर्व 88.5 we have the word आनुवंश्या applied to गाथा. Vide also वनपर्व 114. 10, 192. 27-29, 193. 13-15. In वनपर्व 129.8 we read 'अ्ानुवंशं पठतः शृणु मे कुरुनन्दन', which is explained by the commentator नोलकएठ as 'परम्परागतमाख्यानश्लोकम्'. The मत्स्यपुराण 271.15 also has an आनुवंश्यश्लोक. On अत्रानुवंश्यौ श्रोकौ भवतः occurring before VI. 35-36 A. B. remarks: अश्रेति भाष्ये। अनुवंशभवौ शिष्याचार्य- परम्परासु वर्तमानौ श्लोकाख्यौ वृत्तविशेषी सूत्रार्थमंक्षेपप्रकटीकरयेन कारिकाशब्दवाच्यौ भवन्तौ पठति यथेत्यादि। vol. I. p. 290. It should be noted that अ्र. भा. (vol. I p. 290) on the prose words preceding verses 35-36 (called पनुवंश्यश्लोकs) explains अत्र as भाष्ये, i. e. it regards the prose passage as भाष्य on the सूत्र 'विभावा ... निष्पत्तिः'. From this it follows that the verses cited as 'anuvamsya' had already been composed and had been traditionally handed down from father to son or from teacher to pupil in relation to dramaturgy and were included in the Nātyasastra, but that they were not the composition of him who composed the Nātyaśāstra. As regards the words सूत्रानुविद्धे (v.1. सूत्रानुबद्धे) आर्ये भवतः, they mean that the verses are closely connected with the sūtra that precedes () or that they contain in easy language the meaning of the sutra (अनुविद्ध). It may be said chat such verses are the composition of the author himself. A. B. remarks on 'अपि च सुख०' (vol. I.p.311-12): एवं सूत्रार्थे परीक््य स्थापिते तदर्थस्य सुखग्रहयार्थ सूत्रार्थविवरणरूपत्वात्सूत्रसमीपेप्युपचित पाठात्कारिकामधुना पठति अपि चेति। न केवलं सूत्रं परीक्षापि यावदियं कारिकेति एवं सवंत्र मन्तव्यम्। तामेव कारिकां पठति सुखेति।'. These remarks may be applied also to the āryās quoted as sūtrānubaddha.