22. NĀȚYAŠĀSTRA 19

NĀȚYAŠĀSTRA 19

Arjuna learnt from Chitrasena, son of Viśvāvasu, Gandharvaveda which consisted of sama chants, singing, dancing and playing on musical instruments. The Santiparva 168.58 says the same thing, while Santi 210.21 states that Narada first propounded Gändharvaveda. There is a difference between Gāndharvaveda Nātyaveda. The first is an Upaveda of a restricted nature, while the latter as the fifth Veda meant for all varnas (including sūdras) was far more comprehensive and, as song and dance were only a part of it, it took over the teachings of the Gandharvaveda, as expressly stated by the Nātyasastra. The Nātyaśāstra states that Gandharva which was first propounded by Narada (as said by the Santiparva quoted above) has been declared by him (in chap. 32).1 The Nātyasāstra declares that Śrngāra is excited by flowers, Gändharva and the reading of kāvya &c.2 Too much emphasis should not, therefore, be laid (as done in I. H. Q. vol. VI. pp. 72-80) upon the fact that Gandharva and Nātya are separately mentioned in some places by the Natyasastra as in chap. 36. 49, 78 (गान्धर्वं चैव नाट्यं च यः सम्यगनुपश्यति। verse 78). This separate mention is due to the सामान्यविशेषन्याय or ब्राह्मणपरिव्राजकन्याय. The Nātyasāstra states in the very beginning that Brahma created the Nātyaveda which was connected with tne Vedas and Upavedas and which had grace and tenderness as its essence (वेदोपवेदैः सम्बद्धो नाटयवेदो महात्मना। एवं भगवता सृष्टो ब्रह्मणा ललितात्मकः॥ I. 18). The Hathigumpha Inscription of Khāravela styles Kharavela (the king of Kalinga) as 'Gandharvaveda-budhah' (E.I.vol. XX p. 71 at p. 79). That inscription is generally assigned to the 2nd century B. C.3 Therefore, the mayaaa must have been recognized. the latter. अनुशासनपर्व 104.49 states:गान्धर्वशास्त्रं च कला: परिश्ेया नराधिप। पुरायमितिहासाश्च तथाख्यानानि यानि च।. I गान्धर्वमेतत्कथितं मया हि पूर्व यदुक्तं त्विह नारदेन। कुर्याच्च एवं मनुजः प्रयोगं संमानम्यं कुशलेषु गच्छेत्।। नाटय० 32. 484. 2 ऋतुमाल्यालक्वार : प्रियजनगान्धवंकाव्यसेवाभिः। उपवनगमनविहारैः शभ्गाररसः समुद्भवति॥ नाट्य० 6.47. 3 Dr. D. C. Sircar places the inscription at the beginning of the Ist century A. D., but his arguments are vague, unconvin- cing and rather subjective. Vide I. H. Q. vol. 15 at p.41 for his views. The words of the inscription are: ततिये पुन वसे गंभर्ववेदयुषो दपनटगीतवादितसंदसनाहि उसवसमाजकारापनाहि कीडापयति नगरि. Should we read रूपनट० for दपनट० ? रूप may mean 'a dumb show' as in शान्तिपर्व 295: 4 or रूप may mean a play representedon the stage.