Bharata’s Natyashastra (Kavyalakshanakhanda)

Description

BHARATAS NATYASTRA(NÝ) has been a monumental work of encyclopaedic character. It treats of diverse topics like architecture, musicology, metrics, grammar, language, Prakrit dialects, acting (abhinaya), dance (n¾tya), drama (nŒ¢ya), erotic (KamaÜastra), poetics and aesthetics etc. When one considers of the diversity of topics one is amazed at the breadth of Bharatas learning.

There are two principal editions of the Natyashtra, one Kashi edition (1929) and the other Baroda (now Vadodara) edition, which is accompanied with the only available Sanskrit Commentary of that great MaheÜvara Abhinavagupta (Abhinava), called Abhinavbharat . Scholars of IIAS were not happy with either editions.

They, therefore, decided to bring out a new edition with translation and notes  in two volumes, one dealing with Kavyalkarkaria (AdhyŒya1-3,6,7,13-27,35 & 36 including 37) and the other with Sangta-lakar-kharia (AdhyŒya 4,5,8-12,28-34). The first volume is the present work Bharatas Natyashtra, Kavyalkarkaria Vol. 1 (crown size, pages 971, blessed with a historical photograph of Lord Nataraja on the cover page) edited by Dr. Rewa Prasada Dwivedi, with translation, notes and prefaced with his own introduction, all in Hindi and 3 appendices. M.M. Dr. Dwivedi has a massive mind. He finds delight in the working on massive works like Kalidasa literature, which he considers the first output of Bharata’s Natyashtra

Dr. Dwivedi stands unrivalled with his vast knowledge of alaÅkŒraÜŒstra and Bharata’s Natyashtra and the numerous works based on the NÝ tradition not only that, he is also equipped with mastery over related ÜŒstras  like VyakaraÄa(Grammar), Chandas-Üastra(metrics), Nyaya(Logic), MmaÅsa(rules of inter-pretation), Vedanta, PuraÄas etc. Above all, there is a rare combination in Dr. Dwivedi of knowledge received through the traditional method and the knowledge acquired by the western method of research and comparative and historical study. Being eminently qualified he naturally enough, decided to edit the present work by himself. His introduction is masterly, his translation of the text simply lucid and his notes, though brief, are truly scholarly. They afford real help in understanding the difficult text here and there. They reveal his many-sided scholarship and critical insight. His brief references or discursions clarify doubtful points. In short, these notes reveal his gift of making appear simple, the most difficult things. Some other noteworthy features of this edition are: after careful study

1. He has given separately the interpolated verses.
2. Wherever necessary he has effected corrections in the basic text.

• Whenever he comes across that Abhinava has not given examples to illustrate specific points in the text he adds them from other texts like DaÜarupaka of DhanaÅjaya and Dhanika’s Avaloka commentary on it, which stand to be the oldest work of Bharata’s canon.

1. He retains wherever necessary significant passages from Abhinavabharat in his own Nandni ¢ippaÄ. Though he admits the Anu¦¢upa tradition of chapter 16 the oldest, yet he follows Upajati tradition as explained by Abhinavagupta.
2. He corrects wherever necessary the text of Abhinavabharat while including it in his notes (¢ippaÄ)

In one word, this handsome volume, handsome from every point of view, is a new feather in Dr. Dwivedi’s cap.

Heartiest congratulations to Dr. Dwivedi for this gift to the scholarly world. Our thanks are due to the publishers, I.I.A.S., Shimla for this splendid publication.