रत्नावली नाटिका (सम्राट हर्षवर्धन - शास्त्रीय नाटिका रत्न सम्पूर्ण ४ अङ्क सान्वय सटीक)

INTRODUCTION xiii
duction is made by सूत्रधार (technically called प्रस्तावना) after which
the drama proper begins. The subject-matter of the plot is
conveniently divided into a number of अङ्कs not exceeding ten.
All the facts contained within the subjectmatter of the plot
are not represented. What is represented 'should esentially
serve to produce the sentiments aimed at and it must avoid
offending the feelings of the audience.' 'Hence', as Dr. Keith
observes, 'It is improper to portray on the stage such events as
a national calamity, the downfall of a king, the siege of a town,
a battle, fighting, or death—all that are painful. It is equally
forbidden to depict a marriage or other religious rite...or such
ill-omened things as curses.' But these details have not always been
observed by the Sanskrit playwrights. What cannot be represented
on the stage, but are necessary for understanding the links
between the acts, are to be simply related by an actor or actors in
an interlude which is otherwise called विष्कम्भक (an interlude or
prelude of which actors are of higher rank) and प्रवेशक (of which
the actors are of lower rank). There is also another way of relating
unrepresentable matter, called चूलिका, in which an actor relates the
matter from the greenroom. The languages used in Sanskrit
drama are Sanskrit and Prakrit—the former being spoken by the
male actors of higher ranks and the latter by females in general
and the males of lower ranks. The drama must come to an end
with a Bharatavákya which is repeated by the principal personages
and which contains expressions of good-wishes for general pros-
perity and happiness. The unity of action is followed for
dramatic interest as has been mentioned before. But the unities
of time and place are loosely observed.
Natika—The Nátiká is a species of the उपरूपकs and our present
work Ratnávali is styled as a Nátiká. The characteristics of a
Nátiká are given in Sahityadarpana as follows :—
नाटिका क्लृप्तवृत्ता स्यात् स्त्रीप्राया चतुरङ्किका ।
प्रख्यातो धीरललितस्तत्र स्यान्नायको नृपः ॥