Essay name: Bhasa (critical and historical study)
Author: A. D. Pusalker
This book studies Bhasa, the author of thirteen plays ascribed found in the Trivandrum Sanskrit Series. These works largely adhere to the rules of traditional Indian theatrics known as Natya-Shastra.
Page 411 of: Bhasa (critical and historical study)
411 (of 564)
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2 391
where citizens could go with their wives and make merry,
but it was strictly guarded and entry restricted when some
royal princess visited the place with her retinue." In
another connection we read of a tavern-keeper selling
liquor, and a public drinking-house in another principal
town. There were public rest-houses where travellers
could put up for some time. Public baths in Ujjayinī,
possibly on the ghats of the river SiprÄ, are incidentally
referred to. Important cities were fortified
On all the
sides. Underground drains which have been a speciality
of India since ancient times are to be met with also in the
period under consideration, the reference being to streets
being flooded due to the choking up of the drain.
8 There were bio
parks outside the cities where citizens
of both sexes went on festive occasions. Well watered
green trees and blossoming gardens suggested the vicinity
of a city, as these gardens, which were well cared for,
presented quite a different aspect from the dried up and
leafless trees that one came across during one's way.
The Candalas had to reside outside the city in settlements
resembling the Ghettos of the Middle Ages and the Indian
localities in South Africa, and they were subjected to
unspeakable ignominies." The courtesans resided outside
the city and the cowherds also had their cottages outside.³
We are given a beautiful description of the city at night
in the AvimÄraka and the Carudatta. There were beatings
of the drum and proclamation to mark the beginning and
the close of the night with a view to warn the citizens against
moving outside during the period." The ArthaÅ›Ästra also
mentions the sounding of the trumpet; but on special
occasions permits were to be granted for exemptions from
the curfew order." The exceptions were in the case of
midwives, doctors, carriers of dead bodies to the cremation
grounds, those going out to extinguish fire, etc. In the
period of our plays, however, the prohibition as to moving
1 Avi, p. 2.
2 PratijñÄ, pp. 56-57. 3 Svapna, p. 102
4 Cf. PratijñÄ, p. 64-' 5 PratijñÄ, p. 50
476.
-
Cf. ArthasÄstra, III. 8, p. 16-1; also CHI, 1, p.
6 Prat
p. 57; Abh, p. 6. 7 Avi, p. 14; Pañc, p, 52, 8 Avi, p. 29;
Bal, p. 39; Pañc, p. 52. 9 Avi, pp. 43-46; Car, Acts I and III. 10 Car,
65-78. किदà¥à¤°à¤ªà¤°à¤¿à¤˜à¥‹à¤¸à¤£à¤¦à¤¾à¤� ( [kidraparighosaṇadÄe (] p, 65 ) : नेपथà¥à¤¯à¥� पटहशबà¥à¤¦à¤ƒ ( [nepathye paá¹ahaÅ›abdaá¸� (] p, 78) 11 ArthasÄstra, II.
pp.
36, p. 146 â€� विषणà¥à¤£à¤� लिकमà¥à¤à¤¯à¤¤à¥� यामतूरà¥à¤¯ à¥� सूतिका चिकितà¥à¤¸à¤•पà¥à¤°à¥‡à¤¤à¤ªà¥à¤°à¤¦à¥€à¤ªà¤¾à¤¨à¤¯à¤� [viá¹£aá¹‡á¹‡Ä likamubhayato yÄmatÅ«rya | sÅ«tikÄ cikitsakapretapradÄ«pÄnayana ] etc.
