Natyasastram (In 4 Volumes)

The Natyasastra of Bharata contains an elaborate analysis of the sources of aesthetic pleasure that one derives from seeing a performance; it treats of the architecture of the theatre, gives an exhaustive treatment of metres to be employed, the postures, movements and gestures of actors and of the mode in which they are to deliver their speeches, of the different kinds of dramas, the analysis of the structures of the dramas and their styles. It also furnishes directions about the songs to be sung and the musical instruments to be employed and treats in detail of the musical notes and their combinations. Above all it insists on a high and noble purpose for the drama, forbids indecent behaviour, scenes or language and holds forth before the actors a high spiritual ideal by saying that if the actors dedicate themselves to their work in a spirit of devotion to their art and attain perfection therein, they will be doing a great service to society and will acquire merit for themselves. Hardly any work on dramaturgy in any language has the comprehensiveness, the sweep and the literary and artistic flair of the Natyashastra.