Bharata Muni
| ← Chapter 33 | Chapter 35 → |
1/ Next, I will speak about the characteristic traits of the characters and about all four types of heroes in their essential aspect.
Three types of characters in a play
2/ Characters in the play, male and female, are usually of three types: superior, middling, and inferior.
The supreme male character
3/ A man who has subdued his senses, is wise, skilled in various sciences and crafts, honest, versed in pleasures, comforts the poor, is knowledgeable in various śāstras, serious, generous, patient, and magnanimous — should be known as the “highest” male character.
The middle male character
4/ A man who is versed in the customs of people, skilled in the sciences and crafts, as well as in the śāstras, possesses wisdom and pleasantness of manners — should be known as the “middling” male character.
Lower male characters
5-6/ Men who are rude in speech, ill-bred, faint-hearted, prone to crimes, irritable and inclined to violence, capable of killing friends, capable of killing anyone through torture, inclined to useless pursuits, speak very little, are base, proud in speech, ungrateful, lazy, skilled in insulting respectable persons, greedy for women, fond of quarrels, treacherous, commit evil deeds, steal others’ property — these should be known as “inferior” male characters.
The supreme female character
7/ A woman who possesses a gentle nature, is not frivolous, speaks with a smile, is free from cruelty, attentive to the words of elders, modest, well-bred, has natural beauty, nobility and similar qualities, is serious and patient — should be known as the “highest” female character.
The middle female character
8/ A woman who does not possess these qualities to a great degree and constantly, and has some defects mixed with them — should be known as a “middling” female character.
The lower female character
9/ The “inferior” female character should be briefly recognized by [the characteristics] of the inferior male character.
Characters of mixed nature
10/ Servants and the like are characters of a mixed nature. A hermaphrodite is also a mixed character, but of a lower kind. Śakāra and viṭa and similar figures in drama should likewise be known as characters of a mixed nature. This is what concerns characters that may be male, female, or hermaphroditic.
Four classes of heroes
11/ Now I will describe their classes according to their behavior. Among them, heroes are known as belonging to four classes, and they belong to the superior and middle types and have various characteristics.
12/ The hero is described as being of four types: self-possessed and ardent (dhirodhāta), self-possessed and light (dhīralalita), self-possessed and exalted (dhīrodātta), and self-possessed and calm (dhīrapraśānta).
13/ Gods are self-possessed and ardent heroes, kings are self-possessed and light, ministers are self-possessed and exalted, and brahmins and merchants are self-possessed and calm heroes.
Four classes of fools
14/ To them also belong four classes of jesters (vidūṣaka). These are sannyāsins, brahmins, the other twice-born castes, and students — respectively in the cases of gods, kings, ministers, and brahmins. They must be friends during the hero’s separation from his beloved and skilled in conversation.
Definition of the hero
15/ In the case of many male characters in a play, the one who, being in misfortune or calamity, ultimately attains elevation is called the hero.
16/ And when there are more than one of such, the one whose misfortune and elevation are most visible should be called the hero.
Four classes of heroines
17/ These four are always the heroes in dramatic works. Now I will speak of the heroines, who are also of four classes: a goddess, a queen, a woman of high birth, and a courtesan.
18/ They, according to their characteristics, are of various kinds: self-possessed, light, elevated, and modest.
19/ Goddesses and royal women possess all these qualities. Women of high birth are exalted and modest, whereas a courtesan and a craftswoman may be exalted and light.
Two kinds of service of characters
20/ The characters in the play have two kinds of service: external and internal. Now I will tell you about their characteristics.
21/ A character who deals with the king is an inner servant, while one who deals with people outside is an outer servant.
The inhabitants of the women’s quarters
22/ An extensive list describing the women in the royal chambers includes: the chief queen, other queens, other high-born wives, ordinary wives, concubines, craftswomen, actresses, dancers, maidservants in constant attendance, maidservants for special errands, maidservants in constant movement, maidservants for messages, mahattarī (matrons), pratihārī (door-keepers), as well as girls and sthavira (elder ladies) and āyuktika (superintendents).
The chief queen
23/ The chief queen is she who was consecrated by the libation poured upon the head, is of noble birth and high moral character, possesses accomplishments; of mature age, indifferent to rivals, free from anger and malice, and she who fully comprehends the king’s temperament, shares equally his joys and sorrows, is always engaged in propitiatory rites for the welfare of her royal spouse, is calm, loving, patient, and benevolent toward the inmates of the inner chambers.
The other queens
24/ Those wives of the king who possess all these qualities, except that they are devoid of proper consecration, are proud and of royal birth, crave the enjoyment of love, are pure and always brilliantly dressed, jealous of rivals and intoxicated by their youth and many other qualities, are called queens.
The other high-born wives
25/ Daughters of commanders, or ministers, or other servants, when they are elevated by the king through the granting of love and honours, and become his favourites through good manners and bodily charm, and gain significance through their own merits, are called high-born wives.
Ordinary wives
26/ The ordinary wives of the king — those who possess bodily charm and youth, are ardent in love’s pleasures, full of amorous gestures and movements, skilled in the enjoyment of love, jealous of rivals, always vigilant and ready for action, free from laziness and cruelty, and capable of rendering honors to persons according to their station.
Concubines
27/ The king’s concubines are honest women, clear in their dealings, noble, always radiant with their perfumes and garlands, following the king’s wishes and ever free of jealousy, well-mannered, not demanding honors, gentle in manner and not overly vain, sober, humble, and indulgent.
Artisans
28/ Those women who are versed in various arts and skilled in various crafts, who know the different branches of the art of making perfumes, who are proficient in various kinds of painting, who understand everything about the comfort of beds, seats, and chariots, and who are pleasant, intelligent, honest, gracious, clear in their dealings, gentle, and humble — should be known as craftswomen.
Actresses
29-30/ Women who possess bodily beauty, good qualities, generosity, feminine charm, patience and good manners, who have a soft, sweet and charming voice with modulations in the throat, who are skilled in presenting passion and emotion, know the art of portraying character, possess grace of manner, are skilled in playing musical instruments, have command of notes, tāla and yati, and are connected with a master of dramatic art, are intelligent, skilled in acting, capable of reasoning both positive and negative, and possess youth with beauty — are called actresses.
Dancers
31-32/ Women who have beautiful limbs, are versed in the sixty-four arts and crafts, are intelligent, courteous in conduct, free from feminine ailments, always bold, free from laziness, hardened by heavy labour, capable of practising various arts and crafts, skilled in dances and songs, surpassing in their beauty, youth, brilliance and other qualities all other women standing nearby — are called dancers.
The maidservants in constant service
33/ Women who under no circumstances leave the king are servants in constant attendance.
Maidservants for special assignments
34/ Those women who are appointed to look after the umbrella, bed, and seat, as well as for fanning and massage, applying fragrances to the body and assisting in its toilet, wearing ornaments and garlands — are called maids for special duties.
The maidservants are in constant motion.
35/ Those women who constantly roam through various parts of the palace, gardens, temples, and pleasure pavilions, and strike the bell marking the hours, as well as those who, possessing these characteristics, are excluded by dramatists from amorous pleasures, are called maidservants in constant motion.
Errand girls
36/ Women whom the king uses for secret missions connected with his love affairs, and who are often sent on such errands, are called messenger girls.
Mahattarī
37/ Women who, for the protection of the entire harem and for the prosperity of the king, find pleasure in singing hymns to the gods and in performing auspicious ceremonies, are called mahattarī (matrons).
Pratihari
38/ Women who present to the king all matters pertaining to various state affairs, such as treaties, war, and the like, are called pratīhārī (door-keepers).
The girls
39/ Girls who have no experience of love’s pleasures, who are quiet, devoid of rashness, modest and bashful, are called maidens.
The elder ladies
40/ Women who know the customs of departed kings and have been honored by them, and who know the temper of all the inmates of the inner apartments, are called senior ladies.
Ayuktiki
41/ Women who are in charge of stores, weapons, fruits, roots, and grain, who test the food prepared for the king, who oversee the perfumes, ornaments, garlands, and garments he is to use, and who are appointed for various other purposes—are called āyuktikās (superintendents). Such, in brief, are the various classes of women of the royal chambers.
The other female servants in the chambers
42/ Now I will speak about the characteristics of other characters who are assigned to some service or special duty in the chambers.
43/ Those who are not reckless, not restless, not greedy, and not cruel in mind, calm, forgiving, content, having subdued anger and conquered the senses, devoid of passion, modest, and free from feminine ailments, devoted and attached to the king, and arrived from various parts of the state, and without feminine allure, should be appointed to the king’s palace.
The other inhabitants of the chambers
44/ A hermaphrodite, being a character of the third class, should be assigned to the royal household for moving through the chambers.
45/ And snātakas, kañcukīs, varṣadharas, and aupasthāika-nirmundas should be placed in various parts of the chambers. Persons who are eunuchs or deprived of sexual function should always be inhabitants of the chambers in nāṭaka.
Snātaka
46/ A snātaka with refined manners should be made the gatekeeper. Old brāhmaṇas, wise and free from carnal passion, should always be appointed by the king for various needs of the queens.
Kanchukīs and others
47/ Those who possess learning, truthfulness, are free from carnal passion, and have deep knowledge and wisdom are called kañcukīs. The king should employ them in matters pertaining to governance. And varṣadharas should be employed in commissions relating to love affairs. And aupasthāyika-nirmundas should be employed for accompanying women and for guarding maidens and girls. When showing honours to women, the king should use female servants in constant attendance.
Natakiyā
48/ Women in the royal chambers who accompany all the king’s movements should be designated, when they are skilled in performing all classes of dance, to the royal theatre under the authority of the chambers.
Vārṣadhara
49/ Persons of weak vital force, intelligent, who are hermaphrodites with a feminine nature, but who had no defect from birth, are called varṣadhāras.
Nirmundas
50/ Persons who are hermaphrodites but lack a feminine nature and lack sexual knowledge are called nirmundas.
51/ Such are the eighteen kinds of inhabitants of the royal chambers, as described by me.
External faces
52/ Next, I will speak of the persons who address the audience. These are: the king, the military commander, the court priest, ministers, secretaries, judges, tutors of princes, and many other members of the royal court. I will speak of their classes and characteristics. Listen to them.
The king
53-54/ The king should be wise, truthful, master of his senses, intelligent, and of good character; he should possess a good memory, be mighty, magnanimous, and pure; he should be far-sighted, highly energetic, grateful, and skilled in the use of sweet words; he should undertake the vow of protecting the people and be an expert in various methods of work, vigilant, without negligence, and should associate with wise men and be versed in the Arthaśāstra and the practice of various policies, a patron of various arts and crafts, a knower of the science of governance and inclined toward it. Besides this, he should know his true position, prosperity and its decline, the weaknesses of his enemies, the principles of dharma, and be free from bad habits.
Military commander
55/ He who possesses a good disposition and truthfulness, is always active, sweet-spoken, knows the rules regarding the enemy’s weakness and the suitable time for marching against him, has knowledge of the Arthaśāstra and everything pertaining to wealth, is devoted to the king, is honoured in his clan, and possesses knowledge of time and place—should be made commander-in-chief for these qualities of his.
Court priests and ministers
56/ Those who are high-born, intelligent, versed in śruti and governance, fellow countrymen of the king, devoted to him, free from deceit, and follow dharma, should be court priests and ministers for these their qualities.
Secretaries
57/ Those who are wise, skilled in governance, powerful, eloquent, familiar with the Arthaśāstra, devoted to their subjects, and followers of dharma should always be appointed by kings as secretaries.
Judges
58/ Those who are well-versed in litigation and the true nature of monetary transactions, are intelligent and knowledgeable in many branches of learning, impartial, followers of dharma, wise, capable of distinguishing good and evil deeds, lenient and self-possessed, able to restrain anger, not proud, and have equal respect for all, should be placed in positions of justice as judges.
The tutors of the princes
59/ Those who are vigilant, cautious, always active, hardened by hard work, loving, indulgent, disciplined, impartial, skilled, versed in governance and upbringing, possess both positive and negative reasoning, have knowledge of all śāstras, and are not corrupted by passion and the like, and are hereditary servants of the king and devoted to him, should be made the tutors of the princes, for they possess these various qualities.
Courtiers
60/ Members of the court should be appointed by experienced people according to the instructions of Bṛhaspati, after considering the various qualities of these [ministers and others].
Conclusion
61/ Such are the characteristics of the various characters in the play, which I was obliged to set forth. Next, I shall speak of the characteristics of persons suitable for the various roles.
Here ends chapter thirty-four of the Nāṭyaśāstra of Bharata, which treats of the types of various characters.