Natya Shastra · Chapter 14

iti bharatīye nāṭyaśāstre karayuktidharmīvyañjako nāma trayodaśo 'dhyāyaḥ
atha caturdaśo 'dhyāyaḥ
yo vāgabhinayaḥ prokto mayā pūrvaṃ dvijottamāḥ /
lakṣaṇaṃ tasya vakṣyāmi svaravyañjanasambhavam

vāci yatnastu kartavyo nāṭyasyeyaṃ tanuḥ smṛtā /
aṅganepathyasattvāni vākyārthaṃ vyañjayanti hi

vāṅmayānīha śāstrāṇi vāṅniṣṭhāni tathaiva ca /
tasmādvācaḥ paraṃ nāsti vāg hi sarvasya kāraṇam

āgamanāmākhyātanipātopasargasamāsataddhitairyuktaḥ /
sandhivacanavibhaktyupagrahaniyukto vācikābhinayaḥ

dvividhaṃ hi smṛtaṃ pāṭhyaṃ saṃskṛtaṃ prākṛtaṃ tathā /
tayorvibhāgaṃ vakṣyāmi yathāvadanupūrvaśaḥ

vyañjanāni svarāścaiva sandhayo 'tha vibhaktayaḥ /
nāmākhyātopasargāśca nipātāstaddhitāstathā

etairaṅgaiḥ samāsaiśca nānādhātusamāśrayam /
vijñeyaṃ saṃskṛtaṃ pāṭhyaṃ prayogañca nibodhata

akārādyāḥ svarā jñeyā aukārāntāścaturdaśa /
hakārāntāni kādīni vyañjanāni vidurbudhāḥ

tatra svarāścaturdaśa - a ā i ī u ū ṛ ṝ ḷ ḹ e ai
o au iti svarā jñeyāḥ ||
kādīni vyañjanāni yathā - ka kha ga gha ṅa ca cha ja jha
ña ṭa ṭha ḍa ḍha ṇa ta tha da dha na pa pha ba bha ma ya ra la va
śa ṣa sa ha iti vyañjanavargaḥ |
varge varge samākhyātau dvau varṇau prāgavasthitau /
aghoṣā iti ye tvanye saghoṣāḥ saṃprakīrtitāḥ

aṣṭau sthānāni varṇānāmuraḥ kaṇṭhaḥ śirastathā /
jihvāmūlaśca dantāśca nāsikoṣṭhau ca tālu ca

a ku ha visarjanīyāḥ kaṇṭhyāḥ | i cu ya śāstālavyāḥ |
ṛ ṭu ra ṣā mūrdhanyāḥ | ḷ tu la sā dantyāḥ | u
pūpadhmānīyā oṣṭhyāḥ | -pa -pha iti paphābhyāṃ prāk
ardhavisargasadṛśaḥ upadhmānīyaḥ | -ka -kha iti kakhābhyāṃ
prāk ardhavisargasadṛśo jihvamūlīyaḥ | e ai kaṇṭhyatālavyau |
o au kaṇṭhyoṣṭhyau | vakāro dantyoṣṭhyaḥ | ṅa ña ṇa na mā
anunāsikāḥ | visarjanīyaḥ aurasyaḥ ityeke |
sarvavarṇānāṃ mukhaṃ sthānamityapare |
dvau dvau varṇau tu vargādyau śaṣasāśca trayo 'pare /
aghoṣā ghoṣavantastu tato 'nye parikīrtitāḥ

ete ghoṣāghoṣāḥ kaṇṭhyoṣṭhyā dantyajihvānunāsikyāḥ /
ūṣmāṇastālavyāḥ visarjanīyāśca boddhavyāḥ

gaghaṅa jajhaña ḍaḍhaṇa dadhana babhama tathaiva yaralavā matā ghoṣāḥ /
kakha cacha ṭaṭha tatha papha iti vargeṣvaghoṣāḥ syuḥ

kakhagaghaṅāḥ kaṇṭhasthāstālusthānāstu cachajajhañāḥ /
ṭaṭhaḍaḍhaṇā mūrdhanyāstathadadhanāścaiva dantasthāḥ

paphababhamāstvoṣṭhyāḥ syuḥ dantyā ḷlasā ahau ca kaṇṭhasthau /
tālavyā icuyaśā syurṛṭuraṣā mūrdhasthitā jñeyāḥ

ḷḹ dantyau oau kaṇṭhoṣṭhyau eaikārau ca kaṇṭhatālavyau /
kaṇṭhyo visarjanīyo jihvāmūlamudbhavaḥ kakhayoḥ

paphayoroṣṭhasthānaṃ bhavedukāraḥ svaro vivṛtaḥ /
spṛṣṭāḥ kādyā māntāḥ śaṣasahakārāstathā vivṛtāḥ

antasthāḥ saṃvṛtajāḥ ṅañaṇanamā nāsikodbhavā jñeyāḥ /
ūṣmāṇaśca śaṣasahāḥ yaralavavarṇāstathaiva cāntaḥsthāḥ

jihvāmūlīyaḥ -kaḥ -pa upadhmānīyasaṃjñayā jñeyaḥ /
kacaṭatapā svaritāḥ syuḥ khachaṭhathaphā syuḥ sadā kramyāḥ

kaṇṭhyorasyān vidyāt ghajhaḍhadhabhān pāṭhyasaṃprayoge tu /
vedyo visarjanīyo jihvāsthāne sthito varṇaḥ

ete vyañjanavarṇāḥ samāsataḥ saṃjñayā mayā kathitāḥ /
śabdaviṣayaprayoge svarā.ṇstu bhūyaḥ pravakṣyāmi

yasmin sthāne sa samo vijñeyo yaḥ savarṇasaṃjño 'sau |
ya ime svarāścaturdaśa nirdiṣṭāstatra vai daśa samānāḥ /
pūrvo hrasvaḥ teṣāṃ paraśca dīrgho 'vagantavyaḥ

itthaṃ vyañjanayogaiḥ svaraiśca sākhyātanāmapadavihitaiḥ /
kāvyanibandhāśca syurdhātunipātopasargāstu

ebhirvyañjanavargairnāmākhyātopasarganipātaiḥ /
taddhitasandhivibhaktibhiradhiṣṭhitaḥ śabda ityuktaḥ

pūrvācāryairuktaṃ śabdānāṃ lakṣaṇaṃ samāsayogena /
vistaraśaḥ punareva prakaraṇavaśāt saṃpravakṣyāmi

arthapradhānaṃ nāma syādākhyātaṃ tu kriyākṛtam /
dyotayantyupasargāstu viśeṣaṃ bhāvasaṃśrayam

tatprāhuḥ saptavidhaṃ ṣaṭkārakasaṃyutaṃ prathitasādhyam /
nirdeśasaṃpradānāpadānaprabhṛtisaṃjñābhiḥ

nāmākhyātārthaviṣayaṃ viśeṣaṃ dyotayanti te /
pṛthaktatropasargebhyo nipātā niyame 'cyute

saṃpratyatītakālakriyādisaṃyojitaṃ prathitasādhyam /
vacanaṃ nāgatayuktaṃ susadṛśasaṃyojanavibhaktam

pañcaśatadhātuyuktaṃ pañcaguṇaṃ pañcavidhamidaṃ vāpi |
svādyadhikāraguṇairarthaviśeṣairvibhūṣitanyāsam /
prātipadikārthaliṅgairyuktaṃ pañcavidhamidaṃ jñeyam

ākhyātaṃ pāṭhyakṛtaṃ jñeyaṃ nānārthāśrayaviśeṣam /
vacanaṃ nāmasametaṃ puruṣavibhaktaṃ tadākhyātam

prātipadikārthayuktāndhātvarthānupasṛjanti ye svārthaiḥ /
upasargā hyupadiṣṭāstasmāt saṃskāraśāstre 'smin

prātipadikārthayogāddhātucchandoniruktayuktyā ca /
yasmānnipatanti pade tasmātproktā nipātāstu

pratyayavibhāgajanitāḥ prakarṣasaṃyogasatvavacanaiśca /
yasmātpūrayate 'rthān pratyaya uktastatastasmāt

loke prakṛtipratyayavibhāgasaṃyogasatvavacanaiśca /
tāṃstān pūrayate 'rthāṃsteṣu yastaddhitastasmāt

ekasya bahūnāṃ vā dhātorliṅgasya vā padānāṃ vā /
vibhajantyarthaṃ yasmāt vibhaktayastena tāḥ proktāḥ

viśiṣṭāstu svarā yatra vyañjanaṃ vāpi yogataḥ /
sandhīyate pade yasmāttasmāt sandhiḥ prakīrtitaḥ

varṇapadakramasiddhaḥ padaikayogācca varṇayogācca /
sandhīyate ca yasmāttasmāt sandhiḥ samuddiṣṭaḥ

luptavibhaktirnāmnāmekārthaṃ saṃharatsamāso 'pi /
tatpuruṣādikasaṃjñairnirdiṣṭaḥ ṣaḍvidho viprāḥ

ebhiḥ śabdavidhānairvistāravyañjanārthasaṃyuktaiḥ /
padabandhāḥ kartavyā nibaddhabandhāstu cūrṇā vā

vibhaktyantaṃ padaṃ jñeyaṃ nibaddhaṃ cūrṇameva ca /
tatra cūrṇapadasyeha sannibodhata lakṣaṇam

anibaddhapadaṃ chandovidhānāniyatākṣaram /
arthāpekṣyakṣarasyūtaṃ jñeyaṃ cūrṇapadaṃ budhaiḥ

nibaddhākṣarasaṃyuktaṃ yaticchedasamanvitam /
nibaddhaṃ tu padaṃ jñeyaṃ pramāṇaniyatātmakam

evaṃ nānārthasaṃyuktaiḥ pādairvarṇavibhūṣitaiḥ /
caturbhistu bhavedyuktaṃ chando vṛttābhidhānavat

ṣaḍviṃśatiḥ smṛtānyebhiḥ pādaiśchandasi saṃkhyayā /
samañcārdhasamañcaiva tathā viṣamameva ca

chandoyuktaṃ samāsena trividhaṃ vṛttamiṣyate /
nānāvṛttiviniṣpannā śabdasyaiṣā tanūssmṛtā

chandohīno na śabdo 'sti na cchandaśśabdavarjitam /
tasmāttūbhyasaṃyogo nāṭyasyodyotakaḥ smṛtaḥ

ekākṣaraṃ bhaveduktamatyuktaṃ dvyakṣaraṃ bhavet /
madhyaṃ tryakṣaramityāhuḥ pratiṣṭhā caturakṣarā

supratiṣṭhā bhavet pañca gāyatrī ṣaḍ bhavediha /
saptākṣarā bhaveduṣṇigaṣṭākṣarānuṣṭubucyate

navākṣarā tu bṛhatī paṅktiścaiva daśākṣarā /
ekādaśākṣarā triṣṭub jagatī dvādaśākṣarā

trayodaśā'tijagatī śakvarī tu caturdaśā /
atiśakvarī pañcadaśā ṣoḍaśāṣṭiḥ prakīrtitā

atyaṣṭiḥ syātsaptadaśā dhṛtiraṣṭādaśākṣarā /
ekonaviṃśatirdhṛtiḥ kṛtirviṃśatireva ca

prakṛtiścaikaviṃśatyā dvāviṃśatyākṛtistathā /
vikṛtiḥ syāt trayoviṃśā caturviṃśā ca saṃkṛtiḥ

pañcaviṃśatyatikṛtiḥ ṣaḍviṃśatyutkṛtirbhavet /
ato 'dhikākṣaraṃ chando mālāvṛttaṃ tadiṣyate

chandasāṃ tu tathā hyete bhedāḥ prastārayogataḥ /
asaṃkhyeyapramāṇāni vṛttānyāhurato budhāḥ

gāyatrīprabhṛtittveṣāṃ pramāṇaṃ saṃvidhīyate /
prayogajāni sarvāṇi prāyaśo na bhavanti hi

vṛttāni ca catuṣṣaṣṭirgāyatryāṃ kīrtitāni tu /
śataṃ viṃśatiraṣṭau ca vṛttānyuṣṇihyathocyate

ṣaṭpañcāśacchate dve ca vṛttānāmapyanuṣṭubhi /
śatāni pañca vṛtānāṃ bṛhatyāṃ dvādaśaiva ca

paṅktyāṃ sahasraṃ vṛttānāṃ caturviṃśatireva ca /
traiṣṭubhe dve sahasre ca catvāriṃśattathāṣṭa ca

sahasrāṇyapi catvāri navatiśca ṣaḍuttarā /
jagatyāṃ samavarṇānāṃ vṛttānāmiha sarvaśaḥ

aṣṭau sahasrāṇi śataṃ dvyadhikā navatiḥ punaḥ /
jagatyāmatipūrvāyāṃ vṛttānāṃ parimāṇataḥ

śatāni trīṇyaśītiśca sahasrāṇyapi ṣoḍaśa /
vṛttāni caiva catvāri śakvaryāḥ parisaṃkhyayā

dvātriṃśacca sahasrāṇi sapta caiva śatāni ca /
aṣṭau ṣaṣṭiśca vṛttāni hyāśrayantyatiśakvarīm

pañcaṣaṣṭisahasrāṇi sahasrārdhañca saṃkhyayā /
ṣaṭtriṃśaccaiva vṛttāni hyaṣṭyāṃ nigaditāni ca

ekatriṃśatsahasrāṇi vṛttānāñca dvisaptatiḥ /
tathā śatasahasrañca chandāṃsyatyaṣṭisaṃjñite

dhṛtyāmapi hi piṇḍena vṛttānyākalpitāni tu /
tajjñaiḥ śatasahasre dve śatamekaṃ tathaiva ca

dviṣaṣṭiśca sahasrāṇi catvāriṃśacca yogataḥ /
catvāri caiva vṛttāni samasaṃkhyāśrayāṇi tu

atidhṛtyāṃ sahasrāṇi caturviṃśatireva ca /
tathā śatasahasrāṇi pañca vṛttaśatadvayam

aṣṭāśītiśca vṛttāni vṛttajñaiḥ kathitāni ca /
kṛtau śatasahasrāṇi daśa proktāni saṃkhyayā

catvāriṃśattathā cāṣṭau sahasrāṇi śatāni ca /
pañcaṣaṭsaptatiścaiva vṛttānāṃ parimāṇataḥ

tathā śatasahasrāṇāṃ prakṛtau viṃśatirbhavet /
sapta vai gaditāstvatra navatiścaiva saṃkhyayā

sahasrāṇi śataṃ caikaṃ dvipañcāśattathaiva ca /
vṛttāni parimāṇena vṛttajñairgaditāni tu

catvāriṃśattathaikañca lakṣāṇāmatha saṃkhyayā /
tathā ceha sahasrāṇi navatiścaturuttarā

śatatrayaṃ samākhyātaṃ hyākṛtyāṃ caturuttaram /
jñeyā śatasahasrāṇāmaśītistryadhikā budhaiḥ

aṣṭāśīti sahasrāṇi vṛttānāṃ ṣaṭ śatāni ca /
aṣṭau caiva tu vṛttāni vikṛtyāṃ gaditāni tu

tathā śatasahasrāṇi saptaṣaṣṭiśca saptatiḥ /
sapta caiva sahasrāṇi ṣoḍaśe dve śate tathā

koṭiścaiveha vṛttāni saṃkṛtau kathitāni vai /
koṭitrayañcābhikṛtyāṃ pañcatriṃśadbhiranvitam

pañcāśadbhiḥ sahasraiśca caturbhiradhikaistathā /
catuṣṭayaṃ śatānām ca dvātriṃśadbhiḥ samanvitam

ṣaṭ koṭayastathotkṛtyāṃ lakṣāṇāmekasaptatiḥ /
catuṣṣaṣṭiśatānyaṣṭau sahasrāṇyaṣṭa caiva hi

uktādutkṛtiparyantavṛttasaṃkhyāṃ vicakṣaṇaḥ /
etena ca vikalpena vṛtteṣveteṣu nirdiśet

sarveṣāṃ chandasāmevaṃ vṛttāni kathitāni vai /
tisraḥ koṭayo daśa tathā sahasrāṇāṃ śatāni tu

catvāriṃśattathā dve ca sahasrāṇi daśaiva tu /
saptabhiḥ sahitānyeva sapta caiva śatāni ca

ṣaḍviṃśatirihānyāni vyākhyātāni samāsataḥ /
samāni gaṇanāyuktimāśritya kathitāni vai

sarveṣāṃ chandasāmevaṃ trikairvṛttaṃ prayojayet /
jñeyāścāṣṭau trikāstatra saṃjñābhiḥ sthānamaccharam

trīṇyakṣarāṇi vijñeyastriko 'ṃśaḥ parikalpitaḥ /
gurulaghvakṣarakṛtaḥ sarvavṛtteṣu nityaśaḥ

gurupūrvo bhakāraḥ syānmakāre tu gurutrayam /
jakāro gurumadhyasthaḥ sakāro 'ntyagurustathā

laghumadhyasthito rephastakāro 'ntyalaghuḥ paraḥ /
laghupūrvo yakārastu nakāre tu laghutrayam

ete hyaṣṭau trikāḥ prājñairvijñeyā brahmasambhavāḥ /
lāghavārthaṃ punaramī chandojñānamavekṣya ca

ebhirvinirgatāścānyā jātayo 'tha samādayaḥ /
asvarāḥ sasvarāścaiva procyante vṛttalakṣaṇaiḥ

gurvekaṃ giti vijñeyaṃ tathā laghu liti smṛtam /
niyataḥ padavicchedo yatirityabhidhīyate

guru dīrghaṃ plutañcaiva saṃyogaparameva ca /
sānusvāravisargaṃ ca tathāntyañca laghu kvacit

gāyatryāṃ dvau trikau jñeyau uṣṇik caikādhikākṣarā /
anuṣṭup dvyadhikā caiva bṛhatyāṃ ca trikāstrayaḥ

ekākṣarādhikā paṅktistriṣṭup ca dvyadhikākṣarā /
catustrikā tu jagatī saikātijagatī punaḥ

śakvarī dvyadhikā pañcatrikā jñeyātiśakvarī /
ekādhikākṣarāṣṭiśca dvyadhikātyaṣṭirucyate

ṣaṭtrikāstu dhṛtiḥ proktā saikā cātidhṛtistathā /
kṛtiśca dvyadhikā proktā prakṛtyāṃ sapta vai trikāḥ

ākṛtistvadhikaikena dvyadhikā vikṛtistathā /
aṣṭatrikāḥ saṃkṛtau syāt saikā cābhikṛtiḥ punaḥ

utkṛtirdvyadhikā caiva vijñeyā gaṇamānataḥ |
gurvekaṃ ga iti proktaṃ guruṇī gāviti smṛtau /
laghvekaṃ la iti jñeyaṃ laghunī lāviti smṛtau

saṃpadvirāmapādāśca daivatasthānamakṣaram /
varṇaḥ svaro vidhirvṛttamiti chandogato vidhiḥ

naivātiriktaṃ hīnaṃ vā yatra saṃpadyate kramaḥ /
vidhāne cchandasāmeṣa saṃpadityabhisaṃjñitaḥ

yatrārthasya samāptiḥ syāt sa virāma iti smṛtaḥ /
pādaśca padyaterdhātoścaturbhāga iti smṛtaḥ

agnyādidaivataṃ proktaṃ sthānaṃ dvividhamucyate /
śarīrāśrayasaṃbhūtaṃ digāśrayamathāpi ca

śārīraṃ mantrasaṃbhūtaṃ chando gāyatrasaṃjñitam /
kruṣṭe madhyaṃ dinaṃ proktaṃ traiṣṭubhaṃ parikīrtyate

tṛtīyasavanañcāpi śīrṣaṇyaṃ jāgataṃ hi yat /
hrasvaṃ dīrghaṃ plutañcaiva trividhañcākṣaraṃ smṛtam

śvetādayastathā varṇā vijñeyāśchandasāmiha /
tāraścaiva hi mandraśca madhyamastrividhaḥ svaraḥ

dhruvāvidhāne caivāsya saṃpravakṣyāmi lakṣaṇam /
vidhirgaṇakṛtaścaiva tathaivārthakṛto bhavet

chandato yasya pāde syāddhīnaṃ vā'dhikameva vā /
akṣaraṃ nicṛditi proktaṃ bhūrik ceti dvijottamāḥ

akṣarābhyāṃ sadā dvābhyāmadhikaṃ hīnameva vā /
tacchando nāmato jñeyaṃ svarāḍiti virāḍapi

sarveṣāmeva vṛttānāṃ tajjñairjñeyā gaṇāstrayaḥ /
divyo divyetaraścaiva divyamānuṣa eva ca

gāyatryuṣṇiganuṣṭup ca bṛhatī paṅktireva ca /
triṣṭup ca jagatī caiva divyo 'yaṃ prathamo gaṇaḥ

tathātijagatī caiva śakvarī cātiśakvarī /
aṣṭiratyaṣṭirapi ca dhṛtiścātidhṛtirgaṇaḥ

kṛtiśca prakṛtiścaiva hyākṛtirvikṛtistathā /
saṃkṛtyabhikṛtī caiva utkṛtirdivyamānuṣā

eteṣāṃ chandasāṃ bhūyaḥ prastāravidhisaṃśrayam /
lakṣaṇaṃ saṃpravakṣyāmi naṣṭamuddiṣṭameva ca

prastāro 'kṣaranirdiṣṭo mātroktaśca tathaiva hi /
dvikau glāviti varṇoktau miśrau cetyapi mātrikau

guroradhastādādyasya prastāre laghu vinyaset /
agratastu samādeyā guravaḥ pṛṣṭhatastathā

prathamaṃ gurubhirvarṇairlaghubhistvavasānajam /
vṛttantu sarvachandassu prastāravidhireva tu

gurvadhastāllaghuṃ nyasya tathā dvidvi yathoditam /
nyasyet prastāramārgo 'yamakṣaroktastu nityaśaḥ

mātrāsaṃkhyāvinirdiṣṭo gaṇo mātrāvikalpitaḥ /
miśrau glāviti vijñeyau pṛthak lakṣyavibhāgataḥ

mātrāgaṇo guruścaiva laghunī caiva lakṣite /
āryāṇāṃ tu caturmātrāprastāraḥ parikalpitaḥ

gītakaprabhṛtīnāntu pañcamātro gaṇaḥ smṛtaḥ /
vaitālīyaṃ puraskṛtya ṣaṇmātrādyāstathaiva ca

tryakṣarāstu trikā jñeyā laghugurvakṣarānvitāḥ /
mātrāgaṇavibhāgastu gurulaghvakṣarāśrayaḥ

antyād dviguṇitādrūpād dvidvirekaṃ gurorbhavet /
dviguṇāñca laghoḥ kṛtvā saṃkhyāṃ piṇḍena yojayet

ādyaṃ sarvaguru jñeyaṃ vṛttantu samasaṃjñitam /
kośaṃ tu sarvalaghvantyaṃ miśrarūpāṇi sarvataḥ

vṛttānāṃ tu samānānāṃ saṃkhyāṃ saṃyojya tāvatīm /
rāśyūnāmardhaviṣamāṃ samāsādabhinirdiśet

ekādikāṃ tathā saṃkhyāṃ chandaso viniveśya tu /
yāvat pūrṇantu pūrveṇa pūrayeduttaraṃ gaṇam

samānāṃ viṣamāṇāṃ ca saṃguṇayya tathā sphuṭam /
rāśyūnāmabhijānīyādviṣamāṇāṃ samāsataḥ

evaṃ kṛtvā tu sarveṣāṃ pareṣāṃ pūrvapūraṇam /
kramānnaidhanamekaikaṃ pratilomaṃ visarjayet

sarveṣāṃ chandasāmevaṃ laghvakṣaraviniścayam /
jānīta samavṛttānāṃ saṃkhyāṃ saṃkṣepatastathā

vṛttasya parimāṇantu chitvārdhena yathākramam /
nyasellaghu yathā saikamakṣaraṃ guru cāpyatha

evaṃ vinyasya vṛttānāṃ naṣṭoddiṣṭavibhāgataḥ /
gurulaghvakṣarāṇīha sarvachandassu darśayet

iti chandāṃsi yānīha mayoktāni dvijottamāḥ /
vṛttānyeteṣu nāṭye 'smin prayojyāni nibodhata