Chapter 340 - Description of diction and mode (rīti)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Fire-god said:

1. Diction [i.e., rīti] (is essential) for a good knowledge of speech. It is of four kinds—Pāñcālī, Gauḍadeśīyā, Vaidarbhī and Lāṭaja (respectively belonging to the regions Pāñcāla, Gauḍa, Vidarbha and Lāṭa).

2-4. The Pāñcālī is endowed with metaphorical expression. (It is) soft (and has) shorter compounds. The Gauḍīyā is a loose composition having long compounds and not having many metaphorical expressions. The Vaidarbhī is not a very soft composition. It is devoid of metaphorical expressions and is free from compounds. The Lāṭīyā (is) a clear composition not having too many compounds. This is also devoid of much metaphorical expressions.

5. The mode is uneven in the actions (of a drama). It has been established as fourfold—Bhāratī, Ārabhaṭī, Kauśikī and Sātvatī.

6. The diction Bhāratī is said to be known so because it was formulated by Bharata. It is predominantly verbal, (consists) generally (of actions) of men but also of women and has expressions in Prākṛta.

7-9. Bhāratī has four components: Vīthī, Prahasana and Prastāvanā of the drama and the like. The sub-divisions of Vīthī are thirteen: Udghātaka, Lapita^[1], the second, Asatpralāpa, Vākśreṇī^[2], Nālikā, Vipaṇa, Vyāhāra, Trimata, Chala, Avaskandita^[3], Gaṇḍa, Mṛdava and Añcita^[4], the thirteenth.

10. Prahasana is the speech ridiculing the ascetics and the like. Arabhaṭī is known to be abounding in trickery, witchcraft, war and the like. (It is of the varieties) Saṅkṣiptaka, Avapāta and Vastūtthāpana.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

The amended reading is Avadalita.

[2]:

The amended reading is Vāgveṇī.

[3]:

The amended reading is Avasyandita.

[4]:

The printed text wrongly reads ucita.