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SAHṚDAYALOKA
Dr. Raghavan (pp. 553, ibid) observes: "There is a variety of Bhāṇa called Nandi-māli, which Bhoja says, some writers consider as a separate upa-rupaka. Bhoja says that it has to be included under this Bhāņa. The Nandimali is chiefly characterised by a feature borrowed from bhāṇa of the Daśa-rūpaka class viz. Akāśa-bhāṣita. Does this Nandimāli then suggest a stage of transition of the Daśarūpaka-bhāņa into an upa-rupaka bhāņa ?"
892
Dr. Raghavan then quotes two verses from Bhoja, the first of which viz. "sótraivántarbhavyaḥ..." etc. is quoted above. The second verse is read by Bhoja as,
"ākāśa-puruṣam uddiśya
vastu yat pathyate'thava kriyate, viśliṣṭódbhata-bhāva-prayogam iha nandimāli saḥ."
Śā. reads the second half as -
"viśistódbhavya-bhāva-prayogavān nandimāli saḥ."
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Dr. Raghavan further observes (pp. 553, ibid) - "Bharata here referred to as misunderstood by other writers who gave a distinct type called Nandimāli does not mean Sage Bharata but any later writer on the art of Bharata, for Bharata speaks neither of uparūpakas nor of a Nandimāli."
It seems Dr. Raghavan is at times carried away and makes sweeping statements. Who the hell here says that by 'bharata' in the expression 'bharata-mata' is meant the 'sage bharata', the author of the available N.S.? Actually it means "Bharata's tradition". There is no doubt and there can not be any doubt about this either in any humble follower of Indian Aesthetics. Again, there were a number of nātya-śāstras, and perhaps different version of even our NS. of Bharata. So, such bold statements indicate misadventure. We have edited the N.S. (G.O.S.) afresh, with 'N' ms., not available so far. Dr. Krishnamoorthy edited the first Volume in the G.O.S. series and Dr. Kulkarni and Dr. Nandi worked on the Vol. II, III & IV (with Vol. II through the press to-day i.e. 27-4-02 and Vol. III also through the press (Aug. 04), and Vol. IV now in the press, (27-3-04). with ms. 'N', being in centre. Now this ms. N. has only 33 chapters as against 36 or 37 of printed editions available. A number of extra verses are also noted. So, it will not be a surprise if in future a fresh ms. of the N.S. is found out and it contains the upa-rupaka portion also. Actually without naming, the NS. does treat of nāțikā and also hints at prakaraṇī. In short no sweeping statements should be entertained.
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