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Nothing definite has been known about the author of the commentary Natakābharaṇa. From the colophors, however, occurring at the end of each act 'gla sfixitalareitür apot. T erranostor utamainamaan at af17#TH TUT' it is learned that his name was Govindamţta Bhagavān and that he was a disciple of Prakābatirtha. As, however, he quotes at the outset of his commentary the verse,
__ "स्मृते सकलकल्याणभाजनं यत्र जायते ।
पुरुषस्तमजं नित्यं व्रजामि शरणं हरिम् ॥" which is recited on all ceremonial occasions throughout the Tamil country, he seems to belong to southern India ind is familiar with the manuals of domestic rituals that were written long after the original sūtras were composed. As he writes an easy and elegant style and is free froin pedantry that is commonly found in the commentaries on the Vedánta paribhasa and other works, he seems to be not a vory late author. From the dignified nature of the commentary, it seems that the commentator has ventured not only to explain the drama, but also to check the proselytising tendencies of Buddhism and other corrupt religions that were lingering in his time. From these data wbich are of a tentative nature and can be set aside wheu a more cogent reasoning is forthcoining, the commentator may be taken to a périod not later than 16th century A. D.
The edition of the work is based on the following five manu scripts : 1. F. Belonging to Manalikkara Matam,
$. Travancore. Do. M. R. Ry. Padmanabhan Tampi Avl.,
Artist, Trivandrum. 3. 1. Do. Bramhasri Vasudevan Nampurippad,
Avl., Aghora Manakkal. 4. q. Do. M. R. By. Narayanan Narayanan Ela
yathu Avl., Vemlanattillam,
Ambalapuzha. 5. E. Do. Brahmasri Kunjan Namburippad Avl.,
Chittur Manakkal, Alwaye. All these manuscripts are in good condition and our beartfelt thanks are due to the owners who have preserved them carefully. That an eclition of the work with commere tary Natakabharaṇa based on these mss. is now placed before the public is a matter of extreme gratification to me.
Trivandrum, 20.11.1936. 3
K. SAMBASIVA SASTRI.
