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Classification of Poetry
849 samvidhāna-kramas tāsām
na kadācana bhidyate. Thus sattaka is a nātikābheda and is also a nrtya-bheda. Thus sattaka is an artform which inherits the characteristics of both drama and dance. Perhaps it was a form of folk-art.
Dr. Raghavan observes (pp. 548) that Bahurūpa Miśra, a late commentator on Dhananjaya, who draws upon Sāradātanaya and is acquainted with Bhoja's Sr. Pra. also, says on this subject that Bhoja includes the Sattaka in the Nātikā, as if Bhoja considers it unnecessary to accept a separate type called Sattaka. He observes : "bhoja-rājena nātikāyāh prakarananātakayor antarbhāvah uktah.” (p. 4, Mad. MS. R. 367). We may add that totaka is included in nātaka in the same vein. Bhoja described sattaka as similar to nātikā and counted it as the twelfth variety of vākyárthábhinaya.
Thus we have observed that there is no contradiction anywhere in the presentation of any theorists so far as the art-forms of nātaka, nātikā, totaka and sattaka are concerned. Sattaka seems to be both a dance-form and a drama-form, closer to nātikā. Bhoja, Hemacandra, Sāradātanaya and Sāgarnandin discuss the same in their own way. Hemacandra (pp. 444, Edn. Parika, Kulkarni) at the end of the definitions of ten rūpakas and nātikā, quotes Bhoja and defines sattaka after him. He adds : "ādiśabdāt kohalā"di-laksitās totakā"dayo grāhyah.” This is under Abhinavagupta's observation. But Hemacandra does not elaborate. But it is certain that many folk art-forms were included in the twenty odd uparūpakas which are mixed art-forms having elements of drama and dance interwoven beautifully in them."
Thus it is clear that Bhoja described satpaka as similar to nātikā and took it as the twelfth type of vākyárthábhinaya.
Bhoja in Ch. XI of his Śr. Pra. follows Bharata in introducing the ten major rūpakas and nātikā in āryā verses. He hardly makes any verbal change.
Bhoja also quotes Bharata's general observations on nāțaka, given at the end of Ch. XXI. N.S. (Kasi Edn.) according to Dr. Raghavan. But actually while comparing Josyer's Edn. and the G.O.S. Edn. of N.S., we read some verses in the beginning of Ch. XII of the Sr. Pra. quoted from N.S. Vol. II. Ch. XIX. We do not know which text of Bhoja is looked into here by Dr. Raghavan. Of course, some half verses from Bharata (Ch. XIX) are also read at the end of Ch. XI. Sr. Pra. Edn. Josyer.
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