Age of the Nandas and Mauryas c12.s13.t4.12

c12.s13.t4.12

The dramatic variety called Vīthī as described by Bharata involves a good deal of verbal ingenuity, wit and foiling of one another in repartees. That such an art of verbal skill was cultivated in these times is shown by the frequent mention by Kauṭilya of a social entertainer called *vāgjīvana* (II. 1 ; II. 27 ; III. 14).