Studies in the History of Sanskrit Poetics v1.c6.21

v1.c6.21

Taking the substance of the work, apart from the vexed question of different versions, the portion of the *Nāṭya-śāstra*, which deals principally with music, has been conjectured¹ on internal evidence to have been compiled about the 4th century A. D. ; and it may appear likely that the other portions were also put into their present shape about the same time. Pischel's argument, however, on the date of the work, derived from the reference to Pahlavas in a text of such composite character is of doubtful value in determining the question finally ; but it perhaps makes it probable that the upper limit of its date cannot be put too early. On the other hand, Rāghavabhaṭṭa on *Śakuntalā*² and Vāsudeva on *Karpūra-mañjarī*³ quote one Mātṛguptâcārya as a writer on dramaturgy ; and Sundaramiśra in his *Nāṭya-pradīpa* (dated 1613 A.D.), commenting on Bharata's remarks on *nāndī*, says *asya vyākhyāne mātṛguptâcāryaiḥ........iyam udāhṛtā*⁴. This has been taken by Lévi to imply that Mātṛgupta wrote a *vyākhyāna* or commentary on Bharata, and that, assuming him to be same as the poet who lived under Harṣa-vikramâditya (*Rāja-taraṅg*.