Studies in the History of Sanskrit Poetics v2.c79.89

v2.c79.89

Bharata mentions eight different moods or *rasas* in the drama, of which a detailed account is given in ch. vi, which is the authoritative source drawn upon by all later writers, although they sometimes differ, as we shall see, in the enumeration of the orthodox number of eight. Properly speaking, the primary *rasas*, according to Bharata, are only four in number, viz., *śṛṅgāra* (the Erotic), *raudra* (the Furious), *vīra* (the Heroic) and *bībhatsa* (the Disgusting). The other four *rasas* proceed from these, as follow : *hāsya* (the Comic) from *śṛṅgāra*, *karuṇa* (the Pathetic) from *raudra*, *adbhuta* (the Marvellous) from *vīra*, and *bhayānaka* (the Terrible) from *bībhatsa* (xvi 39-40).