History of Sanskrit Poetics c6.11

c6.11

Western scholars such as Schroeder, Windisch, Oldenberg, Pischel, Konow have evolved various theories about the origin of the Sanskrit drama, all of which are criticized by Prof. A. B. Keith in S. D. pp. 13-27. The Nāṭyaśāstra of Bharata shows its consciousness that the classical Sanskrit drama has its roots deep down in the Vedic age when भरत states (in नाट्यशास्त्र I. 17 Ch. ed. and in G. O. S. ed. also) that पाठ्य (recitation and dialogue), गीत, अभिनय and रस were taken from the ऋग्वेद, सामवेद, यजुर्वेद and अथर्ववेद respectively (vide p. 29 above).