The Sanskrit Drama in its Origin, Development, Theory & Practice c10.s3.29

c10.s3.29

A verse of this play is cited by Vāmana¹ and another,² found also in the Bālacarita³ and the Mṛcchakaṭikā,⁴ is quoted by Daṇḍin in the Kāvyādarça.⁵ We need not doubt that Bhāsa is his source, especially as there is possibly elsewhere in the Kāvyādarça an allusion to the dream scene of the Svapnavāsavadattā and its sequel. The Daridracārudatta mentioned by Abhinavagupta is most probably the same work. From it are derived the first four Acts of the Mṛcchakaṭikā.⁶ The source of the drama is not certain; we have the motif of the love of a merchant and a hetaera elsewhere, but not with the special developments given by Bhāsa.