The Sanskrit Drama in its Origin, Development, Theory & Practice c20.s3.4

c20.s3.4

The subject-matter takes two forms, the principal (ādhikārika) and the incidental (prāsaṅgika) actions. The first owes its name to the fact that it is connected with the attainment (adhikāra) of the purpose of the hero, whether that be love, or some material interest, or duty, or two or all of these. In the incidental action the end achieved is not that aimed at by the hero, but it serves as a means towards the fruition of his aims.² The incidental action may take the dimension of an episode (patākā), as is the case with the exploits of Sugrīva as an ally of Rāma, or it may be a mere incident (prakarī), as in Act VI of the Ҫakuntalā the scene in which the two attendants converse.³