Vada in Theory and Practice: Studies in Debates, Dialogues and Discussions in Indian Intellectual Discourses c10.s2.11

c10.s2.11

Amongst the ten major forms of drama — the *daśarūpakas* — the definitions of *prahasana* and *vīthī* as given in *Nāṭyaśāstra* include some categories of debate. In fact, *vīthī* is a theatre of debate. Unfortunately, *vīthīs* exemplifying the definition in *Nāṭyaśāstra* are not available. There are thirteen *vīthyaṅgas* (components of *vīthī*). Some of them are in fact built in by various forms of debate. These thirteen *vīthyaṅgas* create the structure of the prologue of a play and they also make two of the major forms of drama – *prahasana* and *vīthī*. In *prahasana*, characters like a recluse, an ascetic, a brāhmaṇa and others engage themselves in *hāsyavāda*, i.e. arguments for creating laughter. Then the play also presents *dhūrtapravivāda* (debate between the rogues).¹¹