Part 11 - Technical Aspects of a Utsṛṣṭikāṅka

Bhāsa has used techniques in his plays, which are invented by himself. He has not followed any restrictions prescribed by the Nāṭyaśāstra.

In the Ūrubhaṅga, he has employed very few technical things like:

1. prologue (sthāpanā),
2. intimation scene (nepathya),
3. interlude scene (viṣkambhaka) and
4. epilogue (bharatavākya).

Prologue (Sthāpanā)

As in every drama, in the Ūrubhaṅga also the author has not used any benedictory verse before the prologue.

He has used his unique technique that is direct entrance:

“nāndyante tataḥ praviśati sūtradhāraḥ”.

His prologue is called Sthāpanā and not Prastāvanā, as done by other authors.

In Sthāpanā, Sūtradhāra recites the benedictory verse:

“bhīṣmadroṇataṭām………bhagavānastu plavaḥ keśavaḥ”
  –(verse.1).

The Prologue or Sthāpanā is conducted by the stage manager and his assistant (pāripārśvika). Sūtradhāra introduces the story in short.

Intimation Scene (Nepathya) –

The Nepathya or intimation scene is also called cūlikā. It is used commonly in all dramas to inform some important matters from behind the curtain by any character. The same technical term is used in the Ūrubhaṅga in some places. This is one of the five kinds of intermediate scenes (arthopakṣepaka).

Interlude Scene (Viṣkambhaka) –

The Interlude scene is applied just after the prologue. According to the Nāṭyaśāstra, it is of two types, i.e. pure and low. In the pure type of interlude, two middle characters should be introduced. They should speak in Sanskrit. The low type of interlude has two characters. One of them is middle and the other is low. The low type character speaks in Prakrit and the middle one speaks in Sanskrit. In the Ūrubhaṅga, the author has employed pure type of interlude scene where the characters are speaking in Sanskrit.

Epilogue (Bharatavākya) –

Every drama ends with an auspicious verse called the epilogue, which is the concluding stanza. It is the well-being of the nation and its people, expressed by any actor present on the stage. In the Ūrubhaṅga, the epilogue is recited by Aśvatthāmā.

It states that the king should destroy all enemies and protect the earth:

“pātu no narapatiḥ śamitāripakṣaḥ”.