of these were taken from an old copy of the Nāṭyapradīpa, a work which (as Hall mentions) ‘repeats verbatim a large portion of the Daśarūpa.’ This list of variants was prepared after the text was printed, and such readings as seemed preferable to those in the text were designated with asterisks. In using this list it must be borne in mind that Hall has disregarded the principle of euphonic combination, giving all the readings in the pause-form, according to Hindu practise, as if they stood alone, unconnected with other words. In quoting these I have thought it best to give the form actually required by the context.
The introduction to Hall’s edition contains a brief analysis of the work and much illustrative and explanatory material, a large part of which is now naturally antiquated. In addition to the Daśarūpa, the volume contains, as an appendix, the Sanskrit text of four books of the Bhāratīyanāṭyaśāstra, a manuscript of which came into the editor’s hands after the completion of the rest of the work. The books are numbered 18, 19, 20, and 34; the last, however, is really book 24. This appendix is of great value and is constantly referred to in the present volume, but it must be said that it contains numerous errors and presents the appearance of a hasty transcript.[1]
Jīvānanda Vidyāsāgara’s edition. The edition published by Jīvānanda Vidyāsāgara at Calcutta in 1878 is merely a reprint. Hall’s text is reproduced, even to the misprints, without any indication of its source or a single word of acknowledgment. The publisher took no notice of the fact that Hall (on pages 38 and 39) had designated certain variant readings as preferable to those in his text. He likewise failed to correct an error to which Hall calls attention in his introduction; see my notes on DR. 2. 15. The reprint contains no prefatory material or index to give a touch of originality. The four books of the Bhāratīyanāṭyaśāstra are also copied from Hall’s edition, with all the misprints and inaccuracies faithfully preserved.
- ↑ See my notes on DR. 1. 80; 3. 63.
