The Bharata-vakya
Summary
This brief article addresses the term ‘bharata‑vakya’ in Sanskrit drama. Earlier scholars debated whether it referred to the concluding benedictory verse of a play, and whether it occurs in Bharata’s Natyashastra. The author points out that the term is absent from the Natyashastra and not quoted by commentators like Raghavabhatta, though the practice of ending a play with a verse is attested. Raghavabhatta’s explanation equates it with the ‘prasasti’, a stanza recited by the sutradhara. The article argues that ‘bharata‑vakya’ is best understood as the final verse spoken by the stage‑manager to summarise the play and bless the audience. This clarifies confusion between the playwright’s own laudatory verse and the concluding verse delivered during performance.
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Conclusion
The debate over the bharata‑vakya stems from conflating terminology. Recognising it as the concluding verse spoken by the sutradhara resolves the issue and illustrates how theatrical conventions evolved after the Natyashastra.