भाण
English meaning: monologue dramatic form
Definition
Bhāṇa is one of the ten minor dramatic forms (uparūpakas) in Sanskrit theory, a one-act monologue performed by a single actor who plays a witty, worldly character (typically a vita or man-about-town) who speaks both his own lines and pretends to respond to imagined interlocutors through a clever narrative technique. The form is noted for its vivid depiction of urban life, courtesans, gambling dens, and street characters in ancient Indian cities.
Example
“भाणः एकपात्रेण एकाङ्के अभिनीयते।”
In English: “A bhāṇa is performed by a single actor in one act.”
Another example: “भाणः एकेन एव अभिनेतृणा अभिनीयते।”
Usage — When, Where & How
Technical register of dramaturgy; a one-act monologue performed by a single rogue (viṭa), among the minor dramatic forms (uparūpaka/rūpaka). Confined to dramatic theory; specialist vocabulary.
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
From the root √bhaṇ ('to speak, recite') with suffix -a, literally 'a speaking', the one-actor monologue form.
Synonyms
- एकपात्रनाट्य
- स्वगतभाषण
- एकाभिनय
- भाणक
Related Words
- नाट्य
- दशरूपक
- विट
- आकाशभाषित
Common Collocations
- भाणरूपक
- एकाङ्कभाण
- भाणनायक
- भाणाभिनय
- विटभाण
Word Forms
m., a-stem; nom. भाणः, acc. भाणम्, instr. भाणेन, gen. भाणस्य
Word Tools
Literary Heritage
“मन्दः कवियशः प्रार्थी गमिष्याम्युपहास्यताम्। प्रांशुलभ्ये फले लोभादुद्बाहुरिव वामनः।।”
/Mandah kaviyashah prarthhi gamishyamyupahasytam. Pramshu-labhe phale lobhadud-bahur iva vamanah./
“Feeble-minded yet aspiring to a poet's fame, I go to be ridiculed — like a dwarf reaching for high fruit.”
“रामो विग्रहवान् धर्मः साधुः सत्यपराक्रमः”
/Ramo vigrahavan dharmah sadhuh satya-parakramah/
“Rama is righteousness incarnate — virtuous and true in valour.”
Images
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Language information
- Language
- संस्कृतम्
- Sanskrit
- Script
- Devanagari
- Family
- Indo-Aryan
- Speakers
- 5M