Which of the following statements about Bharata’s Natyashastra is/are correct?
1. It is dated by scholars between the second century BCE and the second century CE.
2. It analyses theatrical spectacle as an amalgam of speech, vocal and instrumental music, gesture, mime, etc.
3. The ground it covers is less extensive than Aristotle’s Poetics, its nearest ancient Greek counterpart.

Correct option is B

The correct answer is (b) 1 and 2 only
Explanation:
• Scholars generally date the Natyashastra to a broad period between the 2nd century BCE and 2nd century CE.
• The text treats theatre (nāṭya) as a synthesis of Vācika (speech), Sāttvika (inner feelings), Āṅgika (gestures/body), and Āhārya (costume/makeup), and includes music and mime.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: Natyashastra is far more comprehensive than Aristotle’s Poetics—it covers drama, dance, music, stagecraft, rasas, acting, makeup, meters, etc.
Information Booster:
• The Natyashastra is an encyclopaedic text (traditionally 36 chapters) and a foundational document for Indian performing arts.
• Rasa theory (aesthetic flavour) is central to its aesthetics.
Additional Knowledge:
Statement 1
. Reflects mainstream scholarly dating (broadly accepted).
Statement 2
. Describes the integrated theory of performance (abhinaya).
Statement 3
. Wrong—Poetics is narrower in scope than the Natyashastra.