Madhyamavyayoga of Bhasa

The Sanskrit term for drama is naṭa, nāṭya or nāṭaka - these words

are derived from the root ‘naṭ’ which itself is a vernacularized

derivation from the Sanskrit root ‘nr̥t’, which means ‘to dance’.

Thus the word itself reveals the ancient origins of drama as

being related to secular, public performance whose purpose

was to connect with the common people.