According to the Natyashastra, the purpose of a dramatic work was not only to entertain and provide pleasure but also to offer instruction, wealth, justice, and spiritual liberation.
This is why Sanskrit drama typically does not feature a tragic ending; in Hindu cosmology, death is not viewed as the end, but rather as a transition that either leads to spiritual liberation from the cycle of life or to rebirth until liberation is attained.
Rasa is described as a blissful aesthetic experience created through drama, and it is considered the highest purpose of Sanskrit drama.
Rasa, or aesthetic sentiment, is a central concept in Sanskrit drama and refers to the refined emotional response that the audience experiences in reaction to the performance.
Rasa is made up of four key elements: vibhava (the stimuli that provoke emotion), anubhava (the physical manifestations of emotions), vyabhicharibhava (the transient emotional states), and sthayibhava (the permanent emotional states).
These components collectively shape the emotional response to a work of art.
