prastAvanA 1 Causing to be praised or mentioned, praising, praise. 2 Beginning, commencement; Arya bAlacaritaprastAvanAqiMqamaH Mv. 1. 54. 3 An introduction, preface, exordium (in general); prastAvanA iyaM kapawanAwakasya Māl. 2. 4 Sounding forth. 5 An introductory dialogue (the prologue) at the beginning of a drama between the manager and one of the actors, which, after giving an account of the author and his qualifications &c., introduces the audience to the incidents of the drama; (for definition, see AmuKa ).