स्रियो मधुरमिच्छन्ति विक्रुष्टमितरे जनाः
The fortunate desire sweetness; others desire elevation.
कनकाभस्तु गान्धारो मध्यमः कुन्दसन्निभः
Gāndhāra is golden in appearance; Madhyama resembles the jasmine.
निषादः सर्ववर्णः स्यादित्येताः स्वरवर्णताः
The Niṣāda is considered to belong to all castes; these are the characteristics of the svara-varṇas.
ऋषभो धैवतश्चापीत्येतौ वै क्षत्रियावुभौ
Ṛṣabha and Dhaivata—these two are both regarded as Kṣatriyas.
शूद्रत्वं विधिनार्द्धेन पतितत्वान्न संशयः
Śūdra status is determined by half the rule; there is no doubt regarding its fallen condition.
निपतति मध्यमरागे स निषादं षाङ्जवं विद्यात्
When it descends in the middle tone, one should recognize the Niṣāda as belonging to the Ṣāṅjava class.
ऋषभो निषादसहितस्तं पञ्चममीदृशं विद्यात्
Ṛṣabha together with Niṣāda—such is known as the fifth (pañcama) of this kind.
धैवतस्य च दौर्बल्यान्मध्यमग्राम उच्यते
Because of the weakness of Dhaivata, it is called the Madhyama grāma.
धैवतः कंपितो यत्र स षङ्गयाम ईरितः
Where Dhaivata is vibrated, it is referred to as Ṣaṅgayāma.
तं तु साधारितं विद्यात्पञ्चमस्थं तु कैशिकम्
That should be known as Sādhārita; the fifth (pañcama) is called Kaiśika.
यस्मा त्तु मध्यमे न्यासस्तस्मात्कैशिकमध्यमः
Because the resting place is in Madhyama, therefore it is called Kaiśika Madhyama.
कश्यपः कैशिकं प्राह मध्यमग्रामसंभवम्
Kaśyapa declared that Kaiśika arises from the Madhyama grāma.
वेति वाद्यस्य संज्ञेयं गन्धर्वस्य प्ररोचनम्
‘Veti’ is the designation for the instrument; it is the delight of the Gandharva.
यो द्वितीयः स गान्धारस्तृतीयस्त्वृषभः स्मृतः
The second is Gandhāra, and the third is remembered as Ṛṣabha.
षष्ठो निषादो विज्ञेयः सप्तमः पञ्चमः स्मृतः
The sixth is known as Niṣāda, and the seventh is remembered as Pañcama.
अजाविके तु गान्धारं क्रैञ्चो वदति मध्यमम्
In the sheep, Gandhāra is spoken; Kraiñca declares Madhyama.
अश्वस्तु धैवतं वक्ति निषआदं वक्ति कुञ्जरः
The horse utters Dhaivata; the elephant utters Niṣāda.
गान्धारस्त्वनुनासिक्य उरसो मध्यमः स्वरः
Gandhāra is nasalized; Madhyama is the chest tone.
ललाटाद्धैवतं विद्यान्निषादं सर्वसन्धिजम्
From the forehead, Dhaivata should be known; Niṣāda arises from all joints.
षङ्भिः सं जायते यस्मात्तस्मात्षङ्ज इति स्मृतः
Because it is produced from Ṣaṅ, it is therefore called Ṣāṅja.
नर्दत्यृषभवद्यस्मात्तस्मादृषेर्भ उच्यते
Because it sounds like a bull, it is therefore called ṛṣabha.
वाति गन्धवहः पुण्यो गान्धारस्तेन हेतुना
The pure Gandhara is so named because it carries fragrance.
नाभिप्राप्तो मध्यवर्ती मध्यमत्वं समर्श्नुते
Being positioned at the navel, the middle note attains its centrality.
पञ्चस्थानोत्थितस्यास्य पञ्चमत्वं विधीयते
Since it arises from five places, its fifthness is established.
शेषान्पञ्च स्वरांस्त्वन्ये पञ्चस्थानोत्थितान्विदुः
The other five notes are also known to originate from five places.
अग्निगीतस्वरः षङ्ज ऋषभो ब्रह्मणोच्यते
The note Ṣaṅja is sung in the fire, and ṛṣabha is said to be of Brahman.
पञ्चमस्तु स्वरो गीतस्त्वयैवेति निधारय
The fifth note is sung by you; thus, understand it accordingly.
आद्यंस्य दैवतं ब्रह्मा षङ्जस्याप्युच्यते बुधैः
The first note's deity is Brahma, and so is that of Ṣaṅja, according to the wise.
गावः प्रणीते तुष्यन्ति गान्धारस्तेन हेतुना
Cows are pleased when led, and Gandhara is named for this reason.
सोमस्तु पञ्चमस्यापि दैवतं ब्रह्मराद्रस्मृतम्
Soma is remembered as the deity of the fifth note, according to Brahmarādras.