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.
अतिसंधीयते यस्मादेतान्पूर्वोत्थितान्स्वरान्
Because it connects those notes that arose earlier.
निषीदन्ति स्वरा यस्मान्निषादस्तेन हेतुना
Because the notes settle, it is called Niṣāda for that reason.
सर्वांश्चाभिभवत्येष यदादित्यो ऽस्य दैवतम्
This one overcomes all, since the Sun is its deity.
दारवी गात्रवीणा च द्वे वीणे गानजातिषु
Dāravī and Gātravīṇā are two types of vīṇā among musical lineages.
गात्रवीणा तु सा प्रोक्ता यस्यां गायन्ति सामङ्गाः
Gātravīṇā is so called, in which the singers of Sāma chant.
हस्तौ तु संयतौ धार्यौं जानुभ्यामुपरिस्थितौ
The hands should be joined and held, placed above the knees.
प्रणवं प्राक्प्रयुञ्जीत व्याहृतीस्तदनन्तरम्
One should first recite praṇava, then the vyāhṛtis immediately after.
प्रसार्य चाङ्गुलीः सर्वा रोपयेत्स्वरमण्डलम्
Having spread all the fingers, one should arrange the circle of notes.
विरला नाङ्गुलीः कुर्यान्मूले चैतां न संस्पृशेत्
One should keep the fingers apart and not touch their base.
मात्राद्विमात्रवृद्धानां विभागार्थे विभागवित्
For those who are two or more measures older, the division should be made by one who knows division.
त्रिरेखा यस्य दृश्यते सिद्धिं तत्र विनिर्दिशेत्
Where three lines are seen, there one should declare success.
पर्वान्तरं सामसु च ऋक्षु कुर्यात्तिलान्तरम्
At the end of a section, and in Sāman and Ṛk verses, one should make a sesame-seed-sized gap.
न चात्र कंपयेत्किञ्चिदङ्गस्यावयवं बुधः
And here, the wise should not shake any part or limb of the body.
अभ्रमध्ये यथा विद्युदृश्यते मणिसूत्रवत्
As lightning appears in the midst of clouds, like a string of jewels—
कूर्मो ऽगानि च संहृत्य चेतोदृष्टिं दिशन्मनः
Withdrawing the limbs like a tortoise, one should direct the mind and gaze with intent.
नासिकायास्तु पूर्वेण हस्तं गोकर्णवद्धरेत्
Holding the hand before the nose, one should keep it like a cow’s ear.
सम्यक्प्रचारयेद्वाक्यं हस्तेन च मुखेन च
One should articulate the words properly, both with the hand and with the mouth.
नात्याहन्यान्न निर्हण्यान्न प्रगायेन्न कंपयेत्
One should neither speak too loudly nor too softly, nor sing, nor shake.
यथा सुचरतां मार्गो मीनानां नोपलभ्यते
Just as the path of fish moving well is not perceived—
यथा दधिनि सर्पिः स्यात्काष्टस्थो वा यथानलः
Just as ghee is in curds, or as fire is in wood—