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## The Twenty-First Chapter
**287**
May the learned grant me today, with a gentle veena, a topic for singing, O Pandit! ||139||
She said, "O Vishnu Kumar, who bound Bali, the topic sung by Haha, Tumburu, and Narada, when Trivikrama performed his deed, if you are a master of instruments, let that be the topic you play today. For a topic for singing that is bound to the Puranas is praiseworthy." ||140-141||
Having received the command of Gandharva Sena, Vasudeva began to describe the science of music as follows:
1. **Tata**, 2. **Avanaddha**, 3. **Ghana**, and 4. **Sushira** - these are the four types of instruments. All these instruments are equipped with their own characteristics. ||142||
Those that are played with strings, like the veena, are called **Tata**. Those that are made of skin, like the mridanga, are called **Avanaddha**. Those made of bronze, like cymbals and jingles, are called **Ghana**, and flutes, etc., are called **Sushira**. ||143||
Among these, the **Tata** instrument, being pleasing to the ear, is generally more enjoyable for beings, and because it is connected to the Gandharva body, it is known as **Gandharva**. ||144||
The veena, the flute, and singing are the three causes of the **Gandharva**, and it is considered to be of three types: **Svara-gata**, **Tala-gata**, and **Pada-gata**. ||145||
**Veena** and **Sharira** are the two types of **Svara**, and their differences and characteristics are described as follows: ||146||
**Shruti**, **Vritti**, **Svara**, **Grama**, **Varna**, **Alankara**, **Murcchana**, **Dhatu**, and **Sadharana**, etc., are considered **Veena Svara**, and **Jati**, **Varna**, **Svara**, **Grama**, **Sthana**, **Sadharana Kriya**, and **Alankara Vidhi** are the differences in **Sharira Svara**. ||147-148||
**Jati**, **Taddhita**, **Chanda**, **Sandhi**, **Svara**, **Vibhakti**, **Subanta**, **Tinganta**, **Upasarga**, and **Varna**, etc., are the rules of **Pada-gata Gandharva**, and **Avapa**, **Nishkrama**, **Vikshepa**, **Praveshana**, **Shamyatal**, **Paravarta**, **Sannipata**, and **Savastuka** are the rules of **Tala-gata Gandharva**. ||149||
"Very good, very good, O clever one! This veena is flawless. O Gandharva Sena! Tell me, what topic for singing do you like? You are a connoisseur of topics for singing, so give me your command, and I will play this gentle, radiant veena before these learned ones." ||137-139||
In response, Gandharva Sena said, "When Vishnu Kumar, who bound Bali, showed his three steps, Haha, Tumburu, and Narada sang a topic for singing. If you are a master of instruments, play that same topic today, for a topic for singing that is connected to the Puranas is praiseworthy." ||140-141||