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## The Description of the Forest Section:
**(359) The six rules of the Suhmuत्तर are to be understood.**
**(2)** There are seven Mūrcchanās: Nandī, Kṣudra, Pūrṇā, Śuddhagāndhārā, Uttaragāndhārā, Sūkṣmōttara-āyāma, and Uttaramandā. These Mūrcchanās are significant because they make the singer and the listener feel as if they are in a trance, distinct from other sounds. As it is said, "The Mūrcchanā is said to be a means of making the sound distinct from other sounds. The throat also makes a sound like a trance."
When the Uttaramandā Mūrcchanā, which is within the Gāndhāra svar, reaches its peak, it makes the listeners feel as if they are in a trance. Not only that, but the singer, while performing the specific sounds, also becomes like someone in a trance.
**Is the sound of the Vīnā, which is imbued with the Uttaramandā Mūrcchanā, like the sound of those blades of grass and gems?**
Upon being asked by Śrī Gautama, the Lord says, "No, the sound of those blades of grass and gems is even more pleasing, attractive, dear, delightful, and charming than this sound."
**Again, Śrī Gautama gives a third comparison:**
"O Lord! Is the sound of the Kinnaras, Kimpuruṣas, Mahoragas, or Gandharvas, who reside in the Bhadraśāla forest, Nandana forest, Somanaś forest, Paṇḍaka forest, or who are seated in the caves of the Himāvan mountain, Malaya mountain, or Mandara mountain, who are gathered in one place, sitting facing each other, seated in such a way that they are not hindered by the rubbing of another, and are not hindered by their own limbs, with joy playing on their bodies, who are engaged in play with delight, who have a fondness for song, whose minds are delighted by drama, etc., is the sound of their singing, which is composed of eight types of songs and is accompanied by the qualities of songs mentioned later, free from defects, and imbued with rhythm and beat, like the sound of those blades of grass and gems?"
**There are eight types of songs:**
1. **Gady**: sung with the flow of sounds.
2. **Pady**: in the form of Chanda, etc.
3. **Kathy**: songs with a narrative.
4. **Padabaddha**: in the form of one letter, etc., like "Te".
5. **Pādabaddha**: in the form of the fourth part of a verse.
6. **Utkṣipta**: which is begun first.
7. **Pravartaka**: which is begun from the beginning and is accompanied by an exclamation.
8. **Mandaka**: which is in the middle part, with all the qualities of Mūrcchanā, etc., and is sung with a slow and gentle sound.
**This eight-fold song should have a pleasing ending, i.e., the song should end gradually in a pleasing manner, and should be composed of seven notes.**
**The seven notes of the song are as follows:**
**Saje Risaha Gandhāre Majjhime Pancame Sare**
**Dhevae Ceva Nesāe Sara Satta Viyāhiyā**
**Saḍja, Ṛṣabha, Gāndhāra, Madhyama, Pañcama, Dhaivat, and Naiṣāda, these are the seven notes.**
**These seven notes emerge from the navel region of a man or a woman, as it is said, "Saptasara Nābiyo".**
**Aṣṭaras-Samprāyakta**: This song should be imbued with sentiments like Śṛngāra, etc., and with the essence of the text.
**Ṣaḍdoṣa-Viprāyukta**: This song should be free from six defects.
**These six defects are as follows:**
**Bhiyam Duyama Uppiṭṭham Uttālam Ca Kamaso Muṇeyavvam**
**Kāgasaramāṇuṇāsaṁ Chhaddoṣā Hoti Geyassa**
**These are the six defects of the song.**