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दि कान्क्वेस्ट ऑफ गन्धर्वदत्त इन दि वासुदेवहिन्दी
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painting. The assembly audience shouted loudly, "O wonderful !” The teacher was surprised to hear this.
Now Gandharvadatta came out from behind and appeared in public. No one felt inspired to touch the vina. Thereupon the merchant Carudatta announced, If nobody comes forward to sing, the girl will retire " The experts waited for a long time and then declared, “Let her
go."
At this time I said, “Why should she go away? I shall examine her musical art."
The audience began looking at me and saying, "He is not a man of the earth. He must be a divine being or a vidyadhara, so spirited, brilliant and beautiful.”
The merchant asked for a vina which was offered to me by his men. But I refused to have it, since a part of it was defective and therefore I could not play on it. As a test the vinu was moistened and I was able to show a hair (bala) on the string. Then another instrument was brought. But I remarked that it was made from wood burnt in a jungle fire, and therefore would produce a harsh sound. This was referred to an artist and he confirmed what I said. Then a third vina was brought. Since it was made from wood which had been submerged in water, it would not produce profound notes, so I refused it as well.
The audience was amazed to witness all this. Ultimately a vina was brought forward which was perfumed with sandalwood paste, ornamented with fragrant flower garlands and producing seven notes (sattasaratanti).?
Looking at the vina I said, "Yes, this is an excellent one, but seat is not suitable for me." Thereupon I was given a very precious seat. The merchant said, “Sing the song of Visnugitika if you know it.''
“Yes”, I replied, “I am familiar with it.” Then the assembly members asked me, "Then what is it ?"
“I have heard the song sung at the exaltation of the monk Visnu."
“Whatever was sung relating to Visnukumara has come out of the mouths of the divine beings and the gandharvas, was sustained by the vidyadharas and is now held by the prominent royal families. I, Vasudeva, learnt this song of seven musical scales while staying with Samali (one of Vasudeva's wives herself, well-acquainted with the song.8
Tumburu and Narada, pleased with the vidyadharas told them, “We shall favour you in such a way that you will have a great devotion for music (gandharva).” Then they asked them to accept a musical scale (gandharagrama) produced by seven notes, something which is difficult to obtain in the human world and which concerns the song of Visou.
Then having touched the vina, Gandharvadatta and I began singing Visnugitika. The music was accompanied by the regular rise and fall of
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