Varņas are four in number: sthāyin (steady), sancārin (circulatory), ārohin (ascending), and avarohin (descending)
"After this (now) are demonstrated the varnas 1 (patterns of melodic
movement) that are verily four only; viz. sthāyin (steady), sancārin (circulatory),
(118)
ārohin (ascending) and avarohin (descending)."
<sup>85</sup>
TRANSLATION
Aśvākrāntā (6)
ma-pa-dha-ni-sa-ri-ga-ma-pa-dha-ni-sa
Abhirudgatā (7)
pa-dha-ni-sa-ri-ga-ma-pa-dha-ni-sa-ri
Thus end (the mūrchanās with twelve svaras) in şadjagrāma.
(Anu. <sup>63</sup>)
In madhyamagrāma also, it is the same; the mūrchanās beginning with ma-pa-
dha-ni-sa-ri-ga begin with ni-sa-ri-ga-ma-pa-dha (when they are formed with 12
svaras). During the performance of raga, murchanas should be known to be
composed of twelve svaras. They should be known to be included in the
mūrchanās of şadjagrāma (?).<sup>64</sup>
That is thus -
Sauvīrī (1)
ni-sa-ri-ga-ma-pa-dha-ni-sa-ri-ga-ma.
Hariņāśvā (2)
sa-ri-ga-ma-pa-dha-ni-sa-ri-ga-ma-pa.
Kalopanatā (3)
ri-ga-ma-pa-dha-ni-sa-ri-ga-ma-pa-dha.
Suddhamadhyā (4)
ga-ma-pa-dha-ni-sa-ri-ga-ma-pa-dha-ni.
Mārgī (5)
ma-pa-dha-ni-sa-ri-ga-ma-pa-dha-ni-sa.
Pauravi (6)
pa-dha-ni-sa-ri-ga-ma-pa-dha-ni-sa-ri.
Hṛṣyakā (7)
dha-ni-sa-ri-ga-ma-pa-dha-ni-sa-ri-ga.
Thus end (the mūrchanās with twelve svaras) in madhyamagrāma.
[Thus ends the section on grāma-mūrchanā]
VI [Section on Varņas and Alankāras]
[The Varnas]
After this (now) are demonstrated the varnas 1 (patterns of melodic
movement) that are verily four only; viz. sthāyin (steady), sancārin (circulatory),
(118)
ārohin (ascending) and avarohin (descending).
(Anu. <sup>64</sup>)
(Contention) what is spoken of by the word varna? (Answer) The act of
singing<sup>2</sup> is spoken of by the word varņa. Where svaras are equal<sup>3</sup> and stay
unimpeded4, the gita5 (melodic rendering) born out of them, that is the
manifestor of varņa (unit of melodic movement) in a given pada6 (textual
unit), that varņa is called sthāyin (steady). Just as sāsāsāsā in the ṣāḍjī (jātī) and
māmāmāmā in the madhyamā (jāti).