सङ्गीतरत्नाकर: प्रथम भाग (शार्ङ्गदेव - स्वरगताध्याय सविस्तार व्याख्या व अनुवाद सहित)

218 Treatment of Svara
(3) The procedure for finding out the missing note-series
(naṣṭa) : (63c-70)
Let the initial¹ pebbles be placed in the respective²
squares, the sum total of the figures of which would constitute
the number³ of the 'missing note-series'⁴ inclusive of the
figure 1 in the first column square.⁵ The note-positions⁶ of
Naṣṭa is the name given to the note-series, the tonal form of which
is lost sight of and is required to be discovered with the help of the note-
series indicator. The type of the note-series such as complete, hexatonic,
pentatonic etc. indicative of the number of notes in it and its serial
number in the permutational extension is given. Thus, the problem of
naṣṭa essentially consists in discovering the tonal form (i. e. the order of
notes) of a given serial number of the permutational note-series lost to
us. Naṣṭa may therefore be called 'the missing note-series'.
The formula or the rule for discovering the tonal form of the given
note-series implies the following procedure in terms of action :
(i) Place the pebbles in the squares of the first horizontal series
of the indicator in as many squares as there are the notes in
the given series, from left to right.
(ii) Move the pebbles into the column squares down below, so
that the figures indicated by them when added make up the
number of the given series.

1. The word 'initial' qualifying pebbles is indicative of the
   original position of the pebbles in the first series of the permu-
   tation indicator with the figure 1 in the left end first square
   and zeros in the others.
2. That is the squares in the vertical columns, on a pebble being
   placed in each of the series.
3. The serial number of a particular note-series obtaining in the
   permutational calculus.
4. Naṣṭa of the text literally means 'that which is destroyed';
   but the term is figuratively employed in a technical sense.
   Naṣṭa refers to that note-series (tāna), the tonal form of which
   is lost sight of, but in respect of which the serial number and
   the type (i. e., monotone, bitone, hexatone, etc ) is given in
   order that its tonal form may be discovered with the help of
   the note-series indicator. Naṣṭa, therefore, essentially refers
   to a note series which is lost so far as its tonal form is concern-
   ed. That is why it has been rendered into English as the
   'missing note-series.'
5. The first square at the left end of the first series.
6. The expression 'note-position' refers primarily to the relative
   position of notes in the lost note-series; and secondarily to
   the position of the pebbles i. e., the squares in which they
   Section 4 : Grāma, Mūrcchanā, Krama and Tāna
   the missing note-series are to be determined from the pebble-
   squares⁷, the serial number of the squares down below⁸
   being indicative of the relative backward⁹ position of the
   (iii) Every column is indicative of a particular note. The serial
   number of the square into which the pebble is moved from
   the top indicates its relative position in the given series
   when compared to the last note of the original order. So
   place it accordingly.
   (iv) Drop the note ascertained from the original order as well as
   the given note-series out of view and repeat the procedure
   laid down in (i) to (iii), till the position of the first note of
   the series is discovered.
   (v) Place the notes in their relative order, as ascertained and
   the 'missing note-series' is found.
   Now this procedure is demonstrated with an example as follows :
   (i) Given particulars :
   (a) Serial No. 18 of the tetratonic series.
   (b) Note-series indicator with four column-squares.
   (c) Original order : sa ri ga ma.
   (ii) Action :
7. Place the pebbles initially in the squares of the first series
   indicating 1 and 3 zeros.
8. Deduct 1, the figure of the left end square of the first series
   which is essentially to be taken from 18, the serial number of the series
   (18-1) = 17. So we have to add up to 17. Therefore, take 12 from
   the 3rd sq. of column 4 as the next figure exceeds our requirement.
9. Then deduct 12 from 17 and we have 5 yet to add up. Take
   4 from the 3rd square of column 3
10. Then deduct 4 from 5 and we have 1 left to be added. 1 is
    available in square 2 of column 2. Square 1 of column 1 is already taken
    into consideration.
    are moved to indicate the order of notes in the 'missing note-
    series.' Thus, there would be as many pebbles as there are
    notes in the series.
11. The pebble-squares are the squares in which the pebbles are
    initially lodged. Plural expression is used for the abstract
    singular of the text to bring out its actual implication.
12. Down below in the vertical columns i. e., the squares into
    which the pebbles are moved.
13. Backward order is from right to left.