妙法蓮華經玄贊 2.60

2.60

The commentary says: The character yue (樂) is pronounced as the fanqie wu-xiao [lè, 'joyful/delightful']. In Sanskrit it is manojñasvara, which means here 'agreeable sound' or 'pleasing sound'. Yue means causing people to love and take joy in it. The Zheng fahua [jing] says: 'The first is named Son of Heaven of Gentle [Sound], and the second is named Son of Heaven of Harmonious Sound.' In Sanskrit it is gandharva, which means here 'scent-seeking traveler', namely spirits that make music; 'gandharva' [in the older transcription] is an error. In the Western Regions, itinerant musicians are therefore called gandharva, because they specifically seek out fragrances, play music, and beg for offerings. Among musical instruments there are two classes: the first is not strings and winds, such as drums and chime stones; the second is strings and winds, such as pipes and zithers. The lower grade of those that are not strings and winds is called 'music' (樂), and the upper grade is called 'musical sound' (樂音); the lower grade of strings and winds is called 'fine' (美), and the upper grade is called 'fine sound' (美音). Alternatively, these correspond to the musical airs of the song spirits mentioned above, matching them respectively.