The Positive Sciences of the Ancient Hindus c6.22

c6.22

There are also differences of quality (**शब्दस्य असाधारणधर्म्मः**). The same sound *ga* (**ग**), of the same pitch and intensity, uttered by men and parrots, can be distinguished; so also the sounds, even the same notes of the scale, given out by a wind instrument like the *venu* and a stringed instrument like the *vina*. Similarly, there are sexual and even individual differences of voice (अस्ति हि शुकसारिकामनुष्यवक्त्रप्रभवेष्वककारादिषु स्फुटतरः रूपभेदप्रत्ययः पुंसाम्। एवं स्त्रीपुंसप्रभवेषु स्त्रीपुंसभेदप्रभवेषु च—Vâchaspati, Tâtparyyatîkâ, II., 2, 14. वीणा वाद्यते वेणुः पूर्य्यते वीणावेणुशब्दयोरसाधारणी धर्मः—Udyotakara, II., 1, 15. वेणुवीणामृदङ्गादिप्रभवेषु भेदप्रत्ययः शुकसारिकामनुष्यकण्ठोत्थादिभेदप्रत्ययः—Gangeśa and Mathurânâtha). The sounds emitted by impact of the different Bhûtas (echo from Âkâśa, hissing from the wind, puffing from fire, bubbling from water, and splitting or cracking from earth) are characteristic examples of such differences of timbre (*vide* Panchadaśî, Bhûtaviveka, Śloka 3).