बृहत्संहिता (आचार्य वराहमिहिर - स्थापत्य, खगोल, मौसम व जल विज्ञान)

Adh. LIV. Sl. 3-6.] चतुःपञ्चाशोऽध्यायः 459
Slokas 1-2.—I shall now explain the science of
‘Water-finding’ which leads to religious merit and re-
nown, for, it helps men to ascertain the existence of water.
Just as there are veins in the human body, even so do
they exist, some higher up, others lower down, in the
earth. The water that falls from the sky with the same
colour and taste, assumes various colours and tastes owing
to the difference in the nature of the earth. Hence it
should be examined in relation to its environments.
पुरुहूतानलयमनिर्ऋतिवरुणपवनेन्दुशङ्करा देवाः ।
विज्ञातव्याः क्रमशः प्राच्याद्यानां दिशां पतयः ॥३॥
दिक्पतिसञ्ज्ञा च शिरा नवमी मध्ये महाशिरानाम्नी ।
एताभ्योऽन्याः शतशो विनिःसृता नामभिः प्रथिताः ॥४॥
पातालादूर्ध्वशिरा शुभा चतुर्दिक्षु संस्थिता याश्च ।
कोणदिगुत्था न शुभाः शिरानिमित्तान्यतो वक्ष्ये ॥५॥
Slokas 3-5.—The divine lords of the eight quarters
beginning with the east are in their order, Indra, Agni,
Yama, Nirriti (demon), Varuna, Wind, the Moon and
Siva. The veins in the different quarters are known
by the names of their respective lords. There is a ninth,
called ‘The Great Vein’, in the middle of these. There
are hundreds of veins branching off from these and
bearing distinct appellations. A vein that comes up
from the nether world is good; so are those in the four
directions. But those in the intermediate quarters are
not auspicious. Hereafter I shall explain the character-
istics of the veins.
यदि वेतसोऽम्बुरहिते देशे हस्तैस्त्रिभिस्ततः पश्चात् ।
सार्धे पुरुषे तोयं वहति शिरा पश्चिमा तत्र ॥६॥