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

Adh. LXXIV. Sl. 1-2.] चतुःसप्ततितमोऽध्यायः 591
Sloka 6.—The umbrella of ordinary persons should
be of a square form, capable of warding off cold and
heat. That of Brahmins should be circular and have a
cylindrical rod.
Probably the author means that the rod of private persons'
umbrellas should be square and that for Brahmins, cylindrical.
Thus ends the 73rd Adhyaya on the "Signs of Umbrellas."
स्त्रीप्रशंसाध्यायः ॥७४॥ Praise Of Women.
जये धरित्र्याः पुरमेव सारं पुरे गृहं सद्मनि चैकदेशः ।
तत्रापि शय्या शयने वरा स्त्री रत्नोज्ज्वला राज्यसुखस्य सारः ॥१॥
Sloka 1.—When a country is conquered, the most
important thing there is only a city whereof the essen-
tial part is a mansion, and in this the most desirable
portion is only a room ; and even here the most beauti-
ful thing is a couch, whereon an excellent damsel, ador-
ned with gems and gold ornaments, is the pith and essence
of the happiness accruing from the possession of a king-
dom.
This reminds one of Valmiki's statement "त्रैलोक्यराज्यं सकलं
सीताया नाप्नुयात् कलाम् ।" This chapter is on a par with Bhartri-
hari's Sringara Sataka (शृङ्गारशतक) and will have great attraction
for people of widely differing tastes as "नाट्यं भिन्नरुचेर्जनस्य बहुधाप्येकं
समाराधनम्." Some of the statements in this chapter sound rather
frivolous and light-hearted. The purpose is most probably to
please the patron-sovereign of the author, who requires the plea-
sure of the company of a sweet-heart after a strenuous career of
wars of conquest.
रत्नानि विभूषयन्ति योषा भूष्यन्ते वनिता न रत्नकान्त्या ।
चेतो वनिता हरन्त्यरत्ना नो रत्नानि विनाङ्गनाङ्गसङ्गम् ॥२॥