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

VIII

अनुष्टुभ् (Anushtub) metre.) Out of the 107 Adhyayas now
printed in this book, the chapters on (1) वातचक्र, (2) रजो-
लक्षण, (3) अङ्गविद्या, (4) पिटकलक्षणं, (5) विवाहपटल (6) नक्षत्र
जातक and (7) शास्त्रानुक्रमणी are apparently not his. These
have been noted in their respective places.
The qualifications of an astrologer (Adh. II) are
really very high and not within easy reach of ordinary
mortals. The author says that a king should employ
a chief astrologer assisted by 4 others. He is of opinion
that no good people should live in a country where there
are no good astrologers. The esteem in which the
author holds them is indeed very great. He is equally
strong in condemning pseudo-astrologers.
The chapters on Omens give a great deal of useful
information. If man is careful in noting them when he
goes out, he will be forewarned about the results of his
efforts. The author says that (XLVI-2) the evil omens
are the results of man's Karma in previous births and
that they are intended to warn him.
There is a whole chapter giving various types of the
आर्या (Arya) metre containing their Ganas and Yatis and
also many varieties of Dandakas. Verse (LXVIII-112)
is an example of good poetry.
The verse आसन्मघासु मुनयः is very useful in finding the
time that has elapsed since the reign of the Pandavas.
But here there is a doubt in the next line of the verse,
where he says so many years intervene between Yudhi-
shtira and the commencement of the Saka era. Some hold
different views regarding this शक. Some say that it