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

Adh. XI. Sl. 37-41.] एकादशोऽध्यायः 139
प्रागर्द्धरात्रदृश्यो याम्याग्रः श्वेतकेतुरन्यश्च ।
क इति युगाकृतिरपरे युगपत्तौ सप्तदिनदृश्यौ ॥३७॥
स्निग्धौ सुभिक्षशिवदावथाधिकं दृश्यते कनामा यः ।
दश वर्षाण्युपतापं जनयति शस्त्रप्रकोपकृतम् ॥३८॥
Slokas 37-38.—Sweta (white) Ketu is a comet who
is visible in the eastern direction at mid-night. He has
his crest turned to the south. There is a second comet
Ka by name in the 'form of a yoke and can be seen in
the west. Both these can be seen at the same time
for a period of 7 days. They are clear and augur good
and plenty to mankind if they be glossy. Should how-
ever the comet Ka be visible for more than seven days,
then it denotes that there will be war for ten years and
consequent distress.
श्वेत इति जटाकारो रूक्षः श्यावो वियत्त्रिभागगतः ।
विनिवर्त्ततेऽपसव्यं त्रिभागशेषाः प्रजाः कुरुते ॥३९॥
Sloka 39.—The comet named Sweta Ketu is like
matted hair, rough and black ; after travelling a third of
the distance in the sky, he retrogrades in the anti-clock-
wise manner and destroys two-thirds of the population.
आधूम्रया तु शिखया दर्शनमायाति कृत्तिकासंस्थः ।
ज्ञेयः स रश्मिकेतुः श्वेतसमानं फलं धत्ते ॥४०॥
Sloka 40—There is a comet having his seat near the
asterism Krittika, who makes himself visible by his ashy-
coloured crest. He is known as Rasmi Ketu and gives
effects similar to those of Sweta Ketu.
ध्रुवकेतुरनियतगतिप्रमाणवर्णाकृतिर्भवति विष्वक् ।
दिव्यान्तरिक्षभौमो भवत्ययं स्निग्ध इष्टफलः ॥४१॥

140 बृहत्संहितायाम् [Adh. XI. Sl. 42-45.
सेनाङ्गेषु नृपाणां गृहतुरुशैलेषु चापि देशानाम्।
गृहिणामुपस्करेषु च विनाशिनां दर्शनं याति ॥४२॥
Slokas 41-42—There is another comet known as
Dhruva Ketu. His rate of motion, colour, magnitude
and form are not regular. He travels everywhere in all
the three worlds. He is soft and clear and gives auspi-
cious effects. If he should be seen by the kings on their
martial equipments, by people of countries on their
houses, trees and mountains and by house-holders on their
vessels and the like, these are doomed to destruction.
कुमुद इति कुमुदकान्तिर्वारुण्यां प्राक्शिखो निशामेकाम्।
दृष्टः सुभिक्षमतुलं दश किल वर्षाणि स करोति ॥४३॥
Sloka 43—A comet named Kumuda with his crest
stretched in the east and with white lustre is observable
in the west for only one night. As soon as he is visible,
people in the world will have unique peace and plenty for
a continuous period of ten years.
सकृदेकयामदृश्यः सुसूक्ष्मतारोऽपरेण मणिकेतुः ।
ऋज्वी शिखास्य शुक्ला स्तनोद्गता क्षीरधारेव ॥४४॥
उदयन्नेव सुभिक्षं चतुरो मासान् करोत्यसौ सार्द्धान् ।
प्रादुर्भावं प्रायः करोति च क्षुद्रजन्तूनाम् ॥४५॥
Slokas 44-45.—Mani Ketu is the name of a comet.
He is a very tiny little star appearing in the west and
observable for only once and that too for a period of
three hours. His crest is white and straight like a line of
milk emanating from the breast. He hails with plenty
of food lasting for a period of 4½ months. But he
generally causes reptiles and venomous creatures to come
into existence.

Adh. XI. Sl. 46-50] एकादशोऽध्यायः 141
जलकेतुरपि च पश्चात् स्निग्धः शिखयापरेण चोन्नतया ।
नव मासान् स सुभिक्षं करोति शान्तिं च लोकस्य ॥४६॥
Sloka 46.—The comet Jalaketu also appears in the
west. He is spotless in his form and has a crest slightly
higher inclined towards the west. He causes peace and
abundance of food for a period of nine months.
भवकेतुरेकरात्रं दृश्यः प्राक् सूक्ष्मतारकः स्निग्धः ।
हरिलाङ्गूलोपमया प्रदक्षिणावर्तया शिखया ॥४७॥
यावत एव मुहूर्तान् दर्शनमायाति निर्दिशेन्मासान् ।
तावदतुलं सुभिक्षं रूक्षे प्राणान्तिकान् रोगान् ॥४८॥
Slokas 47-48.—There is another comet Bhava Ketu
by name which makes his appearance for one night in the
east and is a tiny glossy star. He has got a crest turned
to the right and resembling the tail of a lion. There will
be unprecedented abundance of food for so many months
as the number of Muhurtas for which he is visible. Should
however he be rough instead of soft in body, there will
be an outbreak of diseases which will prove mortal to
mankind.
अपरेण पद्मकेतुर्मृणालगौरो भवेन्निशामेकाम् ।
सप्त करोति सुभिक्षं वर्षाण्यतिहर्षयुक्तानि ॥४९॥
Sloka 49.—When the comet Padmaketu which ap-
pears only for one night in the west and white like the
fibre of lotus stalk, people in the land will enjoy happi-
ness for a period of seven years.
आवर्त्त इति निशार्द्धे सव्यशिखोऽरुणनिभोऽपरे स्निग्धः ।
यावत् क्षणान् स दृश्यस्तावन्मासान् सुभिक्षकरः ॥५०॥
Sloka 50.—Avartha is the name of another Ketu
appearing at mid-night in the west with his crest turned to

142 बृहत्संहितायाम् [Adh. XI. Sl. 51-53
the South, glossy and red in colour. As many Muhurtas
he makes himself visible, for so many months there will
be peace and plenty to mankind.
पश्चात् सन्ध्याकाले संवर्तो नाम धूम्रताम्रशिखः ।
आक्रम्य वियत्त्र्यंशं शूलाग्रावस्थितो रौद्रः ॥५१॥
यावत एव मुहूर्त्तान् दृश्यो वर्षाणि हन्ति तावन्ति ।
भूपान् शस्त्रनिपातैरुदयर्क्षं चापि पीडयति ॥५२॥
Slokas 51–52.—During the time of Sun-set a Ketu
named Samvarta with a crest smoky and coppery in
colour makes his appearance in the west. He occupies a
third of the sky and is stationed like a trident and is
frightful to look at. As many Muhurtas as he is visible,
for so many years there will be war and strife among
kings and they will ultimately perish. Men whose natal
star is identical with the one in which the comet appears
will also suffer.
तथा च गर्गः
येषां नक्षत्रविषये रूक्षः सज्वाललोहितः ।
दृश्यते बहुमूर्तिश्च तेषां विन्द्यान्महद्भयम् ॥
अवर्षं शस्त्रकोपं च व्याधिं दुर्भिक्षमेव च ।
कुर्यान्नृपतिपीडाश्च स्वचक्रपरचक्रतः ॥
यत्रोत्तिष्ठति नक्षत्रे प्रवासं यत्र गच्छति ।
धूपयेद्वा स्पृशेद्वापि हन्याद्देशांस्तदाश्रितान् ॥
तस्याभिषेकनक्षत्रं जन्मभं कर्मभं तथा ।
देशर्क्षं पीडयेद्वापि सशान्त्युपरमो भवेत् ॥
स्निग्धः प्रसन्नो विमलः प्रदक्षिणशिखस्तथा ।
दृश्यन्ते येषु देशेषु शिव तेषु विनिर्दिशेत् ॥
गगनाङ्कचरः सद्यः प्रधानदेशान् विनाशयेदचिरात् ।
निखिलगगनानुचारी त्रैलोक्यविनाशकः केतुः ॥
ये शस्तास्तान् हित्वा केतुभिराधूपितेऽथवा स्पृष्टे ।
नक्षत्रे भवति वधो येषां राज्ञां प्रवक्ष्ये तान् ॥५३॥

Adh. XI. Sl. 54-56] एकादशोऽध्यायः 143
Sloka 53.—Barring the Ketus (comets) that are good,
I shall proceed to state the several princes that will be
killed according as the other (malefic) comets eclipse the
several stars by their tails or come in contact with the
same.
अश्विन्यामश्मकपं भरणीषु किरातपार्थिवं हन्यात् ।
बहुलासु कलिङ्गेशं रोहिण्यां शूरसेनपतिम् ॥५४॥
Sloka 54. When the asterism Aswini is dimmed or
touched by a malign comet, the chief of the Asmakas will
die. If Bharani be the star in question, it is the Kirata
king that will be killed. When the star is Krittika, the
Kalinga chief will perish. If the star be Rohini, the head
of the Surasenas will meet with his death.
औशीनरमपि सौम्ये जलजा जीवाधिपं तथाऽऽर्द्रासु ।
आदित्येऽश्मकनाथान् पुष्ये मगधाधिपं हन्ति ॥५५॥
Sloka 55. The king of the Useenaras will be killed
when a bad comet dims or touches the star Mrigasira.
The chief of the fishermen will be killed when the star
Ardra is eclipsed by such a comet. The chief of the
Asmakas and the lord of the Magadhas will respectively
meet with their end when the asterisms Punarvasu and
Pushya are contaminated by a malignant comet.
असिकेशं भौजङ्गे पित्र्येऽङ्गं पाण्ड्यनाथमपि भाग्ये ।
औज्जयिनिकमार्यम्णे सावित्रे दण्डकाधिपतिम् ॥५६॥
Sloka 56. If the star be Aslesha, the head of the
Asikas will be killed. The ruler of the Magadhas will
die if the star in question be Magha. The king of the
Pandya kingdom will take his exit when the asterism is
Purvaphalguni. When the star is Uttaraphalguni, the

144 बृहत्संहितायाम् [Adh. XI. Sl. 57-60.
chief of Ujjain will die. The lord of the Dandaka
country will be affected when the star is Hasta.
चित्रासु कुरुक्षेत्राधिपस्य मरणं समादिशेत्तज्ज्ञः ।
काश्मीरकाम्बोजौ नृपती प्राभञ्जने न स्तः ॥५७॥
Sloka 57. When a malign Ketu eclipses or touches
the star Chittra, people in the know should declare the
exit from the world of the chief of Kurukshetra. If the
star in question be Swati, the two kings of Kasmira and
Kamboja will cease to exist.
इक्ष्वाकुरलकनाथश्च हन्यते यदि भवेद्द्विशाखासु ।
मैत्रे पुण्ड्राधिपतिर्ज्येष्ठासु च सार्वभौमवधः ॥५८॥
Sloka 58. If Visakha be the asterism that is thus
eclipsed, the chiefs of the Ikshvakus and the Alakas will
become extinct. A bad comet hitting the star Anuradha,
the head of the Pundras will die. An emperor will meet
with his end if the star in question be Jyeshta.
मूलेऽन्ध्रमद्रकपती जलदेवे काशिपो मरणमेति ।
यौधेयकार्जुनायनशिविचेद्यान् वैश्वदेवे च ॥५९॥
Sloka 59. If the star Moola be eclipsed or dimmed
by a malign comet, the chiefs of Andhra and Madraka
countries will be killed. When the star in question is
Purvashadha, the king of Kasi will perish. If it be Uttara-
shadha, the kings of Yaudheya, Arjunayana, Sibi and
Chedi will meet with their destruction.
हन्यात् केकयनाथं पाञ्चनदं सिंहलाधिपं वाङ्गम् ।
नैमिषनृपं किरातं श्रवणादिषु षट्स्विमान् क्रमशः ॥६०॥
Sloka 60. If the asterism eclipsed happen to be
any of the 6 stars from Sravana onwards, the following
in their order will respectively meet with their end; 1. the

Adh. XI. Sl. 61-62] एकादशोऽध्यायः 145
lord of the Kekayas; 2. of the Panchanadas; 3. the
lord of the Simhala; 4. the lord of the Vangas; 5. the
king of the Naimisha country; 6. the Chief of the
Kiratas.
उल्काभिताडितशिखः शिखी शिवः शिवतरोऽतिवृष्टो यः।
अशुभः स एव चोलावगाणसितहूणचीनानाम् ॥६१॥
Sloka 61. A comet whose crest has been hit by
an Ulka (meteor) will prove auspicious; and if there be
rain as soon as he is risen, it will be still more auspici-
ous. The same will become unfavourable to the
people of Chola, Afghans, the white Huns and the
Chinese.
अतिदृष्टः is another reading in the 1st line.
नम्रा यतः शिखिशिखाभिसृता यतो वा
ऋक्षं च यत् स्पृशति तत्कथितांश्च देशान् ।
दिव्यप्रभावनिहतान् स यथा गरुत्मान्
भुङ्क्ते गतो नरपतिः परभोगिभोगान् ॥६२॥
Sloka 62. Note the quarters where the crests of the
comets are bent or crooked, where they are projecting;
also the asterisms hit or touched. The rulers of the
countries denoted by or situated in these will be defeated
through superhuman power by a foreign king who takes
possession of all the pleasures enjoyed by them so far,
just as Garuda destroys and feasts on the bodies of the
serpents which are his enemies.
तथा च पराशरः
यस्यां दिशि समुत्तिष्ठेत्तां दिशं नाभियोजयेत् ।
यतः शिखा यतो धूमस्ततो यायान्नराधिपः ॥
प्रतिलोमे यतः केतोर्जयार्थी याति पार्थिवः ।
सामात्यवाहनबलः स नाशमधिगच्छति ॥
बृ. सं. 19

146 बृहत्संहितायाम् [Adh. XII. Sl. 1.
दृष्ट्वा षोडश वासराञ् शुभदः कैश्चित्प्रदिष्टः शिखी
सर्वारम्भफलप्रदो हि नियतं चैत्रेऽथवा माधवे ।
ऋक्षं यत्परिशुक्तपीडितहतं यच्चाऽऽशिखाभेदितं
तत्सर्वं परिवर्ज्य शुद्धमपरं पाणिग्रहे वास्तुषु ॥
NOTE.—Compare (with the above) what modern science has to
say on the subject of comets :
"What then is a comet according to the latest scientific
researches ? The spectroscope has pretty well solved the query.
It consists, first, of a more or less solid nucleus of fire, blazing and
glowing ; second, of vast masses of incandescent gas, constituting
the luminous head ; third, solid materials, constituting the tail, which
are ponderable, which reflect the Sun's light and are carried along
by the influence of the nucleus ; fourth, an immense prolongation
of the tail in the nature of attenuated volumes of gas. The solid
materials of a comet, it is believed, consist of stones and sand,
particles ground by ceaseless attrition. The proof of this is the
concession of most astronomers that meteoric showers are shreds
and patches of cometic matter, dropped from the tail, and these
meteors are stones. The genesis of comets is found to be in the
explosion of planetary bodies, a theory not without good scientific
authority.
Arago estimates that there are 17,000,000 of these fiery wan-
derers within the orbit of Neptune, and Lambert regards
500,000,000 as a moderate estimate for those in the solar system.
All the astronomers agree that they are scattered through space as
profusely as the fish in the seas. The Orbit of the Earth is over-
whelmed in a fine net work of cometary orbits, and our globe is
like a lost child in a forest full of wild beasts. "
CHIDAMBARA IYER.
Thus ends the 11th Adhyaya on the "course of Comets".
अगस्त्यचारः ॥१२॥ Agasthya (Canopus).
भानोर्वर्त्मविघातवृद्धशिखरो विन्ध्याचलः स्तम्भितो
वातापिर्मुनिनांक्षांभित् सुरारिपुर्जोऽनथ यनासुरः ।

Adh. XII. Śl. 1-6] द्वादशोऽध्यायः 147
पीतश्चाम्बुनिधिस्तपोम्बुनिधिना याम्या च दिग्भूषिता
तस्यागस्त्यमुनेः पयोद्युतिकृतश्चारः समासादयम् ॥१॥
Sloka 1.—The course of Sage Agasthya is treated
here briefly, that sage, the ocean of penance, who
purifies the waters, who suppressed the Vindhya moun-
tain whose peak or summit grew up obstructing the
Sun’s path, by whom the demon Vatapi, the enemy of
the Gods and the tearer of stomachs of sages, was
devoured and absorbed, who drank off the ocean and
who adorns the southern quarter.
The sloka is from समाससंहिता.
समुद्रोऽन्तः शैलैर्मकरनखरोत्खातशिखरैः
कृतस्तोयोच्छित्या सपदि सुतरां येन रुचिरः ।
पतन्मुक्तामिश्रैः प्रवरमणिरत्नाम्बुनिवहैः
सुरान् प्रत्यादेष्टुं मितमुकुटरत्नानिव पुरा ॥२॥
येन चाम्बुहरणेऽपि विद्रुमैर्भूधरैः समणिरत्नविद्रुमैः ।
निर्गतैस्तदुरगैश्च राजितः सागरोऽधिकतरं विराजितः ॥३॥
प्रस्फुरत्तिमिजलेभजिह्मगः क्षिप्तरत्ननिकरो महोदधिः ।
आपदां पदगतोऽपि यापितो येन पीतसलिलोऽमरश्रियम् ॥४॥
प्रचलत्तिमिशुक्तिशङ्खचितः सलिलोऽपहृतेऽपि पतिः सरिताम् ।
सतरङ्गसितोत्पलहंसभृतः सरसः शरदीव बिभर्ति रुचम् ॥५॥
तिमिसिताम्बुधरं मणितारकं स्फटिकचन्द्रमनम्बुशरद्द्युति ।
फणिफणोपलरश्मिशिखिग्रहं कुटिलगेशवियच्च चकार यः ॥६॥
दिनकररथमार्गविच्छित्तयेऽभ्युद्यतं यच्चलच्छृङ्ग-
मुद्भ्रान्तविद्याधरांसावसक्तप्रियाव्यग्रदत्ताङ्कदेहाव-
लम्बाम्बरात्युच्छ्रितोड्डूयमानध्वजैः शोभितं
करिकटमदमिश्ररक्तावलेहानुवासासुसरि-
द्विरेफावलीनोत्तमाङ्गैः कृतान् बाणपुष्पैरिवोत्तंसकान्-

148 बृहत्संहितायाम् [Adh. XII. Sl. 7
धारयद्भिर्मृगेन्द्रैः सनाथीकृतान्तर्द्दारीनिर्झरम् ।
गगनतलमिवोलिखन्तं प्रवृद्धैर्गजाकृष्टफुल्लद्रुम-
त्रासविभ्रान्तमत्ताद्विरेफावली हृष्टमन्द्रखनैः
शैलकूटैस्तरक्षरक्षशार्दूलशाखामृगाध्यासितैः
रहसि मदनसक्तया रेवया कान्तयेत्रोपगूढं सुराध्या-
सितोद्यानमम्भोननानन्नमूलानिलाहारविप्रान्वितं
विन्ध्यमस्तम्भयद्यश्च तस्योदयः श्रूयताम् ॥७॥
Slokas 2—7.—Listen ! ye, now, to the description of
the appearance of the Sage, who, in days of yore, sud-
denly heightened the splendour of the ocean by the dry-
ing up of its waters through the mountains situated in the
interior whose summits were scooped out by the claws of
crocodiles and which had streams of water in the form
of choice gems and jewels falling upon them along with
pearls, putting to shame as it were the Gods having a
limited number of gems on their diadems,
He, by whom the ocean though deprived of its
watery contents, was made more beautiful by means of
the mountains shorn of their trees and decked with gems,
jewels and corals and through the serpents that emerged
from them in long rows,
He by whom the great ocean though brought to grief
being drained off, was raised to divine glory since it
displayed glittering whales, water-elephants and serpents,
also heaps of gems scattered about,
The Commentator interprets the first two compounds as
applying to Devaloka also.
Though the water is taken away, the ocean filled
with floundering whales, pearl-oysters and conch-shells,

Adh. XII. Sl. 7] द्वादशोऽध्यायः 149
still possesses the splendour of a lake in autumn with its
waves, lotuses and swans,
He who converted the ocean (the lord of the rivers)
into the sky, as it had white clouds in the form of whales,
stars in the form of gems, the Moon in the form of
crystal gem, the autumnal lustre in the form of the water-
less bed and Ketus or comets in the form of the rays of
the gems on the hoods of serpents,
And he who stemmed the Vindhya Mountain which
was bent upon obstructing the course of the Sun's car-
riage and so had moving peaks, and which was adorned
by the flags hoisted aloft in the form of clothes on the
bodies of the Vidyadharas, who clinging to the shoulders
of their confused lovers eagerly seated them on their own
laps ; which possesses streams inside the caves occupied
by lions whose heads are covered with bees following the
fragrance caused by the tasting of the blood mixed with
ichor on the heads of the elephants and are wearing orna-
mental wreaths of 'Vana' flowers as it were on their
heads ; which was scratching as it were, the firmament
with its uplifted peaks which had the deep sound of
humming of the swarms of the intoxicated bees that were
scattered by the shaking of the trees in bloom by the
elephants and which (peaks) were the abodes of hyenas,
bears, tigers and monkeys ; which is embraced in private
by the Rewa river (Narmada) having the Madana trees
on her banks just as one is embraced in amorous sport by
one's beloved, in whose gardens dwell the Gods and
which is accompanied by sages who subsist on water,
nothing, roots and air ; such was the Vindhya, when he
was stemmed by Agasthya. Listen ! ye, now, to the
rising of that sage.

150 बृहतसंहितायाम् [Adh. XII. Sl. 8-10
उदये च मुनेरगस्त्यनाम्नः कुसमायोगमलप्रदूषितानि ।
हृदयानि सतामिव स्वभावात् पुनरम्बूनि भवन्ति निर्मलानि ॥८॥
Sloka 8.—At the appearance of Sage Agasthya, the
waters that are soiled (in the monsoon) • by their contact
with mud become clear once again spontaneously, just
as the minds that are defiled by the contact with the
wicked become purified automatically at the sight of the
virtuous.
Cf. Raghuvamsa IV-21.
प्रसादोदयादम्भः कुम्भयोनेर्महौजसः ॥
पार्श्वद्वयाधिष्ठितचक्रवाकामापुष्णती सस्वनहंसपङ्क्तिम् ।
ताम्बूलरक्तोत्कषिताग्रदन्ती विभाति योषेव शरत्सहासा ॥९॥
Sloka 9.—The autumn nurturing a row of cackling
swans flanked on both sides by ruddy geese, shines like a
smiling damsel whose front teeth are tinged red by betel
leaves.
It is a well known fact that Agasthya appears in the autumn
making it very resplendent with bright moon-light, clear water,
beautiful lotuses, charming rows of swans returning from the मानस-
Manasa lake and good roads.
सरित्सहासा is another reading.
इन्दीवरासन्नसितोत्पलान्विता सरिद्भ्रमत्षट्पदपङ्क्तिभूषिता ।
सभ्रूलताक्षेपकटाक्षवीक्षणा विदग्धयोषेव विभाति सस्मरा ॥१०॥
Sloka 10.—The autumn which is endowed with
white lotuses by the side of blue lilies and which is
adorned with rows of hovering bees, appears as charming
as a dexterous damsel in love with side-long glances
coupled with knitted brows.

Adh. XII. Sl. 11-15] द्वादशोऽध्यायः 151
इन्दोः पयोदविगमोपहितां विभूतिं द्रष्टुं तरङ्गवलया कुमुदं निशासु ।
उन्मीलयत्यलिनिलीनदलं सुपक्ष्म वापी विलोचनमिवासिततारकान्तं।
Sloka 11.—The pond with the bracelets of eddying
waves opens at night the lilies under whose petals rest
the bees as its eyes with dark pupils and beautiful lashes,
as though to witness the Moon's splendour caused by the
disappearance of the clouds.
नानाविचित्रांबुजहंसकोककारण्डवापूर्णतडागहस्ता ।
रत्नैः प्रभूतैः कुसुमैः फलैश्च भूर्यच्छतीवार्घमगस्त्यनाम्ने ॥१२॥
Sloka 12.—The Earth with the hands of pools rep-
lete with various kinds of lotuses, swans, ruddy geese and
ducks greets, as it were, Sage Agasthya with the presents,
viz., abundant gems, flowers and fruits.
सलिलममुरपाज्ञयोज्झितं यद्धनपरिवेष्टितमूर्तिभिर्भुजङ्गैः ।
फणिजनितविषाग्निसम्प्रदुष्टं भवति शिवं तदगस्त्यदर्शनेन ॥१२॥
Sloka 13.—The water which has been poured out at
the command of the rain-god Indra, by the serpents
whose bodies are wrapt up in the clouds and which (water)
is spoiled by fire and poison emitted by them, become
pure at the appearance of Sage Agasthya.
स्मरणादपि पापमपाकरोति किमुत स्तुतिभिर्वरुणाङ्गरुहः ।
मुनिभिः कथितोऽस्य यथार्थविधिः कथयामि तथैव नरेन्द्रहितम् ॥
Sloka 14.—The sage, Varuna's son, removes sin at a
mere thought; how much more when it is coupled with
invocations ! I am now describing for the benefit of the
sovereign the method of propitiating the Sage as pro-
pounded by the sages.
संख्याविधानात्प्रतिदेशमस्य विज्ञाय सन्दर्शनमादिशेज्ज्ञः ।
तच्चोज्जयिन्यामगतस्य कन्यां भागैः खराख्यैः स्फुटभास्करस्य ।१५।

152 बृहत्संहितायाम् [Adh. XII. Sl. 16-17
Sloka 15.—The time of rising of Agasthya for each
country should be determined and stated through cal-
culations by the astronomer. Now, for Ujjain, it takes
place when the Sun's true position is 7° short of sign
Kanya.
(a) Colebrooke has copiously commented on this passage.
Misc. Essays, ii. p. 353, seq. (As Res. ix). The passage from the
Panchasiddhantika referred to by Colebrooke, as analogous to one
in the Bhasvati is :
विषुवच्छायार्धगुणा पञ्चकृतिस्तत्कलास्ततश्चापम् ।
छायात्रिसप्तकयुतं दशभिर्गुणितं विनाड्यस्ताः ॥
ताभिः कर्कटकाद्याद्यल्लग्नं तादृशे सहस्रांशौ ।
याम्याशावानितामुखविशेषतिलको मुनिरगस्त्यः ॥ पञ्चसिद्धान्तिका ॥
"Multiply half the length of the equinoctial shadow by 25;
take from this product, expressed in minutes, the corresponding
arc : add the length of the shadow multiplied by 21; multiply by
10 ; this gives the number in Vinadis. At this number, reckoning
from the beginning of Cancer, stands the Sun when Agasthya rises
in the south, like a mark on the front of a damsel."
तथा च समाससंहितायाम् ।
सप्तभिरंशैः कन्यामप्राप्ते रोमके तु दिवसकरे ।
दृष्टोऽगस्त्योऽवन्त्यां तत्समपूर्वापरेऽप्येवम् ॥
ईषत्प्रभिन्नेऽरुणरश्मिजालैर्नैशेऽन्धकारे दिशि दक्षिणस्याम् ।
सांवत्सरावेदितदिग्विभागे भूपोऽर्घमूर्व्यां प्रयतः प्रयच्छेत् ॥१६॥
कालोद्भवैः सुरभिभिः कुसुमैः फलैश्च
रत्नैश्च सागरभवैः कनकाम्बरैश्च ।
धेन्वा वृषेण परमान्नयुतैश्च भक्ष्यै-
र्दध्यक्षतैः सुरभिधूपविलेपनैश्च ॥१७॥
Slokas 16-17.—At the time when the nocturnal dark-
ness is just pierced by the mass of Aruna's rays, the king
being pure should offer in the south on the Earth the

Adh. XII. Sl. 18-20] द्वादशोऽध्यायः 153
presents consisting of fragrant flowers and fruits of the
season, of gems from the sea, of gold, garment, milch
cows, bulls, Payasa, edible curd, coloured rice, fragrant
incense and pastes when the particular direction of the
rise is announced by the astronomer.
नरपतिरिममर्घं श्रद्दधानो दधानः
प्रविगतगददोषो निर्जितारातिपक्षः ।
भवति यदि च दद्यात्सप्तवर्षाणि सम्य-
ग्जलनिधिरशनायाः स्वामितां याति भूमेः ॥१८॥
Sloka 18.—Should a king make these offerings with
a devout heart, he would be free from all diseases, and
conquer the entire host of his enemies. If he should
make such offerings for a period of seven years conti-
nuously according to rules, he would rule over the entire
earth girdled by the ocean.
द्विजो यथालाभमुपाहृतार्घः प्राप्नोति वेदान् प्रमदाश्च पुत्रान् ।
वैश्यश्च गां भूरि धनं च शूद्रो रोगक्षयं धर्मफलं च सर्वे ॥१९॥
Sloka 19.—Should a Brahmin make the offerings
according to his status, he would be blessed with a
thorough knowledge of the Vedas, a charming wife and
sons. If he be a Vaisya, he would get cattle. If he be
a Sudra, he would become very wealthy. All persons in
general who may undertake this will be free from diseases
and will get benefits of virtue.
रोगान् करोति परुषः कपिलस्त्ववृष्टिं
धूम्रो गवामशुभकृत्स्फुरणो भयाय ।
माञ्जिष्ठरागसदृशः क्षुधमाहवांश्च
कुर्यादणुश्च पुररोधमगस्त्यनामा ॥२०॥
बृ. सं. 20

154 बृहत्संहितायाम् [Adh. XII. Sl. 21-22
Sloka 20.—Agasthya causes diseases when he is
rough ; drought, when he is russet ; harm to cows, if
smoky ; if he should be throbbing, there would be fear
engendered ; if similar to madder in colour, he brings
famine and wars ; when he is tiny, he forebodes the
siege of the town.
शातकुम्भसदृशः स्फटिकाभस्तर्पयन्निव महीं किरणाग्रैः ।
दृश्यते यदि तदा प्रचुरान्ना भूर्भवत्यभयरोगजनाढ्या ॥२१॥
Sloka 21.—If he shines like gold or crystal and ap-
pears to refresh, as it were, the Earth with streams of his
rays, the country will have plenty of food and team with
a contented and healthy population.
तथा च गर्गः ।
शङ्खकुन्देन्दुगोक्षीरमृणालरजतप्रभः ।
दृश्यते यद्यगस्त्यः स्यात्सुभिक्षक्षेमकारकः ॥
वैश्वानरार्चिप्रतिमैर्मांसशोणितकर्दमैः ।
रणैर्भयैश्च विविधैः किञ्चिच्छेषायते प्रजा ॥
उल्कया विनिहतः शिखिना वा क्षुद्भयं मरकमेव विधत्ते ।
दृश्यते स किल हस्तगतेऽर्के रोहिणीमुपगतेऽस्तमुपैति ॥२२॥
Sloka 22.—If he be struck by a meteor or comet, he
will bring danger of famine and pestilence. It is said
that he rises when the Sun is in the asterism Hasta and
sets when the Sun has reached Rohini.*

• "See Colebrooke, l.c. His statement that there are three
  periods of rising and setting, according to Utpala, is not quite
  exact. On the contrary, Utpala expressly intimates that the
  rising of Canopus when the Sun stands in Hasta, is contrary to
  science, and only repeated by the author out of deference for the
  Ancients. He says किलेत्यागमसूचने, which is quite true ; where our
  author uses किल, it is so much as relata refero यद्यत्रापि गणितसाम्यं न
  भवति तथाप्याचार्येण पूर्वशास्त्रदृष्टत्वात् कृतम् । The three periods of rising are

Adh. XIII. Sl. 1-2. ] त्रयोदशोऽध्यायः 155
enumerated by Parasara, as quoted by Utpala. Here part of the
passage:
तथा च पराशरः। हस्तस्थे सवितर्युदेति रोहिणीसंस्थे प्रवसति । अथास्य
त्रिविधश्चारोदयकालो दृष्टः। आश्वयुग्बहुलाष्टमीपञ्चदश्योः कार्तिकाष्टम्यां वा । तत्रा-
श्चयुग्बहुलोदितः सुवृष्टिक्षमान्नसम्पत्करः । " —Dr. Kern.
अपि च। हन्यादुष्ट्रां यदागस्त्यं केतुर्वाप्युपधूपयेत् ।
दुर्भिक्षं जनमारश्च तदा जगति जायते ॥
सुस्निग्धवर्णः श्वेतश्च शातकुम्भसमप्रभः ।
मुनिः क्षेमसुभिक्षाय प्रजानामभयाय च ॥
Thus ends the 12th Adhyaya on the 'Course of Agasthya.'
सप्तर्षिचारः ॥१३॥ The Seven Sages.
सैकावलीव राजति ससितोत्पलमालिनी सहासेव ।
नाथवतीव च दिग्यैः कौवेरी सप्तभिर्मुनिभिः ॥१॥
ध्रुवनायकोपदेशान्नरिन्तीवोत्तरा भ्रमद्भिेश्च ।
यैश्चारमहं तेषां कथयिष्ये वृद्धगर्गमतात् ॥२॥
Slokas 1-2.—I shall describe according to the theory
of Sage Vriddha Garga, the course of the Seven Seers, by
whom the northern region has a lord as it were, through
whom she shines as if adorned with a necklace of pearls,
ike a maiden with a joyful countenance wearing a wreath
of white lotuses; the seers by whose circular movements,
the northern region seems verily dancing at the instruc-
tion of the Pole-Star, the leader.
तथा च भट्टब्रह्मगुप्तः ।
ध्रुवयोर्बद्धं सव्यगममराणां क्षितिजसंस्थमुडुचक्रम् ।
अपसव्यगमसुराणां भ्रमति प्रवह्हानिलक्षिप्तम् ॥
तेषां मुनीनां चारमहं वृद्धगर्गमतात् कथयिष्ये ।
वृद्धगर्गो नाम महामुनिस्तन्मतात्तत्कृताच्छास्त्रात् ॥ इति

156 बृहत्संहितायाम् [Adh. XIII. Sl. 3-4
आसन्मघासु मुनयः शासति पृथ्वीं युधिष्ठिरे नृपतौ ।
षड्द्विकपञ्चद्वियुतः शककालस्तस्य राज्ञश्च ॥३॥
Sloka 3.—The Seven Sages were in the lunar man-
sion—Magha—when King Yudhishtira was ruling over
the earth, the period of that King being 2526 years be-
fore the commencement of the Saka (Vikramarka?) era.
The assumption made by certain commentators that शक
should invariably refer to Vikrama Saka (56 B. C.) does not seem
to be altogether correct. For, it is said in the Mahabharata that
Kali set in soon after Krishna's departure. This should be 3102
B. C. Hence the age of Yudhishtira should be somewhere at the
earlier part of the 32nd century before Christ. Subtracting 2526
from this figure we find that the Saka referred to in the Sloka should
be in the 7th Century B. C. (far earlier than the age of the Buddha
—5th century B. C.). Hence the above remark.
तथा च वृद्धगर्गः ।
कलिद्वापरसन्धौ तु स्थितास्ते पितृदैवतम् ।
मुनयो धर्मनिरताः प्रजानां पालने रताः ॥
एकैकस्मिन्नृक्षे शतं शतं ते चरन्ति वर्षाणाम् ।
प्रागुदयतोऽप्यविवराद्यन्नयति तत्र संयुक्ताः ॥४॥
Sloka 4.—The sages in their course remain for a
period of 100 years in each lunar mansion. Whichever
star to the east of which the sages rise, makes them con-
spicuous, in that they are said to be posited.
प्रागुत्तरतश्चैते सदोदयन्ते मसाध्वीकाः is another reading.
According to this reading, the meaning will be "they rise
constantly in the northeast, together with the chaste Arundhatee."
तथा च कश्यपः ।
शतं शतं तु वर्षाणामेकैकस्मिन् महर्षयः ।
नक्षत्रे निवसन्त्ये ते ससाध्वीका महातपाः ॥

त्रयोदशोऽध्यायः
पूर्वे भागे भगवान्मरीचिरपरे स्थितो वसिष्ठोऽस्मात् ।
तस्याङ्गिरास्ततोऽत्रिरस्तस्यासन्नः पुलस्त्यश्च ॥५॥
पुलहः क्रतुरिति भगवानासन्ना अनुक्रमेण पूर्वाद्यात् ।
तत्र वसिष्ठं मुनिवरमुपाश्रितारुन्धती साध्वी ॥६॥
उल्काशनिधूमाद्यैर्हता विवर्णा विरश्मयो ह्रस्वाः ।
हन्युः स्वं स्वं वर्गं विपुलाः स्निग्धाश्च तद्वृद्धयै ॥७॥
तथा च वृद्धगर्गः ।
उल्कया केतुना वापि धूमेन रजसापि वा ।
हता विवर्णाः स्वल्पा वा किरणैः परिवर्जिताः ॥
स्वं स्वं वर्गं तदा हन्युर्मुनयः सर्व एव ते ।
विपुलाः स्निग्धवर्णाश्च स्ववर्गपरिपोषकाः
गन्धर्वदेवदानवमन्त्रौषधिसिद्धयक्षनागानाम् ।
पीडाकरो मरीचिर्हतो विद्याधराणां च ॥८॥
शकयवनदरदपारतकाम्बोजांस्तापसान्वनोपेतान् ।
हन्ति वसिष्ठोऽभिहतो विवृद्धितो रश्मिसम्पन्नः ॥९॥
अङ्गिरसो ज्ञानयुता धीमन्तो ब्राह्मणाश्च निर्दिष्टाः ।
अत्रेः कान्तारभवा जलजान्यम्भोनिधिः सरितः ॥१०॥

158 बृहत्संहितायाम् [Adh. XIII. Sl. 11
रक्षःपिशाचदानवदैत्यभुजङ्गाः स्मृताः पुलस्त्यस्य ।
पुलहस्य तु मूलफलं क्रतोस्तु यज्ञाः सयज्ञभृतः ॥११॥
Slokas 8-11---Marichi is to be understood to do
harm (when vexed) to the Gandharvas, Gods, demons,
spells, herbs, angels, Yakshas, Nagas and Vidyadharas.
Vasishta, when hurt, proves destructive to the Sakas,
Yavanas, Daradas, Paratas, Kambojas and hermits living
in the forest; when radiant, he bestows prosperity.
Scholars, intelligent men and Brahmins are enume-
rated as belonging to Angiras; and foresters, aquatic
products, the ocean and rivers are allotted to Sage Atri.
Giants, devils, demons, Daityas and serpents are said
to belong to Pulasthya; to Pulaha, roots and fruits, and
to Kratu, sacrifices and sacrificers.
तथा च वृद्धगर्गः ।
देवदानवगन्धर्वाः सिद्धपन्नगराक्षसाः ।
नागा विद्याधराः सर्वे मरीचेः परिकीर्तिताः ॥
यवनाः पारताश्चैव काम्बोजा दरदाः शकाः ।
वसिष्ठस्य विनिर्दिष्टास्तापसा वनमाश्रिताः ॥
धीमन्तो ब्राह्मणा ये च ज्ञानविज्ञानपारगाः ।
रूपलावण्यसंयुक्ता मुनेरङ्गिरसः स्मृताः ॥
कान्तारजास्तथाम्भोजा अत्रेर्ये सरिदाश्रिताः ।
पिशाचा दानवा दैत्या भुजङ्गा राक्षसास्तथा ॥
पुलस्त्यस्य विनिर्दिष्टाः पुष्पं मूलं फलं च यत् ।
तत्सर्वं पुलहस्योक्तं यज्ञा यज्ञभृतश्च ये ॥
क्रतोरेव विनिर्दिष्टा वेदज्ञा ब्राह्मणास्तथा ॥
Thus ends the 13th Adhyaya on the 'Course of the Seven
Sages.'