सिद्धान्तशिरोमणि: गणिताध्याय (भास्कराचार्य - ग्रहगणित, मध्यमाधिकार व स्पष्टाधिकार सटीक)

SPAṢṬĀDHIKĀRA — RECTIFICATION
OF PLANETS
Introduction. In the Bhagaṇādhyāya section of the
previous chapter Bhāskara gave under the Caption Bhaga-
ṇopapatti his proofs as to how the ancient is might have
obtained the number of sidereal revolutions of the planets
and the planetary points called apogees or aphelia and
Nodes. But in trying to give those proofs, he was aware
and he confessed also in so many words that some of his
proofs at least were obsessed by what is called Itarēta-
rāśraya-Doṣa i.e. “answer begging the question” It is
worth hearing his words in his commentary under verses
1–6 of the section cited above—“That the planets, and the
planetary points perform so many revolutions in a Kalpa,
is essentially conveyed by the Āgama i.e. the Śāstra (which
is to be taken on faith). That Āgama, got diversified i.e.
there are many versions of that Science, due to the defects
of scribes, the teachers and the students and due to a long
lapse of time from the originators of the Āgama. That
being so, the question arises as to which of the versions is
to be trusted as the right authority. If it be said so, in
mathematics only an āgama which could be proved also
should be taken as authority. Such a number of revolu-
tions as are obtained by proof, is to be accepted. Even
that could not be (a proof); for, a great scholar could just
understand the proof and by that proof alone, it is not
possible to know the exact number of revolutions (in a
kalpa), for, a man's longevity is not much. In the proof
that could possibly be given, the planet's position is to be
observed and noted every day, during the entire course of
its revolution. Thus Saturn Completes its sidereal re-
volution in about 30 years. The apogee of the Sun and the
aphelia of the planets have their revolutions running into
hundreds of years. Hence the observation of one complete
revolution (of such a planetary point) is beyond the capa-