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

XI troduced a chapter by विन्ध्यवासी*. The author has writ- ten a समाससंहिता which is known to us only from the quotations of the learned commentator. The author’s son पृथुयशस् (Prithuyasas) was also a great astrologer. He has written the षट्पञ्चाशिका and होरासार as far as we know. The latter is a very useful work giving many new ideas and has been utilised by Mantreswara in his Phaladeepika especially in respect of Ashtaka Varga (vide page 265 of that work). The present work has the commentary of Bhattat- pala which is very exhaustive and helpful. It gives valuable quotations from many ancient authorities and the other works of the author. At the end of his com- mentary on the Brihat Jataka, he says that he finished his commentary on Thursday, the 5th day of the Bright half of the month of Chaitra in 888 of the Saka era-956 A. D. He has commented upon the योगयात्रा and also the षट्पञ्चाशिका of पृथुयशस्. His scholarship was deep and vast. He seems to have written a work भट्टोत्पलहोराशास्त्रम् in 75 stanzas. He has also written a work-वास्तुविद्या (see P. 439). He was well acquainted with all the ancient works on Astrology, Astronomy, Poetics, etc He is very frank. Where he is ignorant, he openly owns that. For example, in perfumery, he says his knowledge is very meagre. He holds our author in the highest esteem. Scholars all over the world should be grateful to this commentator for his having preserved by his quotations *According to one tradition, this is Varahamihira, himself as he was living in the Vindhyas before he went to the Royal Court.