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॥