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

Adh XXXV. Sl. 1-3.] पञ्चत्रिंशोऽध्यायः 295 इन्द्रायुधलक्षणाध्यायः ॥३५॥ Signs of Rainbows. सूर्यस्य विविधवर्णाः पवनेन विघाट्टिताः कराः साभ्रे । वियति धनुःसंस्थाना ये दृश्यन्ते तदिन्द्रधनुः ॥१॥ Sloka 1.—The rays of the Sun which have various colours, being thrown back by the wind in a cloudy sky, are seen in the form of a bow which is called the Rainbow. केचिदनन्तकुलोरगनिःश्वासोद्भूतमाहुराचार्याः । तद्यायिनां नृपाणामभिमुखमजयावहं भवति ॥२॥ Sloka 2.—Some sages declare that the rainbow is caused by the breath of the descendants of Anantha, the King of serpents. The rainbow appearing in front of kings starting on an expedition brings about their defeat. तथा च काश्यपः अनन्तकुलजाता ये पन्नगाः कामरूपिणः । तेषां निःश्वाससम्भूतमिन्द्रचापं प्रचक्षते ॥ अच्छिन्नमवनिगाढं द्युतिमत् स्निग्धं घनं विविधवर्णम् । द्विरुदितमनुलोमं च प्रशस्तमम्भः प्रयच्छति च ॥३॥ Sloka 3.—A rainbow which, being unbroken, bright and glossy, thick and multi-coloured, touches the ground at both ends, appears double and is behind persons, conduces to weal and yields rain. Some interpret द्विरुदितमनुलोमं as—of the two rainbows, if one is in the north and the other in the south, it is प्रतिलोम i. e., contrary to each other, while, if they are in the same direction, it is अनुलोम . But this interpretation in the light of Garga seems to be wrong.