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

Adh. LIV. Sl. 3-6.] चतुःपञ्चाशोऽध्यायः 459 Slokas 1-2.—I shall now explain the science of ‘Water-finding’ which leads to religious merit and re- nown, for, it helps men to ascertain the existence of water. Just as there are veins in the human body, even so do they exist, some higher up, others lower down, in the earth. The water that falls from the sky with the same colour and taste, assumes various colours and tastes owing to the difference in the nature of the earth. Hence it should be examined in relation to its environments. पुरुहूतानलयमनिर्ऋतिवरुणपवनेन्दुशङ्करा देवाः । विज्ञातव्याः क्रमशः प्राच्याद्यानां दिशां पतयः ॥३॥ दिक्पतिसञ्ज्ञा च शिरा नवमी मध्ये महाशिरानाम्नी । एताभ्योऽन्याः शतशो विनिःसृता नामभिः प्रथिताः ॥४॥ पातालादूर्ध्वशिरा शुभा चतुर्दिक्षु संस्थिता याश्च । कोणदिगुत्था न शुभाः शिरानिमित्तान्यतो वक्ष्ये ॥५॥ Slokas 3-5.—The divine lords of the eight quarters beginning with the east are in their order, Indra, Agni, Yama, Nirriti (demon), Varuna, Wind, the Moon and Siva. The veins in the different quarters are known by the names of their respective lords. There is a ninth, called ‘The Great Vein’, in the middle of these. There are hundreds of veins branching off from these and bearing distinct appellations. A vein that comes up from the nether world is good; so are those in the four directions. But those in the intermediate quarters are not auspicious. Hereafter I shall explain the character- istics of the veins. यदि वेतसोऽम्बुरहिते देशे हस्तैस्त्रिभिस्ततः पश्चात् । सार्धे पुरुषे तोयं वहति शिरा पश्चिमा तत्र ॥६॥