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

VIII

अनुष्टुभ् (Anushtub) metre.) Out of the 107 Adhyayas now printed in this book, the chapters on (1) वातचक्र, (2) रजो- लक्षण, (3) अङ्गविद्या, (4) पिटकलक्षणं, (5) विवाहपटल (6) नक्षत्र जातक and (7) शास्त्रानुक्रमणी are apparently not his. These have been noted in their respective places. The qualifications of an astrologer (Adh. II) are really very high and not within easy reach of ordinary mortals. The author says that a king should employ a chief astrologer assisted by 4 others. He is of opinion that no good people should live in a country where there are no good astrologers. The esteem in which the author holds them is indeed very great. He is equally strong in condemning pseudo-astrologers. The chapters on Omens give a great deal of useful information. If man is careful in noting them when he goes out, he will be forewarned about the results of his efforts. The author says that (XLVI-2) the evil omens are the results of man's Karma in previous births and that they are intended to warn him. There is a whole chapter giving various types of the आर्या (Arya) metre containing their Ganas and Yatis and also many varieties of Dandakas. Verse (LXVIII-112) is an example of good poetry. The verse आसन्मघासु मुनयः is very useful in finding the time that has elapsed since the reign of the Pandavas. But here there is a doubt in the next line of the verse, where he says so many years intervene between Yudhi- shtira and the commencement of the Saka era. Some hold different views regarding this शक. Some say that it