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

Adh. XLVI. Sl. 82-86.] षट्चत्वारिंशोऽध्यायः 364 (12) Phenomena which are not Portents. नरपतिदेशविनाशे केतोरुदयेऽथवा ग्रहेऽर्केन्द्वोः । उत्पातानां प्रभवः स्वर्तुभवश्चाप्यदोषाय ॥८२॥ Sloka 82.—The appearance of portents at the time of the death of a king, devastation of the country by a hostile army, the rising of Ketu or of a solar or a lunar eclipse, and also the appearance of the following ones peculiar to the respective seasons, are not inauspicious. ये च न दोषान् जनयन्त्युत्पातास्तानृतुस्वभावकृतान् । ऋषिपुत्रकृतैः श्लोकैर्विद्यादेतैः समासोक्तैः ॥८३॥ Sloka 83.—One can understand the portents which are occasioned by the peculiar nature of the seasons, and so do not lead to evil effects, from the verses composed by Sage Rishiputra and summarized here-under. वज्राशनिमहीकम्पसन्ध्यानिर्घातनिःस्वनाः । परिवेषरजोधूमरक्तार्कास्तमयोदयाः ॥८४॥ द्रुमेभ्योऽन्नरसस्नेहबहुपुष्पफलोद्गमाः । गोपक्षमदवृद्धिश्च शिवाय मधुमाधवे ॥८५॥ Slokas 84-85.—The following portents seen in the months of Chaitra and Vaisakha (i. e., the spring season) are conducive of good results: Thunderbolt, lightning, earth-tremor, bright glare at twilight, sounds of loud thunder, haloes, dust, smoke (in forests), the Sun being crimson at rising and setting, the appearance of food, sweet juices, oil and abundant flowers and fruits on trees and increased lasciviousness on the part of bulls and birds. तारोल्कापातकलुषं कपिलार्केन्दुमण्डलम् । अनग्निज्वलनस्फोटधूमरेण्वनिलाहतम् ॥८६॥

366 बृहत्संहितायाम् [Adh. XLVI. Sl. 87-91. रक्तपद्मारुणा सन्ध्या नभः क्षुब्धार्णवोपमम् । सरितां चाम्बुसंशोषं दृष्ट्वा ग्रीष्मे शुभं वदेत् ॥८७॥ Slokas 86-87.—The following portents seen in Summer, i. e., in Jyeshta and Ashadha, are said to be auspicious : the sky tarnished with shooting stars and falling meteors ; the orbs of the Sun and the Moon being tawny ; blaze and explosion without fire, smoke and dust filling the sky ; the twilight red like the red lotus ; the sky resembling the ocean with surging billows ; and the drying up of the waters of the rivers. शक्रायुधपरीवेष विद्युच्छुष्कविरोहणम् । कम्पोद्वर्तनवैकल्यं रसनं दरणं क्षितेः ॥८८॥ सरोनद्युदपानानां वृद्धयूर्ध्वतरणप्लवाः । सरणं चाद्रिगेहानां वर्षासु न भयावहम् ॥८९॥ Slokas 88-89.—The following portents are not harm- ful in the rainy season :— Rainbow, haloes, lightning, the sprouting up of withered trees, trembling, upheaval and unnatural appearance, rumbling and splitting of the earth ; rising, overflowing and inundations of lakes, rivers and wells ; and breaking of mountains and houses. दिव्यस्त्रीभूतगन्धर्वविमानाद्भुतदर्शनम् । ग्रहनक्षत्रताराणां दर्शनं च दिवाऽम्बरे ॥९०॥ गीतवादित्रनिर्घोषा वनपर्वतसानुषु । सस्यवृद्धिरपां हानिरपापाः शरदि स्मृताः ।९१॥ Slokas 90-91.—In autumn, the following portents augur well:—The sight of celestial nymphs, spirits, Gandharvas, aerial chariots, marvellous things and pla- nets, asterisms and stars by day in the sky ; sounds of

Adh. XLVI. Sl. 92-96.] षट्चत्वारिंशोऽध्यायः 367 singing and musical insruments in the forests and on mountain slopes; increase of crops and decrease of water. शीतानिलतुषारत्वं नर्दनं मृगपक्षिणाम् । रक्षोयक्षादिसत्त्वानां दर्शनं वागमानुषी ॥९२॥ दिशो धूमान्धकाराश्च सनभोवनपर्वताः । उच्चैः सूर्योदयास्तौ च हेमन्ते शोभनाः स्मृताः ॥९३॥ Slokas 92-93.—In the dewy season, the following prove beneficial: cold blast, frost, cries of birds and beasts; sight of demons, Yakshas and such invisible beings; aerial voice, the quarters with the sky, forests and moun- tains darkened with smoke and the high rising and set- ting of the Sun. हिमपातानिलोत्पाता विरूपाद्भुतदर्शनम् । कृष्णाञ्जनाभमाकाशं तारोल्कापातपिञ्जरम् ॥९४॥ चित्रगर्भोद्भवाः स्त्रीषु गोऽजाश्वमृगपक्षिषु । पत्राङ्कुरलतानां च विकाराः शिशिरे शुभाः ॥९५॥ Slokas 94.95.—The following phenomena in winter are productive of good effects: snowfall, unnatural winds, the sight of deformed and wonderful beings (divine ones); the sky resembling dark collyrium, and variegated with the fall of stars and meteors; wonder- ful births from women, cows, goats, horses, beasts and birds; and unnatural changes in leaves, sprouts and creepers. ऋतुस्वभावजा ह्येते दृष्टाः स्वर्तौ शुभप्रदाः । ऋतोरन्यत्र चोत्पाता दृष्टास्ते चातिदारुणाः ॥९६॥

358 बृहत्संहितायाम् [Adh. XLVI. Sl. 97-99. Sloka 96.— The aforesaid phenomena arising from the special features of the seasons produce good effects, if seen in their respective seasons. On the other hand, if they are observed in other seasons, the portents prove very dreadful. उन्मत्तानां च या गाथाः शिशूनां यच्च भाषितम् । स्त्रियो यच्च प्रभाषन्ते तस्य नास्ति व्यतिक्रमः ॥९७॥ Sloka 97.—The utterances of madcaps while sing- ing, talks of children and the words of women do not fail of producing their effects. पूर्वं चरति देवेषु पश्चाच्चरति मानुषान् । नाचोदिता वाग्वदति सत्या ह्येषा सरस्वती ॥९८॥ Sloka 98.—This Goddess of Speech is always truth- ful; and does not speak, unless induced; for, first she travels among the Gods and then (being induced by them) goes to the mortals. उत्पातान् गणितविवर्जितोऽपि बुद्ध्वा विख्यातो भवति नरेन्द्रवल्लभश्च एतत्तन्मुनिवचनं रहस्यमुक्तं यज्ज्ञात्वा भवति नरस्त्रिकालदर्शी ॥९९॥ Sloka 99.— Though a person does not know how to calculate the positions of the planets, he becomes a favou- rite of kings and renowned, by observing carefully the portents. Thus, the secret teachings in the words of the sages have been given and by knowing this a man can look into the past, present and future. Thus ends the 46th Adhyaya on 'Portentous Phenomena'.

Adh. XLVII. Sl. 1-4.] सप्तचत्वारिंशोऽध्यायः 369. मयूरचित्रकम् ॥४७॥ Motley Miscellany. दिव्यान्तरिक्षाश्रयमुक्तमादौ मया फलं शस्तमशोभनं च । प्रायेण चारेषु समागमेषु युद्धेषु मार्गादिषु विस्तरेण ॥१॥ भूयो वराहमिहिरस्य न युक्तमेत- त्कर्तुं समासकृतसाविति तस्य दोषः । तज्ज्ञैर्न वाच्यमिदमुक्तफलानुगीति यद्वर्हिचित्रकमिति प्रथितं वराङ्गम् ॥२॥ स्वरूपमेव तस्य तत्प्रकीर्त्तितानुकीर्त्तनम् । ब्रवीम्यहं न चेदिदं तथाऽपि मेऽत्र वाच्यता ॥३॥ Slokas 1-3.—In the beginning of this work I have treated, in great detail, of the good and bad effects of the celestial and atmospheric phenomena mostly in connec- tion with the planets’ courses, conjunctions, wars, paths and the like. “It does not behove Varahamihira, being noted for brevity, to repeat the same subject,” so some will find fault with him. But those in the know of this science should not say that this chapter is a repeti- tion of the effects already dealt with, because this chapter, entitled ‘Barhi Chitraka’—Peacock’s colours— is a well-known chief section of this Samhita (collection) [or “since this is an important section of the Samhita, men of science should not repeat the subject] and it is but the nature of this section to reiterate what has been once recounted. [If I leave out this chapter, still people will blame me. उत्तरवीथिगता द्युतिमन्तः क्षेमसुभिक्षशिवाय समस्ताः । दक्षिणमार्गगता द्युतिहीनाः क्षुद्भयतस्करमृत्युकरास्ते ॥४॥ Sloka 4.—All the (non-luminous) planets, radiant and moving in the northern paths (नाग-Naga, गज-Gaja

बृहत्संहितायाम् ऐरावत मृग- अज- दहन- तथा च गर्गः । वर्णवन्तः स्वमार्गस्था नागवीथीविचारिणः । यदि ताराग्रहाः सन्ति सर्वलोकहितावहाः ॥ वैश्वानरपथप्राप्ता एकनक्षत्रचारिणः । पञ्च ताराग्रहांस्तस्थुर्विन्द्याल्लोकस्य सङ्क्षयम् ॥ कोष्ठागारगते भृगुपुत्रे पुष्यस्थे च गिराम्प्रभविष्णौ । निर्वैराः क्षितिपाः सुखभाजः संहृष्टाश्च जना गतरोगः ॥५॥ तथा च गर्गः । कोष्ठागारगते शुक्रे पुष्यस्थे च बृहस्पतौ । विन्द्यात्तदासुखं लोके शान्तशस्त्रमनामयम् ॥ पीडयन्ति यदि कृत्तिकां मघां रोहिणीं श्रवणमैन्द्रमेव वा । प्रोञ्झ्य सूर्यमपरे ग्रहास्तदा पश्चिमा दिगनयेन पीड्यते ॥६॥ तथा च गर्गेणोच्यते । वैष्णवं पित्र्यमाग्नेयं ज्येष्ठामपि च रोहिणीम् । पीडयन्ति यदैतानि राहुवच्छानुचारिणः ॥ दुर्भिक्षं जायते लोके सस्यमत्र न रोहति । शुष्यन्ति सरितः सर्वाः पर्जन्यश्च न वर्षति ॥

Adh. XLVII. Sl. 7-10.] सप्तचत्वारिंशोऽध्यायः 371 प्राच्यां चेदुध्वजवदवस्थिता दिनान्ते प्राच्यानां भवति हि विग्रहो नृपाणाम् । मध्ये चेद्ध्वजवति हि मध्यदेशपीडा रूक्षैस्तैर्न तु रुचिमन्मयूखवद्भिः ॥७॥ Sloka 7.—Should the above planets be stationed in the form of a banner in the East in the evening, there would be war among the eastern kings ; should it be in the middle of the sky, trouble would befall the Central country, provided the planets are rough and pale ; and not when endowed with bright rays. दक्षिणां ककुभमाश्रितैस्तु तैर्दक्षिणापथपयोमुचां क्षयः । हीनरूक्षतनुभिश्च विग्रहः स्थूलदेहकिरणान्वितैः शुभम् ॥८॥ Sloka 8.—If they resort to the South, the clouds in that direction will be destroyed ; and if they have smaller and rough orbs, war will rage. Good results will follow when they are large and full of bright rays. उत्तरमार्गे स्पष्टमयूखाः शान्तिकरास्ते तन्नृपतीनाम् । ह्रस्वशरीरा भस्मसवर्णा दोषकराः स्युर्देशनृपाणाम् ॥९॥ Sloka 9.—They bestow peace on the kings of the Northern countries, if they move along the Northern paths with bright rays. If tiny in body and ashy in colour, they bring harm to the kings of the same region. तथा च गर्गः । उत्तरोत्तरमार्गस्था रश्मिमालाधरा ग्रहाः । विष्पन्दन्त इवात्यर्थं जयमाहुरुपस्थितम् ॥ नक्षत्राणां तारकाः सग्रहाणां धूमज्वालाविस्फुलिङ्गान्विताश्चेत् । आलोकं वा निर्निमित्तं न यान्ति याति ध्वंसं सर्वलोकः सभूपः ॥ Sloka 10.—If the stars of the asterisms with planets posited in them are covered with smoke, flames and

372 बृहत्संहितायाम् [Adh. XLVII. Sl. 11-13. sparks, or remain invisible for no reason, all the subjects along with their King will be annihilated. दिवि भाति यदा तुहिनांशुयुगं द्विजवृद्धिरतीव तदाशु शुभा । तदनन्तरवर्णरणोऽर्कयुगे जगतः प्रलयस्त्रिचतुष्प्रभृति ॥११॥ Sloka 11.—If there shine two Moons in the sky, Brahmins will soon get great prosperity ; if there be two Suns, wars among Kshatriyas will break out; and if there be three or more Suns, the world will come to an end. तथा च गर्गः । द्विचन्द्रं गगनं दृष्ट्वा विन्द्याद्ब्राह्मणसुस्थितम् । द्वौ वा सूर्यौ यदा स्यातां तदा क्षत्रं विरुध्यति ॥ दृष्ट्वा त्रिचतुरः सूर्यानुदितान् सर्वतोदिशम् । शस्त्रेण जनमारेण तद्युगान्तरदर्शनम् ॥ मुनीनभिजितं ध्रुवं मघवतश्च भं संस्पृशन् शिखी घनविनाशकृत् कुशलकर्महा शोकद्ः । भुजङ्गमथ संस्पृशेद्भवति वृष्टिनाशो ध्रुवं क्षयं व्रजति विद्रुतो जनपदश्च बालाकुलः ॥१२॥ Sloka 12.—If a Ketu (comet) touches the seven sages, Abhijit, the Pole Star and Jyeshta, the clouds and work leading to the happiness of mankind will be des- troyed and sorrow caused ; if it touches Aslesha, there will certainly be drought, and the people running for succour and troubled by their children will die. प्राग्द्वारेषु चरन् रविपुत्रो नक्षत्रेषु करोति च वक्रम् । दुर्भिक्षं कुरुते महदुग्रं मित्राणां च विरोधमवृष्टिम् ॥१३॥ Sloka 13.—When Saturn passes ‘through the aste- rism, called ‘ Front or eastern gates’ (viz., the seven

Adh. XLVII. Sl. 14-16.] सप्तचत्वारिंशोऽध्यायः 373 asterisms from Krittika) and is retrograde, there will be a dreadful and long-standing famine, hatred among friends and drought. तथा च गर्गः । विलम्बितगतिः सौरः प्राग्द्वारेषु यदा भवेत् । महाभयानि चत्वारि विजानीयात्समन्ततः ॥ अनावृष्टिभयं घोरं दुर्भिक्षं मित्रविग्रहम् । रोहिणीशकटमर्कनन्दनो यदि भिनत्ति रुधिरोऽथवा शिखी । किं वदामि यदनिष्टसागरे जगदशेषमुपयाति सङ्क्षयम् ॥१४॥ Sloka 14.—If Saturn, Mars or Ketu cuts the cart of Rohini, what shall I say except that the whole world will perish, being plunged in the ocean of misery. तथा च गर्गः । रोहिणीशकटं भौमो भिनत्त्यर्कसुतोऽथवा । केतुर्वा जगतो ब्रूयात्प्रलयं समुपस्थितम् ॥ उदयति सततं यदा शिखी चरति भचक्रमशेषमेव वा । अनुभवति पुराकृतं तदा फलमशुभं सचराचरं जगत् ॥१५॥ Sloka 15.—When Ketu is visible always or passes through the entire starry firmament, the world with its moving and stationary objects will reap the evil conse- quences of past deeds. धनुःस्थायी रूक्षो रुधिरसदृशः क्षुद्भयकरो बलोद्योगं चन्द्रः कथयति जयं ज्याऽस्य च यतः । गवां शृङ्गो गोघ्नो निधनमपि सस्यस्य कुरुते ज्वलन् धूमायन् वा नृपतिमरणायैव भवति ॥१६॥ Sloka 16.—The Moon being rough, blood-red and bow-shaped, augurs famine and clash of armies; and victory will go to that party which is situated in the

374 बृहत्संहितायाम् [Adh. XLVII. Sl. 17-20. direction of the string of the lunar bow. When she appears to have horns similar to those of cows, cattle and crops will be destroyed; and when blazing or filled with smoke, she will certainly bring about the death of the King. स्निग्धः स्थूलः समशृङ्गो विशालस्तुङ्गोदग्विचरन्नागवीथ्याम्। दृष्टः सौम्यैरशुभैर्विप्रयुक्तो लोकानन्दं कुरुतेऽतीव चन्द्रः ॥१७॥ Sloka 17.—When the Moon is glossy, thick, of even horns, extensive, high, travelling north in the नागवीथी (Adh. IX-2, supra), aspected by benefics, and unassoci- ated with malefics, she gives great joy and happiness to mankind, पित्र्यमैत्रपुरुहूतविशाखात्वाष्ट्रमेत्य च युनक्ति शशाङ्कः। दक्षिणेन न शुभः शुभकृत् स्याद्यद्युदक् चरति मध्यगतो वा ॥१८॥ Sloka 18.—When the Moon conjoins with Magha, Anuradha, Jyeshta, Visakha and Chittra on the south, it is inauspicious, while on the north or in the middle, it is auspicious. परिघ इति मेघरेखा या तिर्यग्भास्करोदयेऽस्ते वा। परिधिंस्तु प्रतिसूर्यो दण्डस्त्वृजुरिन्द्रचापनिभः ॥१९॥ उदयेऽस्ते वा भानोर्य दीर्घा रश्मयस्त्वमोघास्ते। सुरचापखण्डमृजु यद्रोहितमैरावतं दीर्घम् ॥२०॥ Slokas 19-20.—A line of clouds standing across the Sun at its rising or setting is termed a ‘bolt’ (Parigha); a second or mock-Sun is Paridhi (halo); a straight staff (composed of the Sun’s rays, clouds and wind) resemb- ling a rainbow is a “rod” (Danda); the long rays of the Sun at rising or setting are named ‘unerring’ (Amogha); a straight and fragmentary rainbow is ‘Rohita’ (red), and the same, but longer, is Airavata. (Adh. XXX-16, infra)

Adh. XLVII. Sl. 21-24.] सप्तचत्वारिंशोऽध्यायः 316 अर्धास्तमयात्सन्ध्या व्यक्तीभूता न तारका यावत् । तेजःपरिहानिमुखाद्भानोरर्धोदयो यावत् ॥२१॥ तस्मिन् सन्ध्याकाले चिह्नैरेतैः शुभाशुभं वाच्यम् । सर्वैरैतैः स्निग्धैः सद्यो वर्षं भयं रूक्षैः ॥२२॥ Slokas 21-22.--The period after the Sun has half- set and before the stars have appeared, is called the evening twilight; and that after the stars have lost their lustre and before the Sun has half-risen is the morning twilight. From the aforementioned symptoms of the twilights, one should predict good or bad effects. When all of them are glossy, there will be rain the same day; when rough, there will be peril. अच्छिन्नः परिघो वियच्च विमलं श्यामा मयूखा रवेः स्निग्धा दीधितयः सितं सुरधनुर्विद्युच्च पूर्वोत्तरा । स्निग्धो मेघतरुर्दिवाकरकरैरालिङ्गितो वा यदा वृष्टिः स्याद्यदि वार्कमस्तसमये मेघो महान् छादयेत् ॥२३॥ Sloka 23.--When the 'bolt' is unbroken, the sky clear, the Sun's rays (unerring) dark, other rays (other than the unerring) glossy, rainbow white, lighting flashing in the northeast, and the tree-shaped cloud glossy or embraced by the Sun's rays, there will be rain; so also when a huge cloud covers the Sun at setting. खण्डो वक्रः कृष्णो ह्रस्वः काकाद्यैर्वा चिह्नैर्विद्धः । यस्मिन् देशे रूक्षश्चार्कस्तत्राभावः प्रायो राज्ञः ॥२४॥ Sloka 24.--In the country where the Sun appears partial, crooked, black, small and rough or marked with the figures of crows and other inauspicious things, the ruler will probably meet with his end. तथा च गर्गः । खण्डो वा कृष्णवर्णो वा ह्रस्वः पिङ्गलकोऽथवा । यत्रार्को दृश्यते तत्र राज्ञो मृत्युं विनिर्दिशेत् ॥

376 बृहत्संहितायाम् [Adh. XLVII. Sl. 25-28. वाहिनीं समुपयाति पृष्ठतो मांसभुक् खगगणो युयुत्सतः। यस्य तस्य बलविद्रवो महानग्रगैस्तु विजयो विहङ्गमौः ॥२५॥ Sloka 25.—If broods of carnivorous birds follow the army of a King marching for fight, his army will be completely routed; if the birds fly in front, he will be victorious. भानोरुदये यदि वास्तमये गन्धर्वपुरप्रतिमा ध्वजिनी। बिम्बं निरुणद्धि तदा नृपतेः प्राप्तं समरं सभयं प्रवदेत् ॥२६॥ Sloka 26.—If at Sunrise or Sunset an army similar to an aerial city screens the Sun’s orb, it is to be pre- dicted that the King has a war of dire consequences in store. तथा च गर्गः। आदित्ये सरथा सेना सन्ध्याकाले यदा भवेत्। प्रत्यासन्नं विजानीयाद्भूमिपस्य पराजयम् ॥ शस्ता शान्तद्विजमृगघुष्टा सन्ध्या स्निग्धा मृदुपवना च। पांसुध्वस्ता जनपदनाशं धत्ते रूक्षा रुधिरनिभा वा ॥२७॥ Sloka 27.—Auspicious is a twilight that is clear, resounding with the cries of birds and beasts, not facing the Sun, and having gentle breeze; while one spoilt by dust, coarse or blood-like brings about the destruction of the country. यद्विस्तरेण कथितं मुनिभिस्तदस्मिन् सर्वं मया निगदितं पुनरुक्तवर्जम् श्रुत्वापि कोकिलरुतं बलिभुग्विरौति यत्तत्स्वभावकृतमस्य पिकं न जेतुं Sloka 28.—Here have I expounded without any repetition all that the ancient sages have treated of in great detail. That the crow caws even after hearing the warbling of the cuckoo, is entirely due to its innate nature and not to its desire of vanquishing the cuckoo.

Adh. XLVII. Sl. 28.] सप्तचत्वारिंशोऽध्यायः 377 The following notes of Mr. Chitambara Iyer relating to the phenomena of nature culled from other works are requoted : " There will be famine as long as the course of Jupiter and that of Saturn lie through the end of the signs Mesha and Vris- chika and through the middle of Vrishabha and Simha. During the period when Jupiter and Saturn occupy a single sign of the zodiac, there would be pestilence, cholera and death among the people. As long as Jupiter and Venus continue together in a state of disappearance, mankind will suffer from devils, diseases, thieves and enemies. If the course of Saturn or the retrograde motion of Mars should lie through the signs of Dhanus, Mesha, Vrishabha, Meena or Simha, there would be such deaths among men and animals that only a third of mankind, of elephants, horses, cows and other animals of birds and of creatures of water would survive. If the motion of Mars should be an accelerated one, there would be fear from destructive fires; if he should retrograde and enter another sign, the people would suffer from heat and many families would suffer, and if his course should be through a sign longer than the calculated period, there would be drought in the land and rulers will be at war. If Jupiter should retrograde or if his motion should be an accelerated one, and if in this state he should enter another sign, the rivers would not be full; the kings would lose their glory and suffer from diseases. If Saturn should, after a long direct course, begin to retro- grade or have an accelerated motion and in this state enter another sign, there would be diseases, famine and drought in the land and vehicles will suffer destruction. If, when Jupiter should enter another sign when in his acce- lerated motion, Saturn should be in his slow motion, Venus should have disappeared, and Mercury should have reappeared, the country would perish. If Saturn, Mars and Jupiter should be within sight of each other, men with their children would suffer from hunger and from weapons. बृ. सं. 48

378 बृहत्संहितायाम् [Adh. XLVII. Sl. 28. If, whilst the course of the Sun lies through the end of the signs Vrishabha, Mithuna, Vrischika and Simha, Jupiter and Mars should be in conjunction with it, mankind would suffer from famine, and the deaths would be so many that in the cremation grounds of villages and towns, Pisachas might be seen with hundreds of dead bodies in their mouths. If two, three or four planets should meet together, people would suffer from death and famine. If five planets should meet, there would also be famine; if six, the chief ruler would run away from his kingdom, and if seven, humanity would come to an end. If the course of Mars and Saturn, through the signs of Kar- kataka, Simha and Meena should be retrograde or re-retrograde, there would be much suffering on earth. There would also be a scarcity of water and wars in the land; grains would be des- troyed and mankind would suffer from robbers. If Saturn and Rahu should meet, crops would be injured; commodity would become scarce; husbands and wives would be at strife, there would be drought and famine in the land; cows would suffer death and men would become exceedingly lazy. If the course of the Sun and the Moon, both of brilliant discs, should lie through the seven asterisms from Krittika, Madhya- desa would suffer miseries. If the course of the Sun, the Moon, Mars and Venus should lie through the seven asterisms from Magha, there would be grief and disease among men and the God of Death would be busy in his wide work of destruction in the southern countries. If the course of Jupiter, the Moon and Mercury, all of brilliant discs, should lie through the seven asterisms from Anuradha, the western countries, as far as the sea, as well as the western sea itself with its creatures would suffer miseries. If the course of the Sun. Venus and Mars should lie through the seven asterisms from Sravishta, the northern countries would suffer miseries. If the benefic planets should appear of the colour of gold, the Brahmins, the Kshatriyas, the Vaisyas and the Sudras would all attend to their respective duties and would become happy." Thus ends the 47th Adhyaya on "Motley Miscellany.".

Adh. XLVIII. Sl. 1-3] .अष्टाचत्वारिंशोऽध्यायः 379 पुष्यस्नानम् ॥४८॥ Royal Ablution. मूलं मनुजाधिपतिः प्रजातरोस्तदुपघातसंस्कारात् । अशुभं शुभं च लोके भवति यतोऽतो नृपतिचिन्ता ॥१॥ Sloka 1.—The king is the root of the subject-tree. Since the happiness and misery of the people arise in order from nourishing and injuring that root, it is neces- sary to devise means to enhance the king's welfare. या व्याख्याता शान्तिः स्वयम्भुवा सुरगुरोर्महेन्द्रार्थे । तां प्राप्य वृद्धगर्गः प्राह यथा भागुरेः शृणुत ॥२॥ Sloka 2.—Now listen, Ye, to the expiation, which had been expounded by the Self-born to the Precep- tor of Gods for the sake of Indra, and which, later, the Senior Garga got and imparted to sage Bhaguri. तथा च वृद्धगर्गः । देवाश्च दितिजैः सार्धं स्पर्धमाना हि मानिनः । परस्परं महद्युद्धं चक्रुः सर्वे सुरासुराः ॥ ततो दैत्यगणैः क्रुद्धैर्देवाः सर्वे विनिर्जिताः । ततोऽङ्गिराः सुरगुरुर्ध्यानसक्तोऽभवत्पुरा ॥ पुरन्दराभिषेकार्थं बृहस्पतिरकल्पयत् । तिष्यमात्मीयनक्षत्रं यस्य देवो बृहस्पतिः ॥ तेन चैवाभिषिक्तश्च देवराजः पुरन्दरः । ततो बलसमारूढो नाशयामास दानवान् ॥ देवाश्च हृष्टमनसः पुरीं प्राप्यामरावतीम् । पुष्यस्नानं बलतरं तदारभ्य प्रवर्त्तितम् ॥ पुष्यस्नानं नृपतेः कर्तव्यं दैववित्पुरोधाभ्याम् । नातः परं पवित्रं सर्वोत्पातान्तकरमस्ति ॥३॥ Sloka 3.—The royal astrologer and preceptor should give the King an ablution on a day with the

380 बृहत्संहितायाम् [Adh. XLVIII. Sl. 4-8. asterism of Pushya. There is nothing holier than this (bath) which puts an end to all the portents. श्लेष्मातकाक्षकण्टकिकटुतिक्तविगन्धिपादपविहीने । कौशिकगृध्रप्रभृतिभिरनिष्टविहगैः परित्यक्ते ॥४॥ तरुणतरुगुल्मवल्लीलताप्रतानान्विते वनोद्देशे । निरुपहतपत्रपल्लवमनोज्ञमधुरद्रुमप्राये ॥५॥ Slokas 4-5.—The royal ablution should be done in a forest region, which is devoid of cordia, beleric myro- balan, thorny, pungent, bitter, and bad-smelling trees ; which is free from owls, vultures and such other inaus- picious birds ; which is full of young trees, shrubs, creepers and bowers, and which consists mostly of beau- tiful and attractive trees with unimpaired leaves and sprouts. कृकवाकुजीवजीवकशुकशिखिशतपत्रचाषहारीतैः । क्रकरचकोरकपिञ्जलवञ्जुलपारावतश्रीकैः ॥६॥ कुसुमरसपानमत्तद्विरेफपुंस्कोकिलादिभिश्चान्यैः । विरुते वनोपकण्ठे क्षेत्रागारे शुचावथवा ॥७॥ Slokas 6-7.—Or, the ablution may be performed in a pure building in a sacred place in the vicinity of forests that resound with the notes of the cocks, Jeevas, Jeevakas, parrots, peacocks, wood-peckers, blue jays, green pigeons, Krakaras, Chakoras, Kapinjalas, Vanjulas doves, Srikantas and other birds such as the virile cuck- oos and bees intoxicated with the drink of honey. This admits of another interpretation, viz., in the vicinity of such orests or in a clean building situated in a sacred place. ह्रदिनीविलासिनीनां जलखगनखविक्षतेषु रम्येषु । पुलिनजघनेषु कुर्याद् दृङ्मनसोः प्रीतिजननेषु ॥८॥

Adh. XLVIII. Sl. 9-12.] अष्टाचत्वारिंशोऽध्यायः 381 Sloka 8.—Or, it should be performed on the attract- ive thighs, viz., the sandy banks that delight the eyes and the heart, that have the scratches of nails, in the form of aquatic birds, of the sportive damsels,, viz., the rivers. Note how the poet has brought out through metaphor Srin- gara (erotic) sentiment in union. प्रोत्प्लुतहंसच्छत्रे कारण्डवकुररसारसोद्गीते । फुल्लेन्दीवरनयने सरसि सहस्राक्षकान्तिधरे ॥९॥ Sloka 9.—Or, it may be done in a lake, which possesses the beauty of Indra, on account of its royal umbrella in the form of the flying swans, the fine songs in the form of the cries of ducks, ospreys and cranes, and its eyes in the form of lily blossoms. प्रोत्फुल्लकमलवदनाः कलहंसकलप्रभाषिण्यः । प्रोत्तुङ्गकुङ्ग्लकुचा यस्मिन्नलिनीविलासिन्यः ॥१०॥ Sloka 10.—Or, in a place where there are the sportive damsels, viz., lotus-ponds with their beaming faces of full-blown lotuses, melodious voices of the sweet notes of royal swans and breasts of the uplifted buds. कुर्याद्रोमन्थजफेनलवशकृत्खुरक्षतोपचिते । अचिरप्रसूतहुङ्कृतवल्गितवत्सोत्सवे गोष्ठे ॥११॥ Sloka 11.—Or, it may be done in a cow-pen which is full of drops of foam caused by the cows chewing the cud, of cow-dung and scratches made by their hoofs; and which is gay with the lowing and frisking of young calves. अथवा समुद्रतीरे कुशलागतरत्नपोतसम्बाधे । घननिचुललीनजलचरसितखगशबलीकृतोपान्ते ॥१२॥

382 बृहत्संहितायाम् [Adh. XLVIII. Sl. 13-16. Sloka 12.—Or, it may be performed on the sea-shore which is overcrowded with ships that have arrived safely being laden with costly things, and whose fringes are variegated with white birds and fishes and the like lurk- ing in the thick bushes of the Nichula trees. क्षमया क्रोध इव जितः सिंहो मृग्याभिभूयते येषु । दत्ताभयखगमृगशावकेषु तेष्वाश्रमेष्वथवा ॥१३॥ Sloka 13.—Or, it may be done in hermitages, where a lion is subdued by a female deer, as anger by forgive- ness and where the young ones of birds and the deer roam about without any fear. काञ्चीकलापनूपुरगुरुजघनोद्वहनविघ्नितपदाभिः । श्रीमति मृगेक्षणाभिर्गृहेऽन्यभृतवल्गुवचनाभिः ॥१४॥ Sloka 14.—Or, it may be done in a prosperous house where the deer-eyed ladies speak as sweetly as cuckoos, and have their gait impeded by the weight of heavy hips, girdles and anklets. पुण्येष्वायतनेषु च तीर्थेषूद्यानरम्यदेशेषु । पूर्वोदक्प्लवभूमौ प्रदक्षिणाम्भोवहायां च ॥१५॥ Sloka 15.—Or, it may be done in holy temples, rivers (Tirthas), attractive regions of gardens, in a place where the earth slopes down towards the east or the north, or where the water flows from left to right. तथा च वृद्धगर्गः । समुद्रतीरे संधाने नदीनां सङ्गमे शुभे । महाह्रदेऽथवा तीर्थे देवतायतने तथा ॥ सर्वर्तुकुसुमोपेते वने द्विजवरैर्युते । गृहे रम्ये विविक्ते वा पुष्यस्नानं समाचरेत् ॥ भस्माङ्गारास्थ्युषरतुषकेशश्वभ्रार्कर्कटावासैः । श्वाविधमूषकविवरैर्वल्मीकैर्या च सन्त्यक्ता ॥१६॥

Adh. XLVIII. Sl. 17-21.] अष्टाचत्वारिंशोऽध्यायः 383 धात्री घना सुगन्धा स्निग्धा मधुरा समा च विजयाय । सेनावासेऽप्येवं योजयितव्या यथायोगम् ॥१७॥ Slokas 16-17.—It is auspicious when the ablution is performed in a place where the ground is free from ashes, charcoal, bones, sandy mud, husk, hair, pits, burrows of crabs as well as from burrow-dwelling animals, rat-holes and ant-hills. The patch of earth which is hard (not hollow), sweet-smelling, glossy (not arid), sweet and even (without ups and downs), augurs victory. The same holds good in the case of encampment of armies as well, according to circumstances. निष्क्रम्य पुरान्नक्तं दैवज्ञामात्ययाजकाः प्राच्याम् । कौबेर्यां वा कृत्वा बलिं दिशीशाधिपायां वा ॥१८॥ लाजाक्षतदधिकुसुमैः प्रयतः प्रणतः पुरोहितः कुर्यात् । आवाहनमथ मन्त्रस्तस्मिन् मुनिभिः समुद्दिष्टः ॥१९॥ Slokas 18-19.—The astrologer, minister and sacrifi- cial priest should set out of the city at night and offer libations (oblations) in the east, north or north-east. Then, the pure priest devoutly performs the Avahana (infusion ceremony) with fried grains, coloured rice, curds and flowers; and the hymn prescribed for that by the sages is the following : आगच्छन्तु सुराः सर्वे येऽत्र पूजाभिलाषिणः । दिशो नागा द्विजाश्चैव ये चाप्यन्येऽङ्गभागिनः ॥२०॥ आवाह्यैवं ततः सर्वानिदं ब्रूयात्पुरोहितः । श्वः पूजां प्राप्य यास्यन्ति दत्वा शान्तिं महीपतेः ॥२१॥ Slokas 20-21.—"May all Gods who wish to be honoured with worship come here as well as the others viz., quarters, serpents, sages and others that partake of the sacrificial offerings!" The priest after calling upon

बृहत्संहितायाम् आवाहितेषु कृत्वा पूजां तां शर्वरीं वसेयुस्ते । सदसत्स्वप्ननिमित्तं यात्रायां स्वप्नविधिरुक्तः ॥२२॥ तथा च यात्रायाम् । दुकूलमुक्तामणिभृन्नरेन्द्रः समन्त्रिदैवज्ञपुरोहितोऽतः । स्वदेवतागारमनुप्रविश्य निवेशयेत्तत्र दिगीश्वराचाम् ॥ अभ्यर्च्य मन्त्रैस्तु पुरोहितस्ता मघश्च तस्यां भुवि संस्कृतायाम् । दर्भैश्च कृत्वास्तरमक्षतैस्तां लिखेत्समन्तात्सितसर्षपैश्च ॥ ब्राह्मीं सदूर्वामथ नागपुष्पीं कृत्वोपधानं शिरसि क्षितीशः । पूजार्घजान् पुष्यफलाभिधानानाशासु दध्याच्चतुरःक्रमेण ॥ यज्जाग्रतो दूरमुदैति देवमावर्त्य मन्त्रं प्रयतस्त्रिरेतम् । लब्ध्वेकमृग्दक्षिणपार्श्वशायी स्वप्नं परीक्षेत यथोपदेशम् ॥ नमः शम्भो त्रिनेत्राय रुद्राय वरदाय च । वामनाय विरूपाय स्वप्नाधिपतये नमः ॥ भगवन् देवदेवेश शूलभृद्वृषवाहन । इष्टानिष्टं समाचक्ष्व स्वप्ने स्वप्नस्य शाश्वतम् ॥ इष्टमन्त्रान् ततः स्मृत्वा शिवशक्तिपुरोगमान् । अभ्यर्थनां ततस्तस्य कृत्वा सुप्रयतो नृपः ॥ एकवस्त्रे कुशास्तीर्णे सुप्तः प्रयतमानसः । निशान्ते पश्यति स्वप्नं शुभं वा यदि वाऽशुभम् ॥ अपरेऽहनि प्रभाते सम्भारानुपहरेद्यथोक्तगुणान् । गत्वावनिप्रदेशे श्लोकाश्चाप्यत्र मुनिगीताः ॥२३॥