Chapter Fifteen

SECRETS OF ASTRONOMY

पञ्चदशोऽध्यायः

ज्यौतिषोपनिषत्

[ग्रहणम्] सूर्येन्दुभगणधात्रीसंस्थानविदोऽधिकृत्य कथयामि । ग्रह(णं) सदैव भानोः स्थानविशेषात् क्वचिद्दृश्यम् ॥ १ ॥ अविदितसंस्थानानां बोधोऽपि हि जायते यथाऽऽधान्याम् । क्षीरं शंखोपहितं द(श)नविनाशक्षमं भवति ॥ २ ॥

Eclipses

1. I declare the following to those who possess pre-knowledge of the relative positions of the Sun, the Moon, the zodiac with the principal stars, and the earth. There is always an eclipse of the Sun visible somewhere in space, according to the position of the place. This is what is meant: If a solar eclipse is defined as being caused by the Moon hiding the Sun, it is obvious that at any moment some place in space will have the Sun hidden behind the Moon.
2. For those who do not know the relative positions of the above mentioned, even knowledge will become similar to the milk in the container with conch in it becoming capable of destroying the teeth. This is the meaning:- Milk and Conch are by themselves beneficial things, especially conch which can strengthen the teeth on account of its calcium content. But milk with conch soaked in it becomes positively harmful to the teeth on account of their incompatibility. So also, even know- ledge can become harmful unless the knowledge as to when, where and how to use it is also known. TS have amended the correct dhānyām into dhānyam, not realising that the word intended in the context is ādhānī, meaning the vessel for holding the milk, and also not understanding what is meant by the verse. For similar reasons, NP have emended the word as dhyānāt, and gives a meaning opposite to what is intended by VM. 1a. A. भगणा B. धात्रीं c. A. ग्रहाणां d. B. विशेषात A. क्वचिदृश्यं; B. क्वचिदृश्यम् (B3. कवि) 2a. B1.3. आअविदित A. सस्थानानां; B. सस्तानानां b. B. वेद्योपि B3. तायते B. ध्यान्याम्; C. यथा ध्यानम्; D. यथा ध्यानात् c. A. दशान; B1.3. दशानन; B2. दशा विना