The Royal Expedition of Varahamihira with Utpala's Commentary

Yogayatra Text 1 Om! Salutations to the auspicious Lord Ganesha. Ganesha is traditionally invoked at the start of Hindu texts to remove obstacles. Like the sun, the son of the Lord of Ganas Ganesha, whose rays are a cluster of points of light for the three worlds, is the bearer of fruit. May he, who is the friend of the great Indra and whose ears are intently listening to the future, be successful. By attaining him, one finds treasures through vast and diverse means. May he exist without fear in this Kali Yuga The current "dark age" in Hindu cosmology for me on this earth. Furthermore, through the knowledge of Varahamihira, which is superior among all disputants, this work is composed with excellence.

To the radiant Varahamihira, who is troubled by the various divisions of the faces of the directions, I calculate the planets. Those of superior intellect wander in the right path, while those of duller intellect follow the path of the poor. I, being without personal motive, act for the sake of knowledge. Here, in every scripture, three things are said to exist: the Connection, the Subject Matter, and the Purpose. Sambandha Connection is the relationship between the expressed and the expresser. The "expressed" is the meaning, and the "expresser" is the word. Their relationship is one of means and end. This scripture is the means for those who desire to cross the ocean of worldly existence. Just as the limbs of the Vedas are established, so is this connection. The subject matter (Abhidheya) is the knowledge of the twelve signs, the thirty degrees, the planets, the horoscopes, and the various yogas planetary combinations. The purpose (Prayojana) is the narration of various auspicious and inauspicious fruits. Through the cause of birth and other factors, the attainment of the other world is established as the goal. Why are these things stated? Because those who proceed in the subject of a scripture are motivated by the statement of the connection, subject matter, and purpose. As it is said: "Success in a scripture and the inclination of the listener arise from the statement of the connection; therefore, in all scriptures, the connection is stated first." What is the subject matter here? If it is not stated, the fruit is not known. Until the purpose is known, who will grasp it? Who has the authority here? This is stated with effort.

Yogayatra Commentary 2 Because of this, this section is being composed; that itself is the comparison. The Lord Savitar, the Sun, is the soul of the world, of both the moving and the unmoving. He is the creator of essence, the Aditya a solar deity. In reality, because he is the illuminator of the three worlds, and as heard in the sacred texts, he is like the Moon and the Sun, possessing many forms. Thus, in the path to liberation (Moksha-marga), they worship him. Like the sun revealed when a jar is broken, the Sun alone is the gateway to the path of liberation. As the Lord Vyasa The legendary sage and author said: "He is the gate to heaven, the gate to the people, and the gate to liberation in the world." Thus, those who obtain the path of the sun attain liberation. All this is said: liberated like the Sun, like Aditya. He is the Self of all embodied beings. As the sacred text says: "The Sun is the Soul of the moving and the unmoving." This is his form for the unmoving. Thus, for those seeking liberation, he is the soul of Time (the Kala-purusha).

Now, I shall speak regarding the knowledge of the divisions of time in all speech. He who knows the well-divided parts in this world, or who knows the divisions through hundreds of omens and signs, the King commands him. Now, I shall describe the "March" (Yatra) specifically a royal expedition or journey in terms of years, months, and their combinations. For one who is desirous of victory, the movement for the sake of attaining a desired object is called a "March" (Yatra). As said in the works on duty: "A march is a movement according to one's nature and qualities for the sake of conquering what is to be conquered by one's valor." I shall speak here specifically about this. What kind of person should go? Those who are desirous of victory and possess superior valor. Thus, the power of enthusiasm and counsel...