Salutations to the Illustrious Lord Ganesha. Salutations to the Illustrious Goddess Saraswati. Salutations to the Lotus Feet of the Illustrious Guru.

May that elephant-headed God Ganesha grant us prosperity; he who, having playfully grasped the skull-bowl of the Fierce Goddess Chandi with his trunk, makes it dance like a rhythmic drum in the wild dance of the Lord of Animals Shiva. He displays it within like a second solar disc, causing the Mother of the World Parvati to break into a smile. || 1 ||

There was a learned man named Divakara meaning "The Sun", who was, I believe, a master of the vast calculations of the solar calendar. Through his own compositions, he illuminated the world like a second sun, revealing the universal form of knowledge to the eyes of men. || 2 ||

He had five sons who were equal to him, like the five celestial trees Kalpavriksha in the tradition of mathematical science. They were like lions in defeating the great elephants of opposing debaters, and like the five sacred fires in their performance of priestly duties. || 3 ||

Among them, the eldest was named Krishna, and the youngest was his brother. He was a man of virtuous conduct, whose speech was as pure as the infinite goddess of learning, and who was a teacher to the world. || 4 ||

From him was born the youngest son, who attained the highest rank among the assembly of the wise. His fame was constantly spread by his disciples and grand-disciples through the science of light Jyotisha: the traditional Indian science of astronomy and astrology. Known as Vishnu Jyotirvid, his virtues were recognized by kings; he was a leader among scholars on earth, and through his commentaries on great texts, he humbled the pride of even the teacher of the gods Brihaspati. || 5 ||

Then there was Mallari, who made the assembly of calculators his servants. He was a destroyer of the pride of others, a knower of various scriptures, and possessed an intellect as vast as a mountain. This Mallari was a master of self-restraint, a great orator in the world, and a clear-minded expert in all established astronomical truths Siddhanta: the fundamental astronomical systems of India. || 6 ||

His younger brother was named Keshava, who was like the moon to the ocean of joy for astrologers. He was an expert in speech, and with the nectar of his words, he brought delight to all the arts. || 7 ||

His younger brother is now Vishvanatha, who, by the grace of Lord Vishnu, is victorious through his virtues alone. He is an expert in the playful arts of the all-knowing, and has mastered all sciences under the guidance of his teacher, Nrisingha. || 8 ||

There was Nilakantha, a knower of the Vedanta, skilled in the traditional laws and the Vedas, and a destroyer of pride. To compose other great works, he entered the city of Kashi Varanasi, which is superior even to the explanations of the Lord of Serpents Patanjali. This Nilakantha, the son of Shri Ananta, composed the Sanjnatantra, a work difficult to grasp, which acts as a mirror showing both good and bad fortunes. || 9 ||

Vishvanatha, the astrologer who dwells in the region of the Godavari river, the foremost king of the Partha country, has composed this commentary on the Sanjnatantra in both prose and verse. Ever seeking the welfare of the world, he is the foremost among those who know ancient mathematics, yet he remains without pride, acting as a breaker of the knots difficulties in this text. || 10 ||

Performing these auspicious verses for the successful completion of the book without obstacles, he desires to... m?