Here Begins the Work Composed by the Best of Scholars, the Teacher Varahamihira

The Varahi Samhita

With Hindi Commentary

Victorious is the Sun, the source of the entire universe, the soul of the world, the natural ornament of the sky. He is adorned with a garland of a thousand rays that resemble molten gold. Verse 1: An invocation to Surya, the Sun God, common in Sanskrit scientific texts. ||1||

Having observed the truth-filled scriptures spoken by the first sages original: "muni", and considering the vastness of those works, I am now prepared to speak clearly, using a composition that is neither too brief nor too expansive. ||2||

If it is argued that only that which is ancient and composed by sages is good, and not that which is composed by men—I ask: when the meaning is the same, what is the difference in the specific statement, provided it is not a sacred mantra, simply because the syllables differ? ||3||

If the Creator original: "Pitamaha" (Brahma) says, "The day of the Son of Earth Mars is not auspicious," or if a man says, "Tuesday is unfavorable," what is the difference between the human and the divine word? ||4||

Having looked at the vast extent of the scriptures that have emerged in succession starting from Brahma, I am encouraged to produce this work as a concise summary. ||5||

Indeed, this universe was once darkness. Within that, in the waters, a golden egg of light was formed. In that egg, the Self-Born Brahma, the creator of the universe, manifested with the Sun and Moon as his eyes. ||6||

Kapila founder of the Samkhya school says Primordial Matter Prakriti is the cause; Kanada founder of the Vaisheshika school says it is atoms; some say Time is the cause, others say Nature, and others say Action Karma. ||7||

But enough of these extensive debates on various theories. Here, I must state the definitive conclusions regarding the branches of the science of Jyotish term: Jyotish (astronomy and astrology). ||8||

The science of Jyotish deals with many subjects and stands upon three pillars original: "skandhas". The sages call the complete collection of these the "Samhita." In this system, the movement of the planets determined by calculation is called "Tantra" mathematical astronomy; the second is "Hora" horoscopy/natal astrology; and the third is the determination of the various limbs or branches. ||9||

I have already described the retrograde and re-retrograde motions, the settings and risings of the star-planets in my work on astronomical calculation referring to the Pancha-siddhantika. I have also previously described birth charts in detail, along with journeys and marriages referring to the Brihat Jataka and Vivaha Patalam. ||10||

Leaving aside the minor details of questions and answers and the origins of planets which are of little use, I shall now speak of the essential truths, full of substance and meaning for all. ||11||

Hindi Commentary Translation:
May the Sun God be supremely victorious—He who is the place of origin for the entire world, who is the soul of the entire world, who is the natural ornament of the sky, and who is beautiful with a garland of rays like molten gold. ||1||

Having observed the truthful scriptures described in detail by the first sage (Brahma), I, the teacher Varahamihira, am prepared to describe that same knowledge in a clear manner through a composition that is neither too short nor too long. ||2||

If you say that only those scriptures composed by sages (Brahma and others) and which are ancient are excellent, and that a scripture composed by a human cannot be excellent—to that, it is said: other than sacred mantras, if the meaning is the same, what is the difference between the words of a sage and a human...