The Sun of Auspicious Moments with the Beloved of the Sun Commentary (1572) - Page 10

Su. Ma. 7

Comm. 7

One who destroys her own health [will be born] on Wednesday; she will be the mother of daughters. On Thursday, she will be a woman with many daughters. On Friday, she will have both daughters and sons. On Saturday, however, the woman will be unchaste pumshchali literally "one who runs after men"; a term for an unfaithful or promiscuous woman in traditional texts at her first menses—so say the wise. And thus says Narada: "One is sickly [on Sunday], devoted to her husband [on Monday], a wicked woman [on Tuesday], a mother of many daughters [on Wednesday], one who enjoys pleasures [on Thursday], beloved of her husband [on Friday], and a woman of misfortune [on Saturday]"—thus the effects from the Sun's day (Sunday) onwards to Venus's day (Friday). In the verse from the Karika, the result for Monday is missing; however, in Narada’s verse, it is stated as "devoted to her husband." Thus, where there is a contradiction—such as the risk of "dead offspring"—it should be understood that "devoted to her husband" applies specifically to the subjects of Monday and Friday. Therefore, according to the words of Ananda, [the exclusion of] the "cruel days" (Tuesday and Saturday) is highly recommended.

The results of the lunar days are stated:
"The empty days rikta the 4th, 9th, and 14th lunar days, considered 'empty' or inauspicious for new beginnings, the New Moon, the twelfth called 'arka' here because its presiding deity is the Sun, the eighth, and the sixth—these seven lunar days are not auspicious." Or, the word "arka" can represent the number twelve. This is also stated in the Ratnamala: "The five lunar days at the face of the season (menses)..." and so on. The eighth and sixth are well known. These seven are inauspicious; by implication, the others are auspicious. It is said:

On the first day: the woman becomes very fortunate.
On the second: she is lucky.
On the third: endowed with sons.
On the fourth: she becomes a widow.
On the fifth: a giver of wealth.
On the sixth: a woman of bad character.
On the seventh: an increaser of wealth.
On the eighth: a "demoness" rakshasi implying a fierce or cruel temperament.
On the ninth: an increaser of sins.
On the tenth: a virtuous woman.
On the eleventh: endowed with sons.
On the twelfth: unfortunate.
On the thirteenth: a giver of gold.
On the fourteenth: she will be unchaste.
On the Full Moon: a mother of good sons.
If it happens during the Bhadra an inauspicious astrological period or on the New Moon, she will be a thief.

The results of the location are stated:
"In another's house, or in a bad place kupada." "Another's house" means a house other than the husband's. "Bad place" refers to a contemptible location. In these, the menses are censured; by implication, other places are auspicious. It is said: "In a place of the gods (temple), a place of the ancestors (cremation ground), a contemptible place, or the house of an outcaste—the fruit for the woman in menses in these places is [inauspicious]." "Place of the gods" means a temple; "Place of the ancestors" means a cremation ground; "Contemptible place" means a vile location.

"Another's residence" means a house other than the husband's house. Another point to consider: in this verse, much has been said, yet why does the text only mention "another's house" and "bad place"? Truly, the two locations mentioned encompass everything said in all the verses. For example: "place of the gods," "another's residence," and "house of an outcaste"—these three terms are contained within the term "another's house." Others mentioned in the verses are included under "bad place." But one might ask: how is a "road" a "bad place"? It is not inherently contemptible, but a road is considered "ancestral" original: "pitrvat" because it is used for the movement of all people, as is well known in the Law Books dharmashastra. Therefore, the lengthy explanation in the previous verse is not useless; rather, it was spoken to emphasize the varying degrees of faults. There is no error here.

The results of the time of day are stated:
"Night, the two twilights sandhya, and the afternoon aparahna." Night is well known. The two twilights are [dawn and dusk]. The afternoon is the third part of the day when divided into three. These four times are inauspicious. By implication, the other two—forenoon and midday—are auspicious. It is said: "A woman in her menses in the forenoon becomes a mother of sons, fortunate, and meritorious. In the midday, she is auspicious. In the afternoon, she becomes self-willed svairini implying an independent or unfaithful woman. In the two twilights, she becomes a courtesan. In the night, she becomes a widow."

The results of the constellations are stated:
"The mixed, the fierce, and the sharp Mula." The "mixed" mishra stars are Vishakha and [Anuradha]. The "fierce" ugra are the three Purvas, Bharani, and Magha. The "sharp" tikshna are Ashlesha, Jyeshtha, and Ardra. These constellations are not auspicious; by implication, the others are. This is stated in the Narada Samhita:
1. Ashvini: Endowed with wealth, fortunate, mother of sons, happy, and stable; she is superior in her lineage and honorable.
2. Bharani: Ill-behaved, self-willed, prone to miscarriage, and sterile.
3. Krittika: Worthless, unchaste, sterile, prone to miscarriage, a servant, or one whose children die.
4. Rohini: Well-behaved, beautiful, honorable, devoted to her husband, and always engaged in the worship of the home.
5. Mrigashira: Endowed with virtues, devoted to righteousness, enduring, beloved by her husband, and wealthy in sons.
6. Ardra: Born of a good family, but unfortunate, suffering, and a wife whose sons die...