The Ornament of Natal Astrology with Commentary

One might object: “This astrological work Jātaka: a treatise on natal astrology might not provide joy to truly excellent poets.” To this, the author responds with the word “Many.” In this world, although there are many skilled and learned poets who shine in the weaving of poetry—that is, in the composition of prose and verse—through the creations of their own intellect, it is rare to find those who truly appreciate the excellence of others. Nevertheless, these [few] virtuous people partake in the playful joy of experiencing the abundant virtues of others. They carry this joy within them; it is not something to be ignored. As the saying goes: This refers to a famous verse by the philosopher-poet Bhartrihari “How many holy men are there who, making a mountain out of even the tiniest atom of another's virtue, perpetually blossom in their own hearts?” The meaning is that their very nature is defined by the delight born from experiencing the merits of others.

The author confirms this sentiment through a poetic figure of speech arthāntaranyāsa: a literary device where a general truth is used to support a specific statement involving the shimmering depth, the Goddess of Fortune, and the Tree of the Gods:

Many wise poets exist on earth who shine in the weaving of poetry through their own intellect; nevertheless, [few] partake in the playful joy of others' abundant virtues. ||

The shimmering depth, the Goddess of Fortune, and the Tree of the Gods find their origin and refuge here; truly, the Great Ocean, the abode of jewels, does not abandon its own boundary. || 4 ||

The sense is this: Just as the Ocean, which is the refuge and the “abode of jewels” original: "ratnadhāma" for the shimmering quality of Depth gāmbhīrya: refers to the profound stillness of the ocean and the composed nature of a great man, for the Goddess of Fortune Padmā: another name for Lakshmi, who was born from the churning of the ocean, and for the Celestial Coral Tree Pārijāta: the wish-fulfilling tree of the gods, also emerged from the ocean, does not overstep its shores or lose its character, so too should great poets find joy in this work.

Regarding the phrase “abode of jewels” original: "ratnadhāma", the specific wording here requires careful thought. The word for “abode” (dhāman) is typically of the neuter gender. According to the grammatical rule Referring to Pāṇini’s rule 2.4.26: "paraval-liṅgaṃ dvandva-tatpuruṣayoḥ" which states that the gender of a compound word follows the gender of the final member, “abode of jewels” should end in a neuter form. Therefore, the reading “even the ocean is an abode of jewels” original: "ratnadhāmāpyudanvān" is the correct and most appropriate reading of the text. || 4 ||