The Crest-Jewel of Siddhantas

original: "मध्यमाधिकारे कालमानाध्यायः ।"

Having observed the works of Varahamihira and others, even one of little intelligence like me, in this arrangement of a vast system, becomes accomplished. 2.

Vasana Bhashya Commentary on the underlying rationale — This meaning is clear. 2.

Vasana Varttika Explanatory notes on the rationale — He performs a benediction a prayer for success by praising the teachers of mathematics, relying on the logic that where the means are abundant, the result is abundant, in the verse beginning with 'The one who has accomplished'. 2.

Marichi Commentary by Munishvara — Now, at the beginning of the Siddhanta treatise on astronomy/mathematics, because of the fear of many obstacles, he composes another benediction in the form of praise of the previous teachers, beginning with 'The one who has accomplished'. The son of Jishnu, the teacher Brahmagupta, is victorious, existing with supreme excellence. How is he the most excellent? To this, he says 'accomplished', meaning skillful in all sciences. Thus, the meaning is that he is the teacher of all sciences. What then? Is the teacher of all sciences not excellent because of the lack of excellence over all scholars? To this, he says 'the crest-jewel of the circle of calculators', the crest-jewel of the group of astronomers. His qualities are described. His supreme excellence was shown at the beginning of the commentary on the Brahmasiddhanta Astronomical Treatise of Brahma made by Prithudakasvamin:

"The scripture of the planets that I composed for the knowledge of subtle motion, for fear of expansion, is here disappearing. Just as the self-born Brahma, under the pretext of being the son of Jishnu Brahmagupta, came for the sake of concise practice, therefore those skilled in the knowledge of truth called him Brahmagupta."

By the second verse. Therefore, the repetition of what has been completed is not a fault. In the phrase 'Even now, her breath, excessive in measure, produces a tremor in her breasts,' the fact of being 'excessive in measure' is an attribute of the subject, just as 'crest-jewel of the circle of calculators' is a specific attribute of the subject being discussed. In the statement that an attribute seen in another's argument is a 'repetition of what has been completed,' the term 'attribute' refers to an attribute that is irrelevant to the subject matter. He praises others. They are victorious, Varahamihira and others. The word 'others' implies Lalla, Sripati, and Aryabhata. They are victorious, meaning they exist with supreme excellence. By that, because the greatness of supreme excellence is superior even to that, it is understood that by performing obeisance to them, I am bowed down to them. Why are they supremely excellent? To this, he says 'of beautiful statements'. They are those whose statements propositions and arguments are beautiful and elegant.