BRIHAT SAMHITA.

CHAPTER I.

Introductory.

1. Glory be to the Sun who is the author and the Soul of the Universe, the ornament of the firmament and who is enveloped in a thousand rays of the color of molten gold.

2. Having correctly examined the substance of the voluminous works of the sages of the past, I attempt to write a clear treatise neither too long nor too short.

3. What means the notion that the works of the Rishis seers are sound and not so the works of men? In cases where the matter refers to no mantra sacred utterance, what is there to choose between, when the meaning is the same because the words are different?

4. If Brahma the Creator has declared “Kshititanaya divasa varo nashubhakrit” the day of the son of the Earth [Tuesday] does not produce good results* and man “Kuja dinamanishtam” Tuesday is an inauspicious day* what is there to choose between the work of man and that of a Deva god?

5. Having examined the vast works that have proceeded from writers from Brahma downwards, I purpose to write a brief work embodying the substance of the same. The task is a pleasing one to me.

6. There was darkness (chaos) in the beginning. Then came water (into existence). On it (floated) a gold colored egg, the (divine) seed consisting of the Earth and the Firmament from which there arose Brahma, the creative agent with the sun and moon for his eyes.

• Both the phrases mean that Tuesday is an inauspicious day though expressed in different words.