BRIHAT SAMHITA. [CH. 1]

7. Kapila* says that the Universe had its origin in pradhana primordial matter; Kanatha† in dravya substance‡ and the like; a few$ψ$ in kala time; others¶ in Svabahava nature; and some§ in Karma action.

8. Enough of this (subject of Cosmogony) on account of its vastness. If this question were discussed, it would swell very much in length. The subject I have now to treat of is the Angavinischaya determination of bodily signs (Samhita) section of Jyotish Shastra astronomical science.

9. Jyotish Shastra treats of many different subjects and consists of three sections. The sages call the whole by the general name of Samhita. This section which treats of the motions of the planets is called the Tantra Shastra astronomy. Another section is the Hora Shastra horoscopy. The third section is known as the Angavinischaya Shastra (Samhita or natural astrology).

10. In my work on Astronomy, I have treated of the heliacal rising and setting of the planets as well as their retrograde and re-retrograde motions and the like. In my work on Horoscopy I have fully treated of nativity, of yatra travel/military expeditions and of marriage.

11. In the present treatise, I have rejected questions and re-questions, historical narrations, unimportant planetary phenomena and all that is useless; and I purpose to speak clearly only of the vital truths of the several subjects treated of.

• Kapila was the author of the Sankhya enumeration Philosophy.
  † Pradhana is a due proportion of the three gunas qualities: Satwa purity/light, Raja passion/activity and Tama darkness/inertia.
  ‡ Kanatha, also called Kánáda, which term literally means the atom-giver i.e., the founder of the atomic theory.
  $ψ$ Dravya: these are nine: earth, water, air, fire, akas ether, Kala [time], dik direction, atma the soul, and manas the mind.
  ¶ A few: these are the Pauranikas followers of the Puranas.
  § Others: these are the Lokayatikas materialists.
  $ Some: these are the Meemamsakas followers of the Mimamsa school.
  ** The Sloka verse is evidently quoted from Varaha Mihira's work on Astronomy, known as the Pancha Siddhantika five-fold astronomical system which appears to have been lost.