仁王般若經疏 3.136

3.136

The second is the calamity of constellations. "Twenty-eight" means seven in each of the four directions, four times seven being twenty-eight. "Losing their courses" means their motion does not follow the regular path, hence called "losing their courses." "Venus" is the Great White Star. The Tripiṭaka Master says: In foreign lands it is called the Heavenly Master Star. If it moves according to principle, the state will be abundant; if it loses its course, there will be famine. "Comet" is called the Star of King Yama in foreign lands; wherever this star appears, there will certainly be disaster. "Wheel star" has an aura like a wheel; if the sun, moon, and five planets disrupt the center of the wheel star, the state will disintegrate. If the sun, moon, and five planets move to the right of the wheel star, the state will enjoy peace and happiness; moving to the left is also unfavorable. As for the "ghost star," if the midday sun in the ninth month is located in the northeast, and if it moves swiftly, it exceeds the seasonal measure; if it approaches upward, ghosts and spirits will come to destroy the state and sicken the people. "Mars" is the Sparkling Deluder star; it governs bandits. If it is high, bandits arise; if it is low, bandits submit. If it is in the position of zi, it is low; if in wu, it is high. "Mercury" is the moist star, and is also the Great White Star; if it is in yin, it is low; if in shen, it is high. It travels for thirty days in one place, completing one circuit in twelve months. Traveling through the four positions of rooster, dog, pig, and rat, there is no water; traveling through the four positions of hare, snake, sheep, and monkey, there is much water; traveling through the four positions of ox, tiger, dragon, and horse, water is balanced, and being balanced means neither too much nor too little. "Wind star" is the huang star; when in the tiger position, it is high; traveling thirty days in one place, when traveling in the monkey position, it is low. If high, there is much wind and no rain; if low, there is much rain and little wind. In the seventh month it is high, in the first month low; from the eighth month to the first month it gradually descends, and from the second month to the seventh month it gradually ascends. Moving along with the sun, there are three types: in the second, third, eighth, and ninth months it moves together with the sun; in the tenth, eleventh, twelfth, and first months—these four months—it moves ahead of the sun; in the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh months—these four months—it moves behind the sun. This is moving according to the norm; differing from this, it loses its course and is unfavorable. As for the "sword star," it is provisionally the man star; traveling through one position takes two and a half years. If in the hare position, it is highest; if in the rooster position, lowest. If high, there is much warfare, and sentient beings suffer famine and disease; if low, there is little warfare. The "Southern Dipper and Northern Dipper" are not lunar mansions, but planets. The "five great guardian stars" are metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. Regarding the stars of all rulers of states, the Three Excellencies, and the hundred officials: if auspicious stars come and enter the positions of these four stars, there will be great security, abundance, and joy; if inauspicious stars enter, there will be great distress. Following the planets moving along without following the regular path, it therefore says "each manifest strange portents." If great kings and great ministers govern the people contrary to the Way, being dissolute and self-indulgent, and bitter retribution is about to arise, the sun and moon will wax and wane abnormally and the paths of the stars will lose their courses to indicate an ill omen, thus portending calamity. If they are able to expound and read the Mahāyāna and take refuge in the Three Jewels, disaster will depart according to merit and the sun and stars will return to their paths; hence it says "also expounding this sūtra."