Sarvadarshanasangraha 15.20

15.20

Now, it may be objected: an auspicious rite should be performed at the beginning of a treatise in order to pacify the host of obstacles impeding the completion of the work one is about to undertake, and to observe the conduct of the virtuous; as the authoritative statement says: “Treatises that have an auspicious beginning, an auspicious middle, and an auspicious end spread far; their authors live long lives and become powerful men.” And the word *atha* has an auspicious sense, [as in:]