History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v4.c63.t2.794

v4.c63.t2.794

We have four statements about Saturn. In Udyoga 143. 8 we read,¹⁷⁸⁷ 'A refulgent and malignant planet, Saturn, afflicts the nakṣatra presided over by Prajāpati (i. e. Rohiṇī)'; Bhīṣma 2. 32 states, 'Saturn afflicts Rohiṇī': Bhīṣma 3. 14 says, 'the nakṣatra presided over by Bhaga is covered and afflicted by Saturn'; Jupiter and Saturn are near Viśākhā (Bhīṣma 3.27 considered above). In the first three passages the root 'pīḍ' occurs and therefore it is possible to argue that some kind of aspect (*dṛṣṭi* or *vedha*) of the nakṣatra mentioned in the text is meant. But in the third passage both 'ākramya' and 'pīḍyati' are used about the same nakṣatra. This makes that passage inexplicable in the usual way. The 'prājāpatya nakṣatra' must be Rohiṇī as in the 2nd passage Rohiṇī is expressly named. All authorities agree that Prajāpati is the deity of Rohiṇī. 'Prājāpatya nakṣatra' cannot be taken to mean Mūla, since the presiding deity of Mūla is 'pitaraḥ' in Tai. S. IV. 4. 10. 1-3 and Nirṛti (in the Tai. Br. I. 5. 1 and in the Vedāṅga-jyotiṣa) and Prajāpati only in some later works. Bhaga is the presiding deity of Uttarā Phalgunī in the Tai. S. IV. 4. 10. 1-3 and Tai. Br. I. 5. 1, and III. 1. 1, while in the Vedāṅgajyotiṣa (Ṛgveda, verse 25), Viṣṇu Dh. S. (78. 16), Śāṅ. Gṛ. (I. 26. 9, SBE vol. 29 p. 53) Bhaga is the deity of Pūrvā Phalgunī. The 4th passage about Saturn being near Viśākhā has been already dealt with under Jupiter.