History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v6.c82.323

v6.c82.323

The Bṛhaj-jātaka devotes fourteen verses for the characteristics of persons born on the 27 nakṣatras from Aśvinī. Two verses are translated for sample :⁸³² a person born on Aśvinīs is fond of ornaments, is handsome, has a prepossessing appearance, is clever (in all things) and intelligent; one born on Bharaṇīs is of firm resolve, truthful, free from disease, clever and free from worry; one born on Kṛttikās is a heavy eater, fond of other's wives, impatient, famous; one born on Rohiṇī is truthful, pure, of agreeable speech, of resolute intellect and is handsome. The Rājamārtanda in verses 16-40 sets out the synonyms of 27 nakṣatras which include the names of the lords of the nakṣatras and synonyms of the lords of nakṣatras. The Jyotiṣaratnamālā, Bhujabala and M C. 2. 22-23 divide 28 nakṣatras (including Abhijit) into four groups⁸³³ of seven each, called 'andhākṣa' (blind), 'mandākṣa' (of dim sight), 'madhyākṣa' (of medium sight) and 'svakṣa' (of good sight) and state that property stolen on 'andhākṣa' nakṣatras may be recovered quickly, stolen on 'mandākṣa' nakṣatras after effort, stolen on 'madhyākṣa' (there is no recovery but) the owner may hear that it has been taken to a distant place by the thief; stolen on 'svakṣa' or 'sulocana' the owner would not recover it nor even hear about its whereabouts. The Bṛhat-saṃhitā (chap. 14) has already been referred to (on p. 530) in connection with the provinces of India governed by nine groups of nakṣatras (three nakṣatras in each group) and chapter 15 of the same (1-27) sets out what substances are governed by the 27 nakṣatras from Kṛttikā to Bharaṇī⁸³⁴ One verse is translated as a specimen: under Kṛttikās are white flowers, those who have consecrated the Vedic fires, those who know Vedic mantras, sūtras and bhāṣyas (commentaries), officers over mines (or stores), barbers, brāhmaṇas, purohita, astrologers, potters.