Brihat Jataka by Varahamihira [Sanskrit/English]

by Michael D Neely | 2017 | 105,064 words

The Sanskrit text and English translation of the Brihat Jataka of Varahamihira.

व्यादीर्घास्यशिरोधरः पितृधनस्त्यागी कविर्वीर्यवान् वक्ता स्थूलरदश्रवोधरनसः कर्मोद्यतः शिल्पवित् ।
कुब्जांशः कुनखी समांसलभुजः प्रागल्भ्यवान् धर्मविद् बन्धुद्विट् न बलात् समैति च वशं साम्नैक साध्योऽश्वजः ॥ ९॥

vyādīrghāsyaśirodharaḥ pitṛdhanastyāgī kavirvīryavān vaktā sthūlaradaśravodharanasaḥ karmodyataḥ śilpavit |
kubjāṃśaḥ kunakhī samāṃsalabhujaḥ prāgalbhyavān dharmavid bandhudviṭ na balāt samaiti ca vaśaṃ sāmnaika sādhyo'śvajaḥ
|| 9||

Long extended face and neck, wealth from the father, ascetic, poet, possessed of vigor, speaker; has large teeth, ears, uterus, and nose; ready for action, knowledge of the arts, hunchbacked shoulders, bad or diseased nails, a pair of powerful arms, possessed of importance, knowing dharma, hating kinsmen, not from power does one come together into a position of power, but by negotiation to be accomplished by oneself is one one born of the horse (the Moon in Sagittarius).

English translation by Michael D Neely (2007)

Word-for-Word grammar analysis breakdown

vyādīrgha = long extended
āsya = face
śirodhara = neck vyādīrghāsyaśirodharas (stem form:
vyādīrghāsyaśirodhara) (masculine, nominative, singular) = long extended face and neck
pitṛ = father
dhana = wealth
pitṛdhanas (stem form: pitṛdhana) (masculine, nominative, singular) = wealth from the father
tyāgī (stem form: tyāgin) (masculine, nominative, singular) = ascetic
kavis (stem form: kavi) (masculine, nominative, singular) = poet
vīrya = vigor
vat = possessed of
vīryavān (stem form: vīryavat) (masculine, nominative, singular) = possessed of vigor
vaktā (stem form: vaktṛ) (masculine, nominative, singular) = speaker
sthūla = large
rada = tooth śravas = ear
dhara = uterus nasa = nose
sthūlaradaśravodharanasas (stem form:) (masculine, nominative, singular) = large teeth, ears, uterus, and nose
karman = action
udyata = ready
karmodyatas (stem form: karmodyata) (past passive participle, masculine, nominative, singular) = ready for action
śilpa = arts
vit = knowledge
śilpavit (stem form:) (masculine, nominative, singular) = knowledge of the arts
kubja = hunchbacked
āṃśa = shoulder
kubjāṃśas (stem form:) (masculine, nominative, singular) = hunchbacked shoulders
kunakhī (stem form: kunakhin) (masculine, nominative, singular) = bad or diseased nails
sama = pair
aṃsala = powerful bhuja = arm
samāṃsalabhujas (stem form: samāṃsalabhuja) (masculine, nominative, singular) = a pair of powerful arms
prāgalbhya = importance
vat = possessed of
prāgalbhyavān (stem form: prāgalbhavat) (masculine, nominative, singular) = possessed of importance
dharma = dharma
vid = knowing
dharmavid (stem form: dharmavid) (masculine, nominative, singular) = knowing dharma
bandhu = kinsman
dviṣ = hating
bandhudviṭ (stem form: bandhudviṣ) (neuter, nominative, singular) = hating kinsman
na (particle of negation) (indeclinable) = not
balāt (stem form: bala) (neuter, ablative, singular) = from power
samaiti (sam + ā + 2nd class verb root: i) (present indicative, parasmaipada, 3rd person, singular) = come together into a position
ca (conjunction) (indeclinable) = and
vaśam (stem form: vaśa) (masculine, accusative, singular) = power
sāmnā (stem form: sāman) (neuter, instrumental, singular) = by negotiation
eka = oneself
sādhya = to be accomplished
ekasādhyas (5th class verb root: sādh) (future passive participle/gerundive, masculine, nominative, singular) = to be accomplished by oneself
aśva = horse
ja = born
aśvajas (stem form: aśvaja) (masculine, nominative, singular) = born of the horse (the Moon in Sagittarius)

Glossary of Sanskrit terms

Note: This extracts Sanskrit terms and links to English definitions from the glossary, based on an experimental segmentation of verse (17.9). Some terms could be superfluous while some might not be mentioned. Click on the word to show English definitions.

Vyadirgha, Idam, Shirodhara, Dhana, Tyagin, Tyagi, Kavi, Viryavat, Vaktri, Vakta, Sthula, Rada, Shrava, Shravas, Dhara, Nasa, Nas, Karman, Udyat, Udyata, Shilpa, Vid, Vidh, Kubja, Sha, Shas, Kunakhin, Kunakhi, Samamsa, Bhuj, Bhuja, Pragalbhyavat, Dharmavid, Bandhu, Dvish, Balat, Bala, Sama, Vasha, Saman, Samna, Aika, Sadhya,

Other editions:

Also see the following editions of the Sanskrit text or (alternative) English translations of the Verse 17.9

Cover of edition (2007)

Brihat Jātaka of Varāhamihira
by Michael D Neely (2007)

Edition includes original Sanskrit text, English translation and word-for-word analysis.

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