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.

चन्द्रे भूपबुधौ नृपोपमगुणी स्तेनोऽधनश्चाजगे निःस्वः स्तेननृमान्यभूपधनिनः प्रेष्यः कुजाद्यैर्गवि ।
नृस्थे अयोव्यवहारिपार्थिवबुधाभिस्तन्तु वायोऽधनो स्वऋक्षे योद्धृकविज्ञभूमिपतयोऽयोजीविदृग्रोगिणौ ॥ १॥

candre bhūpabudhau nṛpopamaguṇī steno'dhanaścājage niḥsvaḥ stenanṛmānyabhūpadhaninaḥ preṣyaḥ kujādyairgavi |
nṛsthe ayovyavahāripārthivabudhābhistantu vāyo'dhano svaṛkṣe yoddhṛkavijñabhūmipatayo'yojīvidṛgrogiṇau
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When the Moon is situated in Aries and [is aspected] by Mars, one is a king; by Mercury, one is a scholar; by Jupiter, one is a king; by Venus, one is possessing the best qualities; by Saturn, one is a thief; and by the Sun, one is poor.

English translation by Michael D Neely (2007)

Word-for-Word grammar analysis breakdown

When the Moon is situated in Taurus and [is aspected] by Mars, one is poor; by Mercury, thief; by Jupiter, to be respected by people; by Venus, one is a king; by Saturn, one is rich; and by the Sun, one is a servant.
When the Moon is situated in Gemini and [is aspected] by Mars, one is a merchant of metal; by Mercury, one is a king; by Jupiter, one is wise; by Venus, one is fearless; by Saturn, one is a weaver; and by the Sun, one is poor.
When the Moon is in one’s own sign (Cancer) and [is aspected] by Mars, one is a soldier; by Mercury, a poet; by Jupiter, a scholar; by Venus, one is a king; by Saturn, one is living by metal; and the Sun, one has a disease of the eye.
candre (stem form: candra) (masculine, locative, singular) = when the Moon
bhūpa = king
budha = wise
bhūpabudhau (stem form: bhūpabudha) (masculine, nominative, dual) = a king and a scholar
nṛpa = king
upama = best
guṇin = possessing qualities
nṛpopamaguṇī (stem form: nṛpopamaguṇin) (neuter, nominative, dual) = king and possessing the best qualities
stenas (stem form: stena) (stem form: stena) (masculine, nominative, singular) = thief
adhanas (stem form: adhana) (masculine, nominative, singular) = poor
ca (conjunction) (indeclinable) = and
aja = Aries
ga = situated in
ajage (stem form: ajaga) (masculine, locative, singular) = when situated in Aries
niḥsvas (stem form: niḥsva) (masculine, nominative, singular) = poor
stena = thief
nṛ = people
mānya = to be respected
bhūpa = king
dhanin = rich stenanṛmānyabhūpadhaninas (stem form:
stenanṛmānyabhūpadhanina) (masculine, nominative, plural) = thief, to be respected by people, king, rich
preṣyas (4th class verb root: preṣ) (future passive participle/gerundive, masculine, nominative, singular) = to be dispatched (a servant)
kuja = Mars
ādya = etc.
kujādyais (stem form: kujādya) (masculine, instrumental, plural) = by Mars, etc.
gavi (stem form: go) (masculine, locative, singular) = in Taurus
nṛ = Gemini
stha = situated in
nṛsthe (stem form: nṛstha) (masculine, locative, singular) = when situated in Gemini
ayas = metal
vyavahārin = merchant pārthiva = king
budha = wise
abhi = fearless
ayovyavahāripārthivabudhābhis (stem form: ayovyavahāripārthivabudhābhi) (masculine, nominative, singular) = merchant of metal, a king, wise, and fearless
tantuvāyas (stem form: tantuvāya) (masculine, nominative, singular) = weaver
adhanas (stem form: adhana) (masculine, nominative, singular) = poor
sva = one’s own
ṛkṣa = zodiac sign
svaṛkṣe (stem form: svaṛkṣa) (masculine, locative, singular) = in one’s own zodiac sign (Cancer)
yoddhṛ = soldier
kavi = poet
jña = scholar
bhūmipati = king
yoddhṛkavijñabhūmipatayas (stem form: yoddhṛkavijñabhūmipataya) (masculine, nominative, plural) = soldier, poet, scholar, and a king
ayas = metal
jīvin = living by dṛś = eye
rogin = disease
ayojīvidṛgrogiṇau (stem form: ayojīvidṛgrogin) (masculine, nominative, dual) = living by metal and disease of the eye

Glossary of Sanskrit terms

Note: This extracts Sanskrit terms and links to English definitions from the glossary, based on an experimental segmentation of verse (19.1). Some terms could be superfluous while some might not be mentioned. Click on the word to show English definitions.

Candra, Candri, Bhupa, Budha, Budh, Nripa, Upama, Gunin, Guni, Stena, Adhana, Jaga, Nihsva, Nrimat, Abhu, Upa, Dhanin, Dhani, Preshya, Kuja, Yah, Yat, Gavi, Stha, Aya, Ayas, Vyavaharin, Parthiva, Vaya, Vayu, Sva, Svan, Riksha, Kavi, Jna, Bhumipati, Jivi, Jivin, Drish, Rogin,

Other editions:

Also see the following editions of the Sanskrit text or (alternative) English translations of the Verse 19.1

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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