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.

मृत्युर्मृत्युगृहेक्षणेन बलिभिस्तद्धातुकोपोद्भवस्तत् संयुक्तभगात्रजो बहुभवो वीर्यान्वितैर्भूरिभिः ।
अग्न्यंब्वायुधजो ज्वरामयकृतस्तृट्क्षुत्कृतश्चाष्टमे सूर्याद्यैर्निधने चरादिषु परस्वाध्वप्रदेशेष्विति ॥ १॥

mṛtyurmṛtyugṛhekṣaṇena balibhistaddhātukopodbhavastat saṃyuktabhagātrajo bahubhavo vīryānvitairbhūribhiḥ |
agnyaṃbvāyudhajo jvarāmayakṛtastṛṭkṣutkṛtaścāṣṭame sūryādyairnidhane carādiṣu parasvādhvapradeśeṣviti
|| 1||

Death is by an aspect to the zodiac sign of death (the 8th house) by those of power. The generation of the disorder of the dhatu (bone, blood, marrow, skin, fat, semen, sinew) of that (aspecting planet) born of the limb of the zodiac sign connected with that (8th house). There are many conditions with many of those (planets) possessed of strength. With those beginning with the Sun in the 8th house is death caused by fire, water, weapon, fever, indigestion, thirst, and hunger. In a movable house, etc. is death in another, one’s own, or in transit to a country.

English translation by Michael D Neely (2007)

Word-for-Word grammar analysis breakdown

mṛtyus (stem form: mṛtyu) (masculine, nominative, singular) = death
mṛtyu = death
gṛha = zodiac sign īkṣaṇa = aspect
mṛtyugṛhekṣaṇena (stem form: mṛtyugṛhekṣaṇa) (neuter, instrumental, singular) = by an aspect to the zodiac sign of death (the 8th house)
balibhis (stem form: balin) (masculine, instrumental, plural) = with those of power
tad = that
dhātu = dhatu (bone, blood, marrow, skin, fat, semen, sinew)
kopa = disorder
udbhava = generation
taddhātukopodbhavas (stem form: taddhātukopodbhava) (masculine, nominative, singular) = the generation of the disorder of the dhatu (bone, blood, marrow, skin, fat, semen, sinew) of that (aspecting planet)
tat = that
saṃyukta = connected
bha = zodiac sign gātra = limb
ja = born
tatsaṃyuktabhagātrajas (stem form: tatsaṃyuktabhagātraja) (masculine, nominative, singular) = born of the limb of the zodiac sign connected with that (8th house)
bahu = many
bhava = condition
bahubhavas (stem form: bahubhava) (masculine, nominative, singular) = many conditions
vīrya = strength
ānvita = possessed
vīryānvitais (2nd class verb root: anvi) (past passive participle, masculine, instrumental, plural) = with those possessed of strength
bhūribhis (stem form: bhūri) (masculine, instrumental, plural) = with those many
agni = fire
aṃbu = water
āyudha = weapon
ja = caused
agnyaṃbvāyudhajas (stem form: agnyaṃbvāyudhaja) (masculine, nominative, singular) = caused by fire, water, or a weapon
jvara = fever
āmaya = indigestion
kṛta = caused
jvarāmayakṛtas (8th class verb root: kṛ) (past passive participle, masculine, nominative, singular) = caused by fever and indigestion
tṛṭ = thirst
kṣudh = hunger kṛta = caused
tṛṭkṣutkṛtas (8th class verb root: kṛ) (past passive participle, masculine, nominative, singular) = caused by thirst and hunger
ca (conjunction) (indeclinable) = and
aṣṭame (stem form: aṣṭama) (masculine, locative, singular) = in the 8th house
sūrya = the Sun
ādya = beginning with
sūryādyais (stem form: sūryādya) (masculine, instrumental, plural) = with those beginning with the Sun
nidhane (stem form: nidhana) (neuter, locative, singular) = in the 8th house
cara = movable houses
ādi = etc.
carādiṣu (stem form: carādi) (masculine, locative, plural) = in a movable house, etc.
para = another
sva = one’s own
adhvan = in transit
pradeśa = country
parasvādhvapradeśeṣu (stem form: parasvādhvapradeśa) (masculine, locative, plural) = in another, one’s own, or in transit to a country
iti (punctuation) (indeclinable) = (syntax marker)

Glossary of Sanskrit terms

Note: This extracts Sanskrit terms and links to English definitions from the glossary, based on an experimental segmentation of verse (25.1). Some terms could be superfluous while some might not be mentioned. Click on the word to show English definitions.

Mrityu, Grih, Griha, Ikshana, Balin, Bali, Tat, Tad, Kopodbhava, Samyukta, Bhaga, Rajas, Bahubha, Yushmad, Viryanvita, Bhuri, Agni, Ambu, Ayudha, Yakrit, Trish, Kshutkrit, Asmad, Surya, Yah, Yat, Nidhana, Cara, Parasva, Adhva, Pradesha, Iti,

Other editions:

Also see the following editions of the Sanskrit text or (alternative) English translations of the Verse 25.1

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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