The blessed Śākyamuni now addressed all the most important grahas among the constellations, planets, stars, and celestial bodies that exist in all the world spheres—the grahas dwelling in all the directions and endowed with great magical powers:

“Listen, venerable friends, to my presentation on the respective powers of all the planets and constellations. Show your power, sirs, and accomplish the purpose of all the rituals involving the mantra. Keep your samayas and eagerly pursue an accomplishment in the doctrine contained in this sovereign manual of Mañjughoṣa and later expounded in other manuals as well.”

In the interest of all beings, the blessed Śākyamuni then taught about the action of the grahas. He, the omniscient one, taught everything for the benefit of all mantra reciters and in order to fulfill the aims of the mantra [system].

“The three nakṣatras, Aśvinī, Bharaṇī, and Kṛttikā, Are ruled by the planet Mars.

“They are said to belong to the zodiacal sign of Aries, And no accomplishment will arise [when the moon is] in them. Accomplishments are classified into The highest, medium, and lowest types. One should not embark on any journey Whenever one is obstructed by the cruel planet.

“Rohiṇī and Mṛgaśirā, along with Ārdrā, Are said to be nakṣatras too, And so are the celebrated Punarvasus, Puṣya, and Āśleṣā.

“Further, there are Maghā, the two Phalgunī, As well as Hastā, Citrā, Svāti, Viśākhā, Anurādhā, Jyeṣṭhā, and Mūlā.

“The two Āṣāḍhās are praised as auspicious And good for mantra reciters. The nakṣatras of Śravaṇā and Dhaniṣṭhā Are recommended for cruel rites.

“Both Śatabhiṣā and the two Bhadrapadās Are conducive to accomplishment. Revatī brings good fortune And also competence and fearlessness in battle.

“The main ones among the remaining nakṣatras Do not occur during the lowest eon. Abhijit is known to have an auspicious influence And to bring accomplishments and merit. Tiṣya is secondary in importance; It is the last and the least significant.

“Truth and honesty are praised As the light of the world. [This light] brings happiness and virtue When unobstructed, but can also be obstructed. It is a majestic king that grants renown, And it is the king of the world.

“Nakṣatras are said to be many— Sixty-four thousand in all. However, during this lowest eon They do not possess this power. They are taught in this king of manuals that brings happiness Simply for the sake of information.

“During the golden age, Beings’ powers manifested by themselves. They all could travel through space And were free from old age and death.

“At that time there were no nakṣatras, No sun or moon, and no stars. During the best of eons at the beginning of time There were no gods and no asuras.

“There were no names and no clans; No lunar days and no birth horoscopes; No fasts, no mantras, And no karma, whether good or bad.

“Beings could wander as they pleased Without food or eating. They were always Very pure and healthy.

“However, their consciousness became ‘seized,’ Making them into worldly beings. Drawn by their previous karma They subsequently fell down to earth,

“Where they lived in celestial mansions, Commingling with gods and asuras. Then, when the middle eon arrived, They took on human bodies.

“Being fond of food and drink, They lost their [physical] luster. Their bodies became solid, And their conduct ambivalent—good and bad.

“From then on they became bounded by Days, months, planets, and other celestial bodies. From that time onward, Whatever astrological knowledge there was,

“I taught all of it, showing patience And kindness to sentient beings. I formerly assumed the appearance of sages, Such as the sagacious Brahmā.

“I took on the body of Maheśvara And also assumed the guise of Viṣṇu. I used a body of a female garuḍa, And the bodies of yakṣas, rākṣasas, and gandharvas.

“I was born in a body of a female piśāca, And I was born again and again, Becoming, in these consecutive births, A skillful bodhisattva.

“I was a bodhisattva in the past, During that particular eon, Because of my power to always choose A birth suitable for practicing the conduct of awakening.

“I also was, in former times, A naive person veiled by the darkness of ignorance. In this world, however many disciplines of Knowledge, crafts, and occupations there are—

“Whatever is found in the scientific treatises, Works on polity, the Purāṇas, the Vedas, works on grammar, Sacred hymns, or works on astrology or arithmetic— All are regarded as conceptual construct,

“False knowledge, and ignorance, As well as mistaken conduct. I formerly recited in this world All the treatises for a long time,

“Yet I found no knowledge whereby I could become a sage who remains at peace— A knowledge that brings awakening And also constitutes the cause of liberation.

“My actions confined me in the prison of saṃsāra, Rather than deliver me into Stainless buddhahood and peaceful nirvāṇa From where there is no falling back.

“But now I have attained the perfect awakening That I had desired for so long. I attained it solely by myself, By applying the rituals as prescribed.

“I attained the self-arising knowledge That was formerly taught by the victorious ones. I do not see the state attained By external methods as the same.

“When lost in the wastelands of saṃsāra Where causes of awakening are difficult to find, I could not obtain knowledge Of the kind that arises by itself.

“But now, as I have attained nirvāṇa by employing The ritual activity and delighting in what is good, I will teach specifically This collection of topics.

“Without ritual activity, Causes of accomplishment cannot be won. This yarn of saṃsāric existence is very long; It is woven and held together by karma.

“This yarn has many destinies [strung along it]. The nakṣatras, grahas, and other astrological entities Merely indicate the good and bad [results] That are in the process of ripening.

“For people not attuned to the Dharma No other signs can be observed [except for the planets and so forth.] Consequently, the planets and other [astrological entities] Are said to fall into the categories of either good or bad.

“The four guardians of the world— Water, earth, wind, and light— Are known to constitute the celestial luminaries. These same [four] great elements Account for [all] the assemblages of elements.

“Thus they conglomerate to form living beings When stirred to do so by karma. The mantras will be successful Within the limitations of [astrological?] time periods.

“In these births, one should be protected With great care, in weal and in woe. For this task, at the time at the end of the eon, The lords of gods have been assigned. They are Śakra and so forth, Distinguished and eminent in the world.

“The mantras, applied with care, Will produce accomplishments during the lowest eon. Because of this, the victorious ones Appointed the divine youth—

“Mañjughoṣa of great wisdom, In the form of a young boy. He will wander throughout this entire world, Ready to show kindness to beings.

“At that time achievements pertinent to Mañjughoṣa will be seen— The science of astrology Will come into existence at that time.

“At that time, during the lowest eon, The twenty-seven nakṣatras will become known, As will the muhūrtas, And the twelve signs of the zodiac.

“The planets are assigned to the zodiacal constellations Of the nakṣatras, which they inhabit. Occupying wide spaces, They each have a separate location.

“Regarding their horoscope and course of life, Beings depend upon their birth sign. They are born ignorant, do things the wrong way, And reap good and bad results.

“For that reason, their birth sign can indicate Their [particular] karma time and again. [These signs] determine what course will be successful For beings to pursue, whether it is virtuous or not.

“If the nakṣatra linked to the birth horoscope Has been charted out as Rohiṇī, One will enjoy good fortune, Have many sons, and live a long life.

“One will always be wealthy And will do well as the general of an army. If one’s birth sign is Taurus And this constellation is traversed In the nakṣatra of Mṛgaśirā, One will understand people and be virtuous and good looking.

“Similarly, if the Kṛttikā part of Taurus is traversed And ‘King’ looks upon Earth, One could become a ruler over the three oceans. This may manifest based on one’s birth horoscope.

“Alternatively, one may become a king in a province, Or a place difficult to access. If the planet is designated as Jupiter And one’s horoscope is right,

“One will come to enjoy The entire earth all around; One may be appointed to kingship Within ten or five years.

“One born under the sign of Aries, Which spans the nakṣatras Aśvinī, Bharaṇī, And a part of Kṛttikā, is very smart. He would do well in business and accumulate much wealth.

“If, through one’s birth sign, One is endowed with power and pleasures, But, at the time of one’s birth A red disk of the sun,

“When it is about to set, is in one’s nakṣatra, Things will go wrong— One will be born cruel, impetuous, And prone to telling lies.

“One is then observed, in one’s life on earth, To have delicate skin of reddish hue, And, it is said, one will open and close One’s eyes at the time of one’s birth.

“One born at these junctures Will possess these qualities in abundance. However, as for those whose delivery at birth Is said to take the time equal to a finger snap,

“They do not fit their [astrological] stereotype, As they are deprived of their planetary influences. Beings are born different, As their birth influences are a combination of many things.

“The modes of existence that manifest for them Are mixed, and so are their fortunes. For that reason they are not born Exactly as their horoscopes describe.

“Astrologically, there are thirty types of birth influences; They bring results that may be good or bad. Those who are marked by the planet Mars Will be of the cruel type (jāti).

“One who is under the influence of Jupiter Is always born steadfast, With a prominent belly, lovely appearance, And elongated eyes, and soft-spoken.

“Similarly, if the deities Sun and Moon have both risen And the sun is four angular cubits above the horizon, One can definitely expect a birth That is continually auspicious, day and night.

“Those with other horoscopes that are unfavorable, Who have been allotted [at birth] the opposite lot, Ought to gain control of their planetary influences [that govern] The positive and negative aspects of their inauspicious birth.

“When the unwholesome results manifest, one can thus bring on, Through correct knowledge, that which is wholesome. Having taken a particular birth, One belongs, in this birth, to an astrological house.

“Beings [born] under the influence of the planet Venus Are by nature noble and pure. I will now describe [the influence of] the nakṣatras Of Ārdrā, the Punarvasus, and a part of Āśleṣā.

“A person born under these nakṣatras is very generous, But also impetuous and deceitful. He is always attached to women, lustful, And full of hatred whether with or without a motive.

“He makes sexual advances on other people’s wives, And his [skin color] is black or dark. He is born with a smoky complexion, Is very fierce, and is fond of sex.

“One may be born under the sign of Gemini With Saturn, positioned there, Slowly traversing [the sign] Day and night, bit by bit.

“If such a person is born at midday, He will possess great mental faculties. This is said to be the guiding characteristic For someone born at this time.

“He will own great wealth And be distinguished on earth by power and influence. If one is born in the nakṣatra of Puṣya or Āśleṣā, One’s zodiac sign is Cancer.

“For such a person, a connection With Jupiter betokens great magical powers. One’s complexion will be yellowish. This birth is proclaimed to be the best.

“For a person [of this sign] born at midnight, The following horoscope is given: One born at this time Will generally seek goodness and truth.

“Such a person will accomplish all his tasks, If he applies the prescribed methods. He will obtain a kingdom and wealth, Starting already in childhood.

“His complexion will be yellowish or dark, And he will appear healthy and strong. He will delight in pure conduct, Will have good fortune, and will be fearless.

“When the nakṣatras of Maghā, [the first] Phalgunī, And a part of the second Phalgunī Become the sun’s house, The designated sign is that of Leo.

“Great heroes are born under this sign, Who are fond of eating meat. They establish their power and kingdom In mountainous places difficult to access.

“[Whatever planets] are traversing through One’s zodiac sign at the time when the sun is rising, One is said to be born Under the influence of these [planets].

“If one is born in the nakṣatras of [The Virgo] part of the second Phalgunī, Hastā, or the [Virgo part] of Citrā, One may become a powerful thief.

“One will lack restraint with regard to the wives of others. One may also become a general of the army. If this is indicated in one’s birth horoscope, One will obtain a kingdom.

“The house where these stars belong Is the sign of Virgo. Their dual regents are [the sun and the moon], Or another planet, depending on the location.

“The seniormost of these stars Are guarded by either the cruel planet, Or by the gentle planet, Or by the ever joyful and auspicious lord.

“If one is born in the afternoon And one’s birth [nakṣatras] Are those of Citrā, Svāti, Or the greater part of Viśākhā,

“Then the sign of Libra will bring much wealth. For beings who are under the influence of the moon, This is a terrible house. It will not make them unfortunate, though, but grant wealth.

“People who are born Under the same influences But at night, at the end of a watch, Will always be fond of drinking. They are discreet, respected for their modesty, Honored, and venerated.

“They may sometimes obtain a kingdom, Sometimes pleasures, and sometimes wealth. Unless determined by their horoscopes to be otherwise, Women [born under this sign] will be childless. If, however, their horoscopes are favorable, They will give birth to many children with ease.

“The [birth] influence of Anurādhā Brings perfect fulfillment of activities. One will have a loving nature, many friends, And will always be valiant and daring.

“It is said about Jyeṣṭhā that a person Born into the world [under its influence] will be fierce. He will experience and will have to put up with much suffering. People born [in this nakṣatra tend to be] cruel.

“The sign of Scorpio is described as Always intense and impetuous. I will now describe the types of birth And the astrological influences particular to this sign.

“If a person is born When the sun ‘marks’ noon, He will certainly become a fierce king Who wins battles.

“At such times, the planet in the form of a young boy Will exercise its influence at the precise moment. This planet is specified as Mars, Who [shines] his light onto the goddess Earth.

“Because of this, [such a king] rules the earth, Protected by his own son. If one’s position in life turns out to be different, It will be a mixture of good and bad things. One will, however, live long And be energetic and intelligent.

“One born in Anurādhā will possess Great wisdom and loving friends. This house belongs to Mars And always has mixed planetary influences. When the nakṣatra of Mūlā sets in, Followed by the first Āṣāḍhā and

“The [Sagittarius] part of the second Āṣāḍhā, [These three] are proclaimed as the sign of Sagittarius. This sign is the house of Jupiter. Its horoscope is as follows:

“When the sun ‘marks’ the afternoon, Or when the moon ‘marks’ the second part of the night, It is said that birth at this time Will predestine one to obtain a kingdom.

“[One born] at the onset [of Sagittarius] will destroy one’s family; [Birth] at the end of it is said to be auspicious. One born in the middle of it Will obtain pleasures, there is no doubt.

“When one’s youth has passed, As illustrious as the orb of the sun, One may become, in one’s old age, A king rich in pleasures and wealth.

“As a king, one would become powerful in the lowlands; This would not be so in other places, so it is told. But there also other people of different types For whom these influences are reversed.

“[The next nakṣatras] are said to be The second Āṣāḍhā, the Śravaṇā, And the superior nakṣatra of Dhaniṣṭhā; Together they constitute the sign of the Sea Monster.

“This sign is the house of Saturn But is influenced also by other planets. The following horoscope applies on earth Always to the just mentioned nakṣatras:

“Those born when night has set in, Either at the end of the first or during the middle watch, Are observed to enjoy Great pleasures in all respects.

“Whether born in high or low families, They become rulers over the earth. They are fierce, swarthy, And of dark-bluish complexion.

“They have red eyes and are of delicate constitution; They always are valiant and daring. As kings, they may rule countries Surrounded by water.

“They may live long lives but have no offspring. Others, for whom the influences are reversed, May experience a lot of suffering. They are regarded as deviations from the norm.

“The nakṣatras of Dhaniṣṭhā, Śatabhiṣā, And the first Bhadrapadā Are together parts of the sign That is called Aquarius.

“This sign is always inhabited by The best of planets— Different [aspects] of the moon and Venus, But not Jupiter.

“If a birth under these nakṣatras Occurs at night or in the morning, One’s horoscope will always be excellent; It indicates pure conduct in the world.

“One may become involved in cruel rites, But will be described as intelligent, And will enjoy Various pleasures on earth.

“Others, whose horoscopes are unfavorable, Will be afflicted by poverty and disease. Now I will describe the nakṣatras Of Bhadrapadā and Revatī.

“The sign of Pisces starts In the [latter] part of the first Bhadrapadā. The following horoscope applies Universally to the [nakṣatras of Pisces]:

“If one is born at night during the middle watch, Or during the day when the risen sun Is half a watch above the horizon, A little behind the midday point,

“Or when it is a short distance from setting, With [about] one cubit left to go, Such a birth is unique; It is very pure And strongly connected with Venus.

“The gods from the realm of Brahmā know This sign to be the house of Venus. It is inhabited by yellow And whitish planets. This sign is the sign of good fortune, Righteousness, and supreme virtue.

“People born under these nakṣatras Are beautiful in every limb. They are desirous of kingship, very valiant, And steadfastly loyal to their friends.

“If they live in the lowlands, They will enjoy long life and great pleasures. If they live in the east, They will always reach an old age.

“If they live in an arid country, They might reach an old age, or not— No fish are ever seen Thriving on dry land. They instead thrive in water; The abode of fish is in water.

“Birth under these nakṣatras Is well known to like that, and so is the sign. People born under them Thrive best in the lowlands.

“Rulers of the earth who enjoy great pleasures Are always established in the east. The planets considered the best [for them] Are Jupiter and Saturn.

“They will help establish a dominion in the east For those born under their influence, there is no doubt. Signs of the zodiac are explained in many different ways, As there are many nakṣatras.

“The chief planets fall into three categories. Human knowledge of them Has been accumulated over a long time, not suddenly. There are also fifteen lunar days [in a fortnight].

“A month is said To have thirty days. Its fortnight has fifteen [units of] day and night; A month has two such fortnights.

“One year is said to consist Of twelve months. This [yearly] measure of time Is said to delimit the end of the eon.

“When the dark eon sets in, The following calculations are done: The human lifespan Is said to decrease to one hundred years.

“Such years are said To be comprised of six seasons, Each subdivided into three parts— The first, the middle, and the last.

“The lifespan of humans Ranges from long to short in this world, Where unexpected calamities Are known to occur.

“[At that time] the nonhuman beings in this world Run and escape in different directions. They are frightened and very scared, And run here and there.

“Whenever a war ensues between The prominent gods and asuras, They cause, in the human world, Outbreaks of disease, Comets, meteors, earthquakes, And bolts of lightning.

“[At that time] smoke will be seen all around, As well as smoke-tailed falling stars. The orbs of the moon and the sun will appear [At that time] like Kabandha-shaped splinters.

“A hole will be seen in the sun And also in the majestic moon. In this way different phenomena will be observed In abundance, occurring repeatedly.

“There will be famines and the shortening of life, As well as the breakup of the kingdom. The king will die and religious devotees Will be in great danger.

“All the people in that country Will be struck with terror. If an earthquake occurs in the nakṣatras Of Maghā, Aśvinī, or the Punarvasus,

“The central regions will be oppressed And the thieves, at that time, will be very audacious. Great kingdoms will be ravished By the people from the south.

“If an earthquake occurs During the nakṣatras of Bharaṇī, Kṛttikā, Rohiṇī, or Mṛgaśirā, A great fear and anxiety will set in.

“At that time, the kings Who live in the west will die. The barbarians who inhabit The borderlands and live by theft,

“And the kings on the Vindhya frontier, Nestled in the valleys, Will also suffer at that time, Weakened by disease

“And having their enemies unite against them. People will seek dominance over one another. If an earthquake occurs during The nakṣatras of Ārdrā,

“Puṣya, Āśleṣā, or the Phalgunī, Whether it is the first Phalgunī or the second, It will render all the kings volatile,

“And wishing To drive each other out. Killings, enslavement, And famines will proliferate.

“If an earthquake occurs In this part of the world During the nakṣatras of Hastā, Citrā, Svāti, Anurādhā, or Jyeṣṭhā,

“The barbarians from the Himalayas, The brigands who live everywhere, The Khasas and the Droṇis Allegiant to the king of Nepāla,

“As well as all the kings, Will turn against one another, All of them eager for battle; There is no doubt about this.

“If an earthquake occurs during The nakṣatras of Mūlā or Āṣāḍhā, Whether it is the first Āṣāḍhā or the second, And the ground appears to be moving,

“It will affect the eastern people and countries— Pauṇḍra, Oḍra, and Kāmarūpa. The king of Vaṅga will die; There is no doubt about this.

“The glorious king of Gauḍa Will engage in hostilities with other kingdoms; He will suddenly either become incapacitated Or die somewhere.

“People living by the ocean Or on the banks of the Gaṅgā Will all experience flooding And will suffer from many diseases.

“If an earthquake occurs in the nakṣatras of Śravaṇā, Dhaniṣṭhā, Śatabhiṣā, or the Bhadrapadās, Whether the first Bhadrapadā or the second, Or during the Revatī,

“If there is a powerful temblor at noon Causing the inhabited lands to sway; If the entire earth shakes Along with its mountains and forests;

“If all the celestial bodies, always visible in the sky, Are altered or obscured, Then all the most powerful and wealthy kings Who live in the countries

“To the north, the west, The south, and all around— In all the directions— Will turn against one another.

“Many beings will die due to pestilence, Starvation, and the dissolution of the kingdom. If the temblor occurs before dawn, When beings experience blissful peace,

“And if, a little later, It is followed by a terrifying aftershock, And later still, by another one, It will be deadly for the inhabitants of Magadha.

“The inhabitants of Aṅga will suffer, And so will the king of Magadha. [If an earthquake occurs] when the sun ‘Marks’ the afternoon, shortly after midday,

“And extends over the entire Surface of the earth, All the religious renunciants Will certainly contract an array of diseases—

“They will be afflicted with illnesses Such as fever, severe pain, and tumors. They will suffer for seven days, After which they will improve.

“If there is [another] temblor When the sun has moved a short distance, Then the soma-drinking brahmins, The best among the four castes,

“Will suffer and perish. The same will happen, without a doubt, To the king’s advisers, religious priests, Ministers, and servants.

“The others, such as the prominent vow holders Who know the purview of the mantra system, The brahmins, kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas, and śūdras,

“And also the clever, learned men who know The true meaning of sciences and possess the political acumen, Will be attacked, destroyed, Or tormented by diseases.

“Those who know the smṛti and the śruti, and thus understand reality, And also those who are familiar with history, Will soon be smitten by disease Just like a tree by lightning.

“If an earthquake occurs When the sun sets, And then again after it completely disappears, Or in the afternoon, at the end of the meridian hour,

“The beings of the animal realm Will all run helter-skelter. The most prominent people of this world Will perish in this temblor.

“If the earthquake occurs During the first watch of the night, A torrential rain will fall, Causing [landslides with] falling boulders.

“If the earth shakes Later during the same watch, When this sign is observed A great, rain-filled hurricane will come.

“If there is a terrifying earthquake At the end of the [first] watch, It should be known that a hostile army Of the western king will invade.

“If an earthquake occurs At the beginning of the second watch, There will be death, disease, invasions by foreign armies, And severe stomach disorders.

“Afflicted by the disorders of bile and phlegm, The people will be prone to anger. Agitated, beings will run From one place to another.

“If an earthquake occurs Halfway through the second watch, A great wind will arise, Breaking trees and destroying temples

“And the tall mountain ridges and peaks. There is no doubt. It will destroy the nice monastery buildings And the temples adorned with gateways. It will swiftly knock down the dwellings Of living beings and animals.

“If an earthquake occurs At midnight, The chief and most eminent king In the eastern countries will die— Either the king himself or his son. Such an earthquake also portends famine.

“An earthquake that occurs all over the earth In the last watch of the night, Shortly after the middle watch, Portends peace and freedom from disease.

“If an earthquake occurs Shortly after midnight, The kings of the swampy central regions Will be afflicted with disease. They will die in terrible pain, Fighting one another.

“If the earth shakes during the third watch, This portends the well-being of children. Mosquitoes, wasps, and stinging insects, As well as all robbers, will perish.

“An earthquake that occurs before dawn Brings long life, good health, and an abundance of food, [But there will also] be fires In the cities everywhere.

“If an earthquake occurs When the sun is rising, All central regions Will be infested with bandits. After seven days The king will die.

“Whenever and wherever an earthquake Manifests with great force, At that time and place Good and bad behavior will manifest.

“If an earthquake occurs At the same time as a meteorite bursts, The white light of the meteorite Will destroy anything that is crooked or dishonest.

“Thus, white meteorites are always Auspicious and bring what is good. Red ones are very frightening, As they portend conflagrations.

“Smoke-colored or black ones Portend the death of the king. Yellow ones, brown ones, Or those of mixed color

“Portend the rise in activities Of mixed character. This will happen in the place indicated By the bursting meteorite.

“If it [bursts] in the center [of the sky], The central regions are indicated. If the sound produced thereby is pleasant, This indicates prosperity and freedom from disease.

“A terrible sound will bring unpleasant things to the world, Whereas a sound like a drum will bring what is good. A sound that is frightening or terrifying Indicates famine.

“Such are always the applications Of planetary forecasts whenever they occur. One should perform rites for success Whenever the nakṣatras are auspicious.

“The nakṣatras of Aśvinī, Bharaṇī, Puṣya, both Bhadrapadās, Revatī, and Anurādhā Are excellent for mantra recitation sessions. In these nakṣatras, the mantras Will be accomplished and will fulfill one’s goal.

“The maṇḍala should be drawn In the same nakṣatras with [the same] stars, When the chief planets of the days of the week Glow either yellow or white.

“Also, the lunar day should be auspicious, Such as the fifteenth—that is, the day of the full moon. [On that day] one should not travel abroad, But one may draw the maṇḍala.

“The kings should plan their journeys For either the first, the third, The fifth, the tenth, the seventh, Or the thirteenth lunar day. Going on a journey on these days is excellent And brings good fortune to all the people.

“[On these days], one should not draw the maṇḍala Of any mantra [deities] in the mantra system. The mantras will not succeed on these [days], And are taught to be the cause of obstacles.

“A pilgrimage for the sake of homa will be successful When the best planets are joined with the lunar days; Jupiter, Venus, Moon, and Mercury Are superior in all rites.

“These four planets are always the best When dwelling in the [right] lunar day. A pilgrimage made [at that time] Here on earth will be successful.

“One should opt for the days That are free from ill omens— The days that are free From [the danger of] swift destruction.

“During that period, one should Choose only the following twelve muhūrtas: (1) Śveta and (2) Maitra, Who are said to be red-eyed;

“(3) Raudra, (4) Mahendra, (5) Śuddha, And the beautiful (6) Abhijit; (7) Bhramaṇa and (8) Bhrāmaṇa, Who are famed for granting good fortune;

“(9) Saumya and (10) Varada, Famed for granting good fortune; And (11) Soma and (12) Varada— These twelve are auspicious.

“Many of the muhūrtas, which are known to be thirty, Are said to be auspicious. If rain falls on the tenth lunar day, Or the fourteenth, at night,

“During the dark fortnight, at night, One should engage in quick counting, Avoiding the eighth, the twelfth, And the fourth days.

“On these [days], Vināyaka In its four emanations will create obstacles. Using the count as follows, The following time units are proclaimed.

“Unmeṣanimeṣa, Or acchaṭā, are [the units of time] that pass quickly. I will now elaborate On the measure of time further.

“One hundred acchaṭās, or finger snaps, Are said to be one nāḍikā. Four nāḍikās are called ghaṭikā; Four ghaṭikās are known as prahara.

“One day or one night Are each said to be four praharas long. Eight of them together Make one unit of day and night.

“Ten unmeṣanimeṣas Make one kṣaṇa. The duration of ten tālas Is said to make one kṣaṇa.

“The duration of ten kṣaṇas Is said to make one muhūrta. According to mantra adepts Four muhūrtas make one prahara.

“One should observe these time measures At the three junctions of the day, And apply them accordingly at the time of homa, When seeking accomplishment through recitation

“And during the periods of sleep, wakefulness, Bathing, or traveling. The name day (divasa) applies To the period of a single day and night.

“Fifteen such days are proclaimed To be one fortnight. Two fortnights are one month— So say the fearless ones skilled in calculations.

“Then, within six months, Rāhu swallows the moon. The period of twelve months Is known as a year.

“Then, the period of twelve years Is called a great year. The dānava lords always bring Unfavorable planetary and stellar influences. In the twelfth year, they bring a mixture Of good and bad things in this world.

“If Rāhu, the lord of asuras, Can be seen during a single fortnight Completely obscuring both The moon and the sun, A great armed conflict Will be seen on earth.

“This and other such [signs] Should always be applied on every occasion. Many different, terrible obstacles Will be experienced

“By the nonvirtuous beings When the end of the eon arrives. If the entire moon is swallowed While in the nakṣatra of Mūlā

“And sets at night While [still] eclipsed, Or if it sets during daytime While eclipsing the sun;

“If there is an eclipse of the sun Or the moon at midnight; Or if they set frightened By the shadow of the lord of dānavas,

“The evil king who lives in the east Will be killed without a doubt. He will be at the risk of death by his own men, Or he will be destroyed by others.

“The king of barbarians And his country in the east will be destroyed. So, too, will be the entire population of Oḍra And the king of the Oḍras.

“If the sun or the moon Are seen eclipsed in the nakṣatras Of Aśvinī, Rohiṇī, Bharaṇī, or Kṛttikā,

“There will be a proliferation of diseases Caused by phlegm, bile, and wind. Other diseases, caused by combinations of humors, Will also affect embodied beings.

“If the eclipse happens in the nakṣatras of Maghā Or the Phalgunī—whether the first or the second— A proliferation of various diseases Will be observed in all the children—

“Also, if the eclipse happens in the Hastā, Citrā, Svāti, or the Viśākhās. This will happen without a doubt If the moon or the sun are eclipsed in these nakṣatras.

“If the sun or the moon Are eclipsed by Rāhu in the east, The kings of Prācya, Lāḍa, Vaṅga, Aṅga, and Magadha Will be seized by pain in the eyes.

“Or perhaps their sons will die, Or their wives will be in the danger of dying. Or possibly a war will break out With wicked-minded enemies.

“If Rāhu is seen eclipsing The sun or the moon while these planets Are in the nakṣatras of Mṛgaśirā, Ārdrā, The Punarvasus, Puṣya, or Āśleṣā,

“The king and the population of Magadha Will be oppressed, The ministers will be at risk of falling ill, And the cities will be held captive with the citizens distressed.

“If a total eclipse by the lord of the dānavas Is observed in the nakṣatras of Anurādhā or Jyeṣṭhā, This will affect all the population centers With pandemic outbreaks of disease.

“This will likewise bring killing, enslavement, And various afflictions that are hard to bear. The bondage and confinement imposed upon the population By prominent people will increase.

“If the disk of the sun is obscured Or the moon becomes red, Invariably indicating the coming of Rāhu (graha), In the first Āṣāḍhā, Śravaṇā, Or the second Āṣāḍhā, A famine will follow.

“If the moon or the sun is eclipsed In the nakṣatras of Śravaṇā, Dhaniṣṭhā, The first Bhadrapadā, Or Śatabhiṣā,

“And it has thus darkened over, One knows that Rāhu (graha) has arrived. This will result in severe suffering And famine everywhere. All human habitations will be At great risk from the king’s thieves.

“If, in the nakṣatras of Revatī Or the second Bhadrapadā, The bright disk of the moon Is swallowed by Rāhu from the east, Or the disk of the sun, obscured from the west, Is only partially visible,

“Every king and lord of Magadha Will lose his dominion. These are said to be the manifestations Of the coming of Rāhu.

“The quarters where the sun Or the moon disk is eclipsed Are the ones where, at that time, Good and bad things will occur.

“The earthquakes that occur on earth Are said to be indicated by signs. Based on the color of the eclipse, there will be The corresponding good and bad occurrences.

“A smoky color is the sign Of a rain that will last for five days. Halfway through it, this will become a matter of concern For the people living in Tīrabhukti.

“All the populated places will be destroyed And will become centers of disease. The kings who rule on the northern bank Of the Gaṅgā will perish,

“And so will the kings who live, Protected all around, in their forts In the impenetrable recesses of the Himalayas, So difficult to access.

“The king of Tīrabhukti, On the northern bank of the Gaṅgā, Will also die, Tormented by grief and tribulations of different kinds. He will perish along with His wives and sons.

“If the nakṣatras, during which the earthquake occurs, Can be described as hazy, Then within five days All the directions will become filled with smoke. Without any rain, it will be terrible. This will continue for many days without interruption.

“People within the range of vision Will not see one another. Human vision will not penetrate there To see one another.

“There will be great dangers there That will destroy kings and states That have the karma for this. There will be shooting stars all around,

“With terrible double or triple Circles around them. If rainbows appear at night And the wings of crows appear white;

“If the color white appears as black And black as white; If the colors of birds and their cries, Particular to the season, are altered;

“And if the birds are acting out of character, Wherever this occurs, there will be great dangers there. Also, if the two-legged, four-legged, Legless, and multi-legged beings act out of character,

“And if the birds and other animals behave in strange ways, This indicates great danger. If dogs with distended bellies Keep howling again and again, Whether at daytime or nighttime, This indicates great danger.

“In places where many such omens Occur in profusion, There will be a drought And the king will lose his royal wheel.

“Whatever the birth horoscope of sentient beings, With its good and bad influences, is said to be, The corresponding omens will occur, Bringing, in this life, good and bad results.

“Otherwise, if there is no previous cause, No signs will be perceived. Obstacles never happen without a cause, And they arise according to omens.”