Dasadhyayi-paradise lost

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Dasadhyayi is a commentary of Brihat jataka which is held in high regard among

the scholars of astrology

 

YEt we dont see a single commentary of Dasadhyayi in english and it is evident

that once cannot become a good astrologer without Studying " Dasadhyayi " .It is

evident form Prasma Marga where the author says

 

" One, who attempts to predict without studying the Dasadhyayi, would be

like a man trying to cross an ocean without a boat "

 

I dont think any of the present age astrologers would come out and say that they

have learnt Dasadhyayi.As far as my search goes

 

Dasadhyayi which was published in 1912 by shri venkateswara press is available

in many of the leading LEading libraries in USA

 

For more info visit

 

http://www.worldcat.org/search?qt=worldcat_org_all & q=dasadhyayi

 

Hope somebody who can access it can bring it to present sanskrit scholars and

translate it into english for the benefit of jyotish world

 

 

Excerpts from Brihat jataka:-

 

Varahamihira great astrological savant has been able to encompass and put into

excellent shape the science of predictive astrology, in his Brihatjaiaka.

Restricting the number of slokas to 383, in his famous work, Varahamihira says

that his work is `Swalpam Vriththa Vichithram Artha Bahulam.' This means that

though prima facie the work may appear to be small, it is something strange with

a lot of meaning and hidden ideas.

 

eg.Let us refer to the first sloka of Chapter 1 of Brihatjataka. The first line

of the sloka runs thus

 

Moorthitve parikalpitha: sasabritho varthmapunarjanmana

 

This sloka, according to Bhattotpala, is merely an invocation addressed to the

great and glorious Sun. But Dasadhyayi sees in it a variety of meanings,

consistent with Varahamihira's own claim to this effect in stanza 2 of Chapter I

of Brihat Jataka. It is said that the method of casting unknown horoscopes

(Nashta Juuika) is contained in this sloka, apart from other equally important

or significant meanings. Each word of the sloka, apart from what it ordinarily

connotes, is supposed to stand for some other meaning. Thus while by the word

moorthithve is meant one of the astamurthis of Siva (vide English Translation of

Brihat Jataka by B.Suryanarain Rao) it is also said to imply moorthibhava or

Lagna. Similarly each word of the sloka is held to be capable of a variety of

meanings and interpretations.

 

Again taking the words

Moorthithveparikalpitassasabritha: To start with 'moorthithve' is converted into

numbers. From this the number 'parika' should be subtracted. Again from the

remainder, got by subtracting'parika' from 'moorthithve 'the number of 'pitha'

after being inverted should be subtracted, as the commentary says that the

number 'pitha' should be subtracted only after it is inverted (sodhayed

vilomena). Then to this remainder the number 'sasa' should be added This gives

the number ofslokas contained in Brihat Jataka. When this is calculated, we will

get the number as shown hereunder: —

(1) The number of 'moorthithve' is 465 (as 'thve' is 4, 'rthi' is 6 and 'mu' is

5).

(2) The number for 'parika' is 121.

(3) When (2) is subtracted from (1) we get 465 — 121 = 344.

(4) From this the number for 'pitha' = 61 should be subtracted after it is

reversed. Then

we get 344 — 16 = 328.

(5) To this 328 the number for 'sasa' should be added. Then we get (328 plus 55)

383.

This is the total number of slokas contained in the work Brihat Jataka.

 

The above observations, it is hoped, will give the reader an idea of how the

author of Dasadhyayi has tried to interpret Brihat Jataka.