Chapter Seventeen: Establishing the Unity of Observation and Calculation

॥ दृग्गणितैक्य संस्थापनाध्यायः सप्तदशः ॥

Drig-ganita-aikya samsthapana-adhyaya saptadashah

Chapter Seventeen: Establishing the Unity of Observation and Calculation

Shloka 1

१. जातकादिषु सर्वत्र ग्रहैर्ज्ञानं प्रजायते ।
तस्माद् गणित दृग्तुल्यात्स्वतंत्रात्साधयेद् ग्रहान् ॥

Jaataka-adishu sarvatra grahair-gyaanam prajaayate.
Tasmaad ganita drig-tulyaat-svatantraat-saadhayed grahaan.

Meaning In Horoscopy and other branches, knowledge is derived entirely from the planets. Therefore, one should calculate the planetary positions using a system where the mathematical calculation matches the visible observation (Drig-tulya).

Shloka 2

२. विवाहे जातके यात्रा प्रश्न वास्तु व्रतादिशु ।
ज्योतिः शास्त्रात्फलं सर्वं प्रस्फुटद्युचराश्रयात् ॥

Vivaahe jaatake yaatraa prashna vaastu vrata-adishu.
Jyotish-shaastraat-phalam sarvam prasphuta-dyuchara-ashrayaat.

Meaning In marriage, birth charts, travel, horary questions, architecture (Vastu), and religious vows, all results predicted by Astrology depend on the precise and true positions of the planets (Dyuchara).

Shloka 3

३. तत्तु सम्यक् प्रकारेण प्रवक्तुं नैव शक्यते ।
सिद्धान्तानां तु सर्वेषां साम्यतातस्ति मिथो यतः ॥

Tattu samyak prakaarena pravaktum naiva shakyate.
Siddhaantaanaam tu sarveshaam saamyataa-nasti mitho yatah.

Meaning However, it is not possible to predict these results perfectly (by blindly following old texts), because there is no consistency or agreement among the various astronomical treatises (Siddhantas) as time passes.

Shloka 4

४. प्रत्यक्ष समयाच्चैते येन पक्षेण यत्र वै ।
स्फुटं दृग्तुल्यतां यान्ति तेन सर्वविनिर्णयः ॥

Pratyaksha samayaach-chaite yena pakshena yatra vai.
Sphutam drig-tulyataam yaanti tena sarva-vinirnayah.

Meaning Therefore, whichever method or system brings the calculations into clear agreement with direct observation at the present time, that method alone should be used for all decisions.

Shloka 5 (Jyotirvivarana)

५. यात्रो द्वाह प्रभृतिषु फलं स्पष्ट खेटाश्रयं यत्
तस्मात्तत्साधन इह बुधैर्भाषितेऽपि क्वचित्ते ।
स्पष्टा न स्युः परम पुरुषांशाश्चला लक्ष्यचारा
स्तस्मात् साध्या बहु विधमतैनैक पक्षाभिमानः ॥

Yaatro-dvaaha prabhritishu phalam spashta kheta-ashrayam yat
Tasmaat-tat-saadhana iha budhair-bhaashite-api kvachit-te.
Spashta na syuh parama purusha-amshaash-chalaa lakshya-chaaraa
Stasmaat saadhyaa bahu vidha-matair-naika paksha-abhimaanah.

Meaning Since the results of travel, marriage, etc., depend on accurate planetary positions, and since the methods spoken by the wise may sometimes no longer be accurate (due to the shifting motion of the celestial body of the Supreme Person), one should not be arrogantly attached to a single school of thought. Instead, one should achieve accuracy through various methods.

Shloka 6 (Vasistha)

६. यस्मिन्पक्षे यत्त्रकाले येन दृग्गणितैक्यकं ।
दृष्यते तेन पक्षेण कुर्यात्तिथ्यादि निर्णयम् ॥

Yasmin-pakshe yatra-kaale yena drig-ganita-aikyakam.
Drishyate tena pakshena kuryaat-tithya-adi nirnayam.

Meaning And Vasistha says: In whatever epoch, and by whatever system the unity of calculation and observation is seen, that system should be used to determine the Tithi (lunar day) and other elements.

Shloka 7 (Saurabhashya)

७. संसाध्य स्पष्टतरं बीजं नलिकादियंत्रेभ्यः ।
तत्संस्कृतास्तु सर्वे पक्षाः साम्यं भजन्त्येव ॥

Sansaadhya spashtataram beejam nalika-adi-yantrebhyah.
Tat-samskritaastu sarve pakshaah saamyam bhajanty-eva.

Meaning From the Saurabhashya: Having determined the precise correction (Bija) using instruments like the water-clock (Nalika), all astronomical systems, when rectified by that correction, will indeed attain accuracy and equality.

Shloka 8 (Brahma Siddhanta)

८. ध्यानग्रहोपदेशाद्बीजं ज्ञात्वा च दैवज्ञैः ।
तत्संकृत ग्रहेभ्यः कर्तव्यौ निर्णयादेशौ ॥

Dhyaana-graho-padeshaad-beejam gyaatvaa cha daivagyaih.
Tat-samskrita grahebhyah kartavyau nirnaya-aadeshau.

Meaning From the Brahma Siddhanta: Astrologers should ascertain the correction (Bija) through observation (Dhyana) and instruction. Decisions and predictions should be made based on planets corrected by that Bija.

Shloka 9 (Jyotirvivarana)

९. पैतामहादयः पुण्य क्रिया कालविनिर्णये ।
सद्यं तैर्जनुषः कालदृग्तुल्य गणितात्खगाः ॥

Paitaamaha-adayah punya kriyaa kaala-vinirnaye.
Sadyam tair-janushah kaala-drig-tulya ganitaat-khagaah.

Meaning The Paitamaha and other systems are useful for determining the times for meritorious religious rituals. However, for the time of birth (horoscopy), the planets must be derived from calculations that match visual observation.

Shloka 10

१०. किं तेनापि सुवर्णेन कर्णघातं करोति यत् ।
तथा किं तेन शास्त्रेण यत्त्र प्रत्यक्षतः स्फुटम् ॥

Kim tena-api suvarnena karna-ghaatam karoti yat.
Tathaa kim tena shaastrena yatra pratyakshatah sphutam.

Meaning What is the use of that gold which tears the ear (because it is too heavy)? Similarly, what is the use of that scripture (theoretical calculation) which is contradicted by what is clearly visible to the eye?

Shloka 11 (Vasistha)

११. इत्थं मांडव्य संक्षेपादुक्त शास्त्रं भयोऽत्तमं ।
विस्रस्तं रवि चन्द्राद्यैर्भविष्यति युगे युगे ॥

Ittham maandavya sankshepaad-uktam shaastram bhayo-uttamam.
Visrastam ravi chandra-adyair-bhavishyati yuge yuge.

Meaning From the Vasistha Siddhanta: Thus, O Mandavya, this supreme science has been spoken briefly. However, the positions of the Sun, Moon, and others will slip (become inaccurate) from age to age (requiring updates).

Shloka 12 (Damodara Paddhati)

१२. यांति संसाधिताः खेटाः येन दृग्गणितैकतां ।
तेन पक्षेण ते कार्याः स्फुटास्तत्समयोद्भवाः ॥

Yaanti samsaadhitaah khetaah yena drig-ganita-aikyataam.
Tena pakshena te kaaryaah sphutaas-tat-samayo-dbhavaah.

Meaning Whichever method allows the calculated planets to attain unity with observation, that method should be used to determine the true (Sphuta) planetary positions for that specific time.

॥ इति श्रीजातकसारदीपे दृग्गणितैक्य संस्थापनाध्यायः सप्तदशः ॥

Iti Sri-Jataka-Sara-Deepe Drig-ganita-aikya samsthapana-adhyaya saptadashah.

Thus ends the Seventeenth Chapter titled "Establishing the Unity of Observation and Calculation" in the glorious Jathaka Sara Deepa.