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.

सौम्ये रङ्गचरो बृहस्पतियुते गीतप्रियो नृत्यविद् वाग्मी भूगणपः सितेन मृदुना मायापटुर्लङ्घकः ।
सद्विद्यो धनदारवान् बहुगुणः शुक्रेणयुक्ते गुरौ ज्ञेयः श्मश्रु करोऽसितेन घटकृज् जातोऽन्नकारोऽपि वा ॥ ४॥

saumye raṅgacaro bṛhaspatiyute gītapriyo nṛtyavid vāgmī bhūgaṇapaḥ sitena mṛdunā māyāpaṭurlaṅghakaḥ |
sadvidyo dhanadāravān bahuguṇaḥ śukreṇayukte gurau jñeyaḥ śmaśru karo'sitena ghaṭakṛj jāto'nnakāro'pi vā
|| 4||

When Mercury is joined to Jupiter; one is an actor, fond of music, and knowledgeable in dance. With Venus, one is eloquent and head of a land corporation. With Saturn, one is skillful in illusion and a transgressor. When Jupiter is with Venus; one is to be understood as well-informed, possessed of wealth and wife, and having many good qualities. With Saturn; a barber, potter, or even a cook is born.

English translation by Michael D Neely (2007)

Word-for-Word grammar analysis breakdown

saumye (stem form: saumya) (masculine, locative, singular) = when Mercury
raṅgacaras (stem form: raṅgacara) (masculine, nominative, singular) = actor
bṛhaspati = Jupiter
yuta = joined
bṛhaspatiyute (2nd class verb root: yu) (past passive participle, masculine, locative, singular) = when joined to Jupiter
gīta = music
priya = fond of
gītapriyas (stem form: gītapriya) (masculine, nominative, singular) = fond of music
nṛtya = dance
vit = knowledge
nṛtyavit (stem form: nṛtyavid) (feminine, nominative, singular) = knowledgeable in dance
vāgmī (stem form: vāgmin) (masculine, nominative, singular) = eloquent
bhū = land
gaṇapa = head of a corporation
bhūgaṇapas (stem form: bhūgaṇapa) (masculine, nominative, singular) = head of a land corporation
sitena (verb root: sita) (masculine, instrumental, singular) = with Venus
mṛdunā (stem form: mṛdu) (masculine, instrumental, singular) = with Saturn
māyā = illusion
paṭu = skillful
māyāpaṭus (stem form: māyāpaṭu) (masculine, nominative, singular) = skillful in illusion
laṅghakas (stem form: laṅghaka) (masculine, nominative, singular) = transgressor
sadvidyas (stem form: sadvidya) (masculine, nominative, singular) = well-informed
dhana = wealth
dāra = wife
vat = possessed of
dhanadāravān (stem form: dhanadāravat) (masculine, nominative, singular) = possessed of wealth and wife
bahuguṇas (stem form: bahuguṇa) (masculine, nominative, singular) = having many good qualities
śukreṇa (stem form: śukra) (masculine, instrumental, singular) = with Venus
yukte (7th class verb root: yuj) (past passive participle, masculine, locative, singular) = when joined
gurau (stem form: guru) (masculine, locative, singular) = when Jupiter
jñeyas (9th class verb root: jñā) (future passive participle/gerundive, masculine, nominative, singular) = to be understood
śmaśrukaras (stem form: śmaśrukara) (masculine, nominative, singular) = a barber
asitena (stem form: asita) (masculine, instrumental, singular) = with Saturn
ghaṭa = pot
kṛt = maker
ghaṭakṛt (stem form: ghaṭakṛt) (masculine, nominative, singular) = potter (maker of pots)
jātas (4th class verb root: jan) (past passive participle, masculine, nominative, singular) = one born
anna = food
kāra = maker
annakāras (stem form: annakāra) (masculine, nominative, singular) = cook (maker of food)
api (adverb) (indeclinable) = even vā (conjunction) (indeclinable) = or

Glossary of Sanskrit terms

Note: This extracts Sanskrit terms and links to English definitions from the glossary, based on an experimental segmentation of verse (14.4). Some terms could be superfluous while some might not be mentioned. Click on the word to show English definitions.

Saumya, Rangacara, Yut, Yuta, Yuti, Gitapriya, Nritya, Vid, Vidh, Vagmin, Vagmi, Bhu, Ganapa, Sita, Mridu, Mayapatu, Langhaka, Sadvidya, Dhanada, Arava, Bahuguna, Shukra, Yukta, Yukti, Guru, Jneya, Shmashru, Karas, Kara, Asita, Jatri, Jata, Jatu, Anna, Karu, Api,

Other editions:

Also see the following editions of the Sanskrit text or (alternative) English translations of the Verse 14.4

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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