Brihat Samhita
by N. Chidambaram Iyer | 1884 | 135,584 words | ISBN-13: 9788171104215
This page describes the attitude of elephants (hasti-veshtita) which is the ninety-fourth Chapter of the English translation of the Brihat-samhita. This work, written by Varahamihira in the 6th century, is classified as jyotisha literature, also known as Indian astronomy. It contains however, also content regarding astrology, palmistry, agriculture, gardening, perfumes, medicines and various other encyclopedic topics.
Chapter 94 - Omens (9): The Attitude of Elephants (hasti-veṣṭita)
[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]
1-6. Stanzas 1 to 6 are identical with stanzas 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, and 25 of chapter 79 of part-II.
7. If the cut be white, smooth, glossy and emitting good scent, there will be prosperity. All that I now proceed to state about the breaking of the tusks applies also to its dropping down, becoming thin, and loss of colour.
8. The Devas (gods), the Asuras (demons), and Naras (men) reside respectively at the root, the middle and the end of the tusks of the elephant (hasti). The effects of omens connected with these pans will therefore be great, moderate and small and they will come to pass soon, after a short time and after a long time respectively.
9. If the right tusk be found to break, the king, the country and the army will suffer miseries; and if the left tusk be found to break, the master, his wife, son, family, priest, the driver and the wood-men will suffer miseries.
10. If both the tusks be found to break, the king’s whole family will meet with ruin; but if the breaking occur in benefic lagna, lunar-day or Nakṣatra and the like, there will be an increase of prosperity if it occur otherwise, there will be an increase of misery.
11. If the elephant (hasti) be found to break the middle of its left tusk by striking it against milk trees, fruit or flower trees or the banks of rivers, the ruin of the enemy is indicated and if the right tusk be found to break, there will be misery.
12. If the elephant be found to walk unsteadily, if its ears cease to move on a sudden, if the animal be of dejected appearance, or if it be found to put its trunk to the ground or to breathe softly and long, if the eyes be full of tears, if the animal be found to sleep always or to be restive or to refuse to eat properly or to pass excrement, urine often, there will be misery.
13. If the elephant be found to attack and break at pleasure anthills, trunks of trees, decayed trees, shrubs or branches, if the eyes be of rutting appearance, if the animal be prepared to start on a journey, if while being adorned with trappings it be often found to throw out drops of water or to cry or if it begin to rut at the time or coil its trunk round its right tusk, there will be success.
14. If the elephant, while in water, be found to be dragged away by a crocodile, the king will meet with ruin; but if he be found to drag the crocodile to the bank, there will be prosperity.