Chapter 124 - Astrology in the science of victory in battles

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

[Full title: The essence of Astrology (jyotiḥśāstra-sāra) as described in the Science of Victory in Battles (yuddha-jaya-arṇāva)]

Fire-God said:

1. I shall describe the essence of astrology as propounded in the (science) of victory in battles [i.e., yuddha-jaya-arṇāva], without the employment of mantra and herbs and as narrated by Iśvara (Lord Śiva) to Umā.

The Goddess said:

2. Explain to me the strategy by which the demons were conquered by celestials. So also (explain to me) the knowledge relating to success in battles [i.e., yuddha-jaya-arṇāva] which give discrimination about good and bad.

The Lord said:

3. Energy comprising fifteen letters was born by the desire of the chief god. The movable and immovable were born then. One finds one’s desire fulfilled by the worship (of the energy).

4. I shall explain the base of the mantra which is produced from five mantras. Those mantras remain in all the mantras in their beginning and end.

5-6. They are the mantras of Ṛk, Yajus, Sāman, and Atharva vedas in order. The mantras of lords Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Rudra, Īśa (Śiva), Indra and others who are (known as) Saptaśikha devas are these five mantras. ‘a, i, u, e, o’ (are) the parts. The fundamental (mantra) is stated to be Brahma.

7. Just as the fire in the wood which has not developed fully is not seen, the energy of lord Śiva remaining in the body is not seen.

8. The energy adorned with the syllable of ‘Oṃ’ is first born. O Great lady! the hindu (dot) (was) then (born) together with the letter ‘e’.

9. The letter ‘u’ which is the soul of the sound was born then. It produces the sound remaining in the heart. Then the letter ‘i’ of the shape of a crescent, which gives knowledge about the path of release, (was born).

10. The letter ‘a’ which is the supreme one giving enjoyment and emancipation, was born manifest. The letter ‘a’ is under the power of control of the lord. It is remembered as the part of cessation of activity.

11-12. The fragrance, the mystical letter ‘na’, prāṇa (life breath), iḍā (a tubular vessel in the body) and the energy known as fixed rest in this. The letter ‘i’ is known as the stable part. The essence, the apāna (one of the five life-winds) in the body), piṅgalā (a tubular vessel in the body), the energy (known as) krūrā and the mystical letter ‘i’ remain united inside. The letter ‘u’ is the knowledge part. The form which is the characteristic of fire, the mystic letter ‘ra’, the samāna (one of the five lifewinds in the body), the gāndhārī (one of the tubular verse in the body), and the energy damanī (rest therein).

13. The letter ‘e’ is the tranquil part. The sense of touch which is the characteristic of the wind, the udāna (one of the five life-winds in the body), the calā (one of the tubular organs of the body) and the energy (called) kriyā (rest therein). The syllable ‘oṃ’ is that beyond the tranquil part. The sound which is the characteristic of the sky and the vyāna (one of the five lifewinds in the body) (rest therein).

14. The (above-mentioned) are the five kinds of letters. The (planets) Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn respectively (preside over) the letters ‘a’ etc. The letters ‘ka’ and others are placed below these.

15. Everything relating to the movable and immovable (objects of the world) is known through these. I shall describe the knowledge-base. The praṇava (syllable ‘oṃ’) is stated to be (lord) Śiva.

16. (When we say) Uma, it denotes (lord) Śiva along with (his consort) Umā. Umā is the energy (of Śiva) This energy remains (in three forms) as Vāmā, Jyeṣṭhā and Raudrī. (It remains in the three forms of) Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Rudra duly. Creation etc. are the three qualities (associated with them).

17-18. Three nāḍīs (tubular vessels in the body) which are gem-like (are also present). (The praṇava) is moreover gross and subtle (which are respectively) highest and lowest. One should contemplate (on) that (praṇava) day and night as whitecoloured, as showering the excellent ambrosia and flooding the soul. O Goddess! One would become unaging and attains the qualities of lord Śiva.

19. The limbs (of the body) (are assigned) in (the fingers) beginning with the thumb and the eye at the centre. Then one should worship (lord) Mṛtyuñjaya (Śiva, conqueror of earth) and become victorious in the battles.

20. The sound is void and without any support. The sparśa (consonants ka to ma) should be touched bending horizontally. The form is stated to be having upward motion and rests under the water.

21. The fragrance remains detached from all places. The principal part is at the centre. The bulbous root, which is of the form of (lord) Śiva remains at the base of the navel.

22. The formation with energy houses the moon, sun and (lord) Hari (Viṣṇu). It is endowed with the ten winds and the five primary elements.

23. (That bulbous root) which is the soul of lord Śiva is of the shape of the destructive fire that is shining. That is the life of the entire world of living beings of the immovables and movables. When that one having the fire as its soul is lost, I consider that it is dead.