Vedanga Jyotisha
वेदाङ्गज्योतिषम्
Earliest Indian astronomical text for Vedic ritual timing.
Shlokas (36)
+ Add ShlokaVedanga Jyotisha Verse 1
Vedanga Jyotisha (Rigveda recension, GRETIL) · Chapter 1 · Verse 1
पञ्चसंवत्सरमयं युगाध्यक्षं प्रजापतिम। दिनर्त्वयनम आसाङ्गं प्रणम्य शिरसा शुचिः।।
pañcasaṃvatsaramayaṃ yugādhyakṣaṃ prajāpatim| dinartvayanam āsāṅgaṃ praṇamya śirasā śuciḥ||
A pure-minded student bows to Prajapati, lord of the five-year yuga, together with the limbs of time: day, season, solstitial course, and month.
Vedanga Jyotisha Verse 2
Vedanga Jyotisha (Rigveda recension, GRETIL) · Chapter 1 · Verse 2
प्रणम्य शिरसा कालम अभिवाद्य सरस्वतीम। कालज्ञानं प्रवक्ष्यामि लगधस्य महात्मनः।।
praṇamya śirasā kālam abhivādya sarasvatīm| kālajñānaṃ pravakṣyāmi lagadhasya mahātmanaḥ||
After bowing to Time and to Sarasvati, the speaker declares that he will explain the science of time taught by the great Lagadha.
Vedanga Jyotisha Verse 3
Vedanga Jyotisha (Rigveda recension, GRETIL) · Chapter 1 · Verse 3
ज्योतिषाम अयनं कृत्स्नं प्रवक्ष्याम्य अनुपूर्वशः। विप्राणां सम्मतं लोके यज्ञकालार्थसिद्धये।।
jyotiṣām ayanaṃ kṛtsnaṃ pravakṣyāmy anupūrvaśaḥ| viprāṇāṃ sammataṃ loke yajñakālārthasiddhaye||
The complete course of jyotisha is explained in sequence for the practical purpose of determining the proper time for sacrifice.
Vedanga Jyotisha Verse 4
Vedanga Jyotisha (Rigveda recension, GRETIL) · Chapter 1 · Verse 4
निरेकं द्वादशार्धाब्दं द्विगुणं गतसंज्ञिकम। षष्ट्या षष्ट्या युतं द्वाभ्यां पर्वणां राशिर उच्यते।।
nirekaṃ dvādaśārdhābdaṃ dviguṇaṃ gatasaṃjñikam| ṣaṣṭyā ṣaṣṭyā yutaṃ dvābhyāṃ parvaṇāṃ rāśir ucyate||
A numerical rule is given for reckoning the aggregate count of parvans within the calendrical cycle.
Vedanga Jyotisha Verse 5
Vedanga Jyotisha (Rigveda recension, GRETIL) · Chapter 1 · Verse 5
स्वर आक्रमेते सोमार्कौ यदा साकं सवासवौ। स्यात तदादि युगं माघस्तपः शुक्लो ऽयनं ह्य उदक।।
svar ākramete somārkau yadā sākaṃ savāsavau| syāt tadādi yugaṃ māghastapaḥ śuklo 'yanaṃ hy udak||
The yuga begins when the Sun and Moon meet together at the start of the bright half of Magha, with the northern course underway.
Vedanga Jyotisha Verse 6
Vedanga Jyotisha (Rigveda recension, GRETIL) · Chapter 1 · Verse 6
प्रपद्येते श्रविष्ठादौ सूर्याचन्द्रमसाव उदक। सार्पार्धे दक्षिणार्कस तु माघश्रावणयोः सदा।।
prapadyete śraviṣṭhādau sūryācandramasāv udak| sārpārdhe dakṣiṇārkas tu māghaśrāvaṇayoḥ sadā||
The text describes the relation of the Sun and Moon to Shravishtha and the southern and northern courses across Magha and Shravana.
Vedanga Jyotisha Verse 7
Vedanga Jyotisha (Rigveda recension, GRETIL) · Chapter 1 · Verse 7
घर्मवृद्धिर अपां प्रस्थः क्षपाह्रास उदग्गतौ। दक्षिणे तौ विपर्यासः षण्मुहूर्त्ययनेन तु।।
gharmavṛddhir apāṃ prasthaḥ kṣapāhrāsa udaggatau| dakṣiṇe tau viparyāsaḥ ṣaṇmuhūrtyayanena tu||
During the northern course heat increases, water diminishes, and nights shorten; during the southern course the pattern reverses.
Vedanga Jyotisha Verse 8
Vedanga Jyotisha (Rigveda recension, GRETIL) · Chapter 1 · Verse 8
द्विगुणं सप्तमं चाहुर अयनाद्यं त्रयोदशम। चतुर्थं दशमं च द्विर्युग्माद्यं बहुले ऽप्य ऋतौ।।
dviguṇaṃ saptamaṃ cāhur ayanādyaṃ trayodaśam| caturthaṃ daśamaṃ ca dviryugmādyaṃ bahule 'py ṛtau||
A computational rule is given for determining seasonal and solstitial divisions from paired and alternating counts.
Vedanga Jyotisha Verse 9
Vedanga Jyotisha (Rigveda recension, GRETIL) · Chapter 1 · Verse 9
वसुस त्वष्टा भवो ऽजश च मित्रः सर्पाश्विनौ जलम। धाता कश चायनाद्याश चार्थपञ्चमभस त्व ऋतुः।।
vasus tvaṣṭā bhavo 'jaś ca mitraḥ sarpāśvinau jalam| dhātā kaś cāyanādyāś cārthapañcamabhas tv ṛtuḥ||
A sequence of presiding deities is assigned to the seasonal divisions used in the calendrical reckoning.
Vedanga Jyotisha Verse 10
Vedanga Jyotisha (Rigveda recension, GRETIL) · Chapter 1 · Verse 10
भांशाः स्युर अष्टकाः कार्याः पक्षद्वादशकोद्गताः। एकादशगुणश चोनः शुक्ले ऽर्धं चैन्दवा यदि।।
bhāṃśāḥ syur aṣṭakāḥ kāryāḥ pakṣadvādaśakodgatāḥ| ekādaśaguṇaś conaḥ śukle 'rdhaṃ caindavā yadi||
The verse gives a rule for dividing and counting bhamshas in relation to fortnights and lunar movement.
Vedanga Jyotisha Verse 11
Vedanga Jyotisha (Rigveda recension, GRETIL) · Chapter 1 · Verse 11
कार्या भांशाष्टकस्थाने कला एकान्नविंशतिः। ऊनस्थाने त्रिसप्ततिम उद्वपेद ऊनसंमिताः।।
kāryā bhāṃśāṣṭakasthāne kalā ekānnaviṃśatiḥ| ūnasthāne trisaptatim udvaped ūnasaṃmitāḥ||
Another numerical procedure is given for replacing one set of units with kalas when the count falls short.
Vedanga Jyotisha Verse 12
Vedanga Jyotisha (Rigveda recension, GRETIL) · Chapter 1 · Verse 12
त्र्यंशो भशेषो दिवसांशभागश चतुर्दशश चाप्य अनीय भिन्नम। भार्धे ऽधिके चापि गते परो ऽंशो द्वाव उत्तमैकं प्नवकैरवेद्यम।।
tryaṃśo bhaśeṣo divasāṃśabhāgaś caturdaśaś cāpy anīya bhinnam| bhārdhe 'dhike cāpi gate paro 'ṃśo dvāv uttamaikaṃ pnavakairavedyam||
A more refined computational rule is stated for fractional day-portions and their adjustment in calendrical reckoning.
Vedanga Jyotisha Verse 13
Vedanga Jyotisha (Rigveda recension, GRETIL) · Chapter 1 · Verse 13
पक्षात पञ्चदशाच चोर्ध्वं तद्भुक्तम इति निर्दिशेत। नवभिस तूद्गतो ऽंशः स्याद ऊनांशद्व्यधिकेन तु।।
pakṣāt pañcadaśāc cordhvaṃ tadbhuktam iti nirdiśet| navabhis tūdgato 'ṃśaḥ syād ūnāṃśadvyadhikena tu||
After fifteen tithis of a fortnight, the elapsed portion is computed by a further numerical adjustment.
Vedanga Jyotisha Verse 14
Vedanga Jyotisha (Rigveda recension, GRETIL) · Chapter 1 · Verse 14
जौ द्रा घः खे श्वे ऽही रो षा चिन मू ष ण्यः सू मा धा णः। रे मृ घ्राः स्वा ऽपो ऽजः कृ ष्यो ह ज्ये ष्ठा इत्तृक्षा लिङ्गैः।।
jau drā ghaḥ khe śve 'hī ro ṣā cin mū ṣa ṇyaḥ sū mā dhā ṇaḥ| re mṛ ghrāḥ svā 'po 'jaḥ kṛ ṣyo ha jye ṣṭhā ittṛkṣā liṅgaiḥ||
Mnemonic syllables are given as markers for the nakshatras.
Vedanga Jyotisha Verse 15
Vedanga Jyotisha (Rigveda recension, GRETIL) · Chapter 1 · Verse 15
जावाद्यंशैः समं विद्यात पूर्वार्धे पर्वसूत्तरे। भादानं स्यात चतुर्दश्यां काष्ठानां देविना कलाः।।
jāvādyaṃśaiḥ samaṃ vidyāt pūrvārdhe parvasūttare| bhādānaṃ syāt caturdaśyāṃ kāṣṭhānāṃ devinā kalāḥ||
A rule is given for determining equal divisions in the earlier and later halves of the parvan sequence.
Vedanga Jyotisha Verse 16
Vedanga Jyotisha (Rigveda recension, GRETIL) · Chapter 1 · Verse 16
कला दश सविंशा स्यात द्वे मुहूर्तस्य नाडिके। द्युत्रिंशत तत्कलानां तु षट्छती त्र्यधिकं भवेत।।
kalā daśa saviṃśā syāt dve muhūrtasya nāḍike| dyutriṃśat tatkalānāṃ tu ṣaṭchatī tryadhikaṃ bhavet||
The text defines kala, muhūrta, and nāḍikā, and states their proportional relationships.
Vedanga Jyotisha Verse 17
Vedanga Jyotisha (Rigveda recension, GRETIL) · Chapter 1 · Verse 17
नाडिके द्वे मुहूर्तस तु पञ्चाशत्पलम आढकम। आढकात कुम्भको द्रोणः कुटपैर वर्धते त्रिभिः।।
nāḍike dve muhūrtas tu pañcāśatpalam āḍhakam| āḍhakāt kumbhako droṇaḥ kuṭapair vardhate tribhiḥ||
The units nāḍikā, pala, āḍhaka, droṇa, and kuṭapa are related to one another for practical time measurement.
Vedanga Jyotisha Verse 18
Vedanga Jyotisha (Rigveda recension, GRETIL) · Chapter 1 · Verse 18
ससप्तकं भयुक सोमः सूर्यो द्यूनि त्रयोदश। नवभानि च पञ्चाह्नः काष्ठाः पञ्चाक्षराः स्मृताः।।
sasaptakaṃ bhayuk somaḥ sūryo dyūni trayodaśa| navabhāni ca pañcāhnaḥ kāṣṭhāḥ pañcākṣarāḥ smṛtāḥ||
A numerical relation between the Moon, Sun, days, and syllabic counts is stated for calendrical computation.
Vedanga Jyotisha Verse 19
Vedanga Jyotisha (Rigveda recension, GRETIL) · Chapter 1 · Verse 19
श्रविष्ठायां गणाभ्यस्तान प्राग्विलग्नान विनिर्दिशेत। स्तर्यान मासान षडभ्यस्तान विद्याच चान्द्रमसान ऋतुन।।
śraviṣṭhāyāṃ gaṇābhyastān prāgvilagnān vinirdiśet| staryān māsān ṣaḍabhyastān vidyāc cāndramasān ṛtun||
Starting from Shravishtha, one should reckon the grouped counts and thereby determine solar months, lunar months, and seasons.
Vedanga Jyotisha Verse 20
Vedanga Jyotisha (Rigveda recension, GRETIL) · Chapter 1 · Verse 20
अतीतपर्वभागेभ्यः शोधयेद द्विगुणां तिथिम। तेषु मण्डलभागेषु तिथिनिष्ठांगतो रविः।।
atītaparvabhāgebhyaḥ śodhayed dviguṇāṃ tithim| teṣu maṇḍalabhāgeṣu tithiniṣṭhāṃgato raviḥ||
The tithi is to be computed from the elapsed portions of parvans after applying the prescribed doubling rule.
Vedanga Jyotisha Verse 21
Vedanga Jyotisha (Rigveda recension, GRETIL) · Chapter 1 · Verse 21
याः पर्वभादानकलास तासु सप्तगुणां तिथिम। प्रक्षिपेत तत्समूहस तु विद्याद आदानिकीः कलाः।।
yāḥ parvabhādānakalās tāsu saptaguṇāṃ tithim| prakṣipet tatsamūhas tu vidyād ādānikīḥ kalāḥ||
A further rule explains how additive kalas are derived from the parvan portions in order to refine tithi calculation.
Vedanga Jyotisha Verse 22
Vedanga Jyotisha (Rigveda recension, GRETIL) · Chapter 1 · Verse 22
यद उत्तरस्यायनतो गतं स्याच छेषं तु यद दक्षिणतो ऽयनस्य। तद एकषष्ट्या द्विगुणं विभक्तं सद्वादशं स्याद दिवसप्रमाणम।।
yad uttarasyāyanato gataṃ syāc cheṣaṃ tu yad dakṣiṇato 'yanasya| tad ekaṣaṣṭyā dviguṇaṃ vibhaktaṃ sadvādaśaṃ syād divasapramāṇam||
Day length is to be derived from the remaining portion of the ayana by doubling and dividing according to the rule.
Vedanga Jyotisha Verse 23
Vedanga Jyotisha (Rigveda recension, GRETIL) · Chapter 1 · Verse 23
यद अर्धं दिनभागानां सदा पर्वणि पर्वणि। ऋतुशेषं तु तद विद्यात संख्याय सहपर्वणाम।।
yad ardhaṃ dinabhāgānāṃ sadā parvaṇi parvaṇi| ṛtuśeṣaṃ tu tad vidyāt saṃkhyāya sahaparvaṇām||
The remaining part of a season is known by counting the half-day portions that recur from parvan to parvan.
Vedanga Jyotisha Verse 24
Vedanga Jyotisha (Rigveda recension, GRETIL) · Chapter 1 · Verse 24
इत्य उपायसमुद्देशो भूयो ऽप्य अह्नः प्रकल्पयेत। ज्ञेयराशिगताभ्यस्तं विभजेत ज्ञानराशिना।।
ity upāyasamuddeśo bhūyo 'py ahnaḥ prakalpayet| jñeyarāśigatābhyastaṃ vibhajet jñānarāśinā||
This is said to be the method; the duration of the day is further calculated by division against the known reckoning.
Vedanga Jyotisha Verse 25
Vedanga Jyotisha (Rigveda recension, GRETIL) · Chapter 1 · Verse 25
अग्निः प्रजापतिः सोमो रुद्रो ऽदितिर बृहस्पतिः। सर्पाश च पितरश चैव भगश चैवार्यमापि च।।
agniḥ prajāpatiḥ somo rudro 'ditir bṛhaspatiḥ| sarpāś ca pitaraś caiva bhagaś caivāryamāpi ca||
The first group of nakshatra deities is listed, beginning with Agni, Prajapati, Soma, Rudra, Aditi, and Brihaspati.
Vedanga Jyotisha Verse 26
Vedanga Jyotisha (Rigveda recension, GRETIL) · Chapter 1 · Verse 26
सविता त्वष्टाथ वायुश चेन्द्राग्नी मित्र एव च। इन्द्रो निऋर्तिर आपो वै विश्वेदेवास तथैव च।।
savitā tvaṣṭātha vāyuś cendrāgnī mitra eva ca| indro niṛrtir āpo vai viśvedevās tathaiva ca||
The second group of nakshatra deities is listed, including Savita, Tvashtri, Vayu, Indragni, and Mitra.
Vedanga Jyotisha Verse 27
Vedanga Jyotisha (Rigveda recension, GRETIL) · Chapter 1 · Verse 27
विष्नुर वसवो वरुणो ऽज एकपात तथैव च। अहिर्बुध्न्यस तथा पूषा अश्विनौ यम एव च।।
viṣnur vasavo varuṇo 'ja ekapāt tathaiva ca| ahirbudhnyas tathā pūṣā aśvinau yama eva ca||
The final group of nakshatra deities is listed, including Vishnu, the Vasus, Varuna, Aja Ekapad, Ahirbudhnya, Pushan, the Ashvins, and Yama.
Vedanga Jyotisha Verse 28
Vedanga Jyotisha (Rigveda recension, GRETIL) · Chapter 1 · Verse 28
नक्षत्रदेवता एता एताभिर यज्ञकर्मणि। यजमानस्य शास्त्रज्ञैर नाम नक्षत्रजं स्मृतम।।
nakṣatradevatā etā etābhir yajñakarmaṇi| yajamānasya śāstrajñair nāma nakṣatrajaṃ smṛtam||
These nakshatra deities are to be applied in sacrificial work, and learned ritualists use them in naming the star under which a rite is performed.
Vedanga Jyotisha Verse 29
Vedanga Jyotisha (Rigveda recension, GRETIL) · Chapter 1 · Verse 29
इत्य एवं मासवर्षाणां मुहूर्तोदयपर्वणाम। दिनर्त्वयनम आसाङ्गं व्याख्यानं लगधो ऽब्रवीत।।
ity evaṃ māsavarṣāṇāṃ muhūrtodayaparvaṇām| dinartvayanam āsāṅgaṃ vyākhyānaṃ lagadho 'bravīt||
Thus Lagadha explains the system of months, years, muhūrtas, parvans, days, seasons, solstitial halves, and months with their limbs.
Vedanga Jyotisha Verse 30
Vedanga Jyotisha (Rigveda recension, GRETIL) · Chapter 1 · Verse 30
सोमसूर्यस्तृचरितं लोकं लोके च सम्मतिम। सोमसूर्यस्तृचरितं विद्वान वेदविद अश्नुते।।
somasūryastṛcaritaṃ lokaṃ loke ca sammatim| somasūryastṛcaritaṃ vidvān vedavid aśnute||
One who knows the courses of the Sun and Moon, accepted in the world, gains both worldly esteem and the fruit of Vedic knowledge.
Vedanga Jyotisha Verse 31
Vedanga Jyotisha (Rigveda recension, GRETIL) · Chapter 1 · Verse 31
विषुवं तद्गुणं द्वाभ्यां रूपहीनं तु षड्गुणम। यल लब्धं तानि पर्वाणि तथार्धं सा तिथिर भवेत।।
viṣuvaṃ tadguṇaṃ dvābhyāṃ rūpahīnaṃ tu ṣaḍguṇam| yal labdhaṃ tāni parvāṇi tathārdhaṃ sā tithir bhavet||
A numerical rule is given for deriving parvans and tithis from the visuva value and related measures.
Vedanga Jyotisha Verse 32
Vedanga Jyotisha (Rigveda recension, GRETIL) · Chapter 1 · Verse 32
माघशुक्लप्रवृत्तस्य पौषकृष्नसमापिनः। युगस्य पञ्चवर्षस्य कालज्ञानं प्रचक्षते।।
māghaśuklapravṛttasya pauṣakṛṣnasamāpinaḥ| yugasya pañcavarṣasya kālajñānaṃ pracakṣate||
This is the reckoning of time for the five-year yuga, beginning in the bright fortnight of Magha and ending in the dark fortnight of Pausha.
Vedanga Jyotisha Verse 33
Vedanga Jyotisha (Rigveda recension, GRETIL) · Chapter 1 · Verse 33
तृतीयां नवमीं चैव पौर्णमासीम अथासिते। षष्ठीं च विषुवान प्रोक्तो द्वादशीं च समं भवेत।।
tṛtīyāṃ navamīṃ caiva paurṇamāsīm athāsite| ṣaṣṭhīṃ ca viṣuvān prokto dvādaśīṃ ca samaṃ bhavet||
Specific tithis such as the third, ninth, full moon, sixth, and twelfth are identified for key equinoctial and balancing calculations.
Vedanga Jyotisha Verse 34
Vedanga Jyotisha (Rigveda recension, GRETIL) · Chapter 1 · Verse 34
चतुर्दशीम उपवसथस तथा भवेद यथोदितो दिनम उपैति चन्द्रमाः। माघशुक्लाह्निको युङ्क्ते श्रविष्ठायां च वार्षिकीम।।
caturdaśīm upavasathas tathā bhaved yathodito dinam upaiti candramāḥ| māghaśuklāhniko yuṅkte śraviṣṭhāyāṃ ca vārṣikīm||
The upavasatha observance and the annual alignment with the Moon and with Shravishtha are to be fixed according to the stated rule.
Vedanga Jyotisha Verse 35
Vedanga Jyotisha (Rigveda recension, GRETIL) · Chapter 1 · Verse 35
यथा शिखा मयूराणां नागानां मणयो यथा। तद्वद वेदाङ्गशास्त्राणां ज्योतिषं मूर्धनि स्थितम।।
yathā śikhā mayūrāṇāṃ nāgānāṃ maṇayo yathā| tadvad vedāṅgaśāstrāṇāṃ jyotiṣaṃ mūrdhani sthitam||
As the crest is on peacocks and the jewel on serpents, so jyotisha stands at the head of the Vedanga sciences.
Jyotisha is the Eye of the Vedas
Vedanga Jyotisha · Verse 3
वेदा हि यज्ञार्थमभिप्रवृत्ताः कालानुपूर्व्या विहिताश्च यज्ञाः । तस्मादिदं कालविधानशास्त्रं यो ज्योतिषं वेद स वेद यज्ञान् ॥
vedā hi yajñārtham abhipravṛttāḥ kālānupūrvyā vihitāś ca yajñāḥ | tasmād idaṃ kāla-vidhāna-śāstraṃ yo jyotiṣaṃ veda sa veda yajñān ||
The Vedas proceed for the purpose of sacrifices, and the sacrifices are ordained in proper sequence of time. Therefore this scripture of time-regulation — one who knows Jyotisha knows the Vedic sacrifices.