Chapter on the Propitiation of the Affliction of One Born During an Eclipse — Bṛhat-Pārāśara-Horāśāstra, Adhyāya 92

ग्रहणजातदोषशान्त्यध्यायः

The complete Chapter on the Propitiation of the Affliction of One Born During an Eclipse chapter of the Bṛhat-Pārāśara-Horāśāstra — all 12 verses, each in the original Sanskrit with VedicSpace's clean-room English translation, cited by śloka. Translated from the Chaukhamba (Devachandra Jha) edition and audited against the printed plates.

Śloka 1 — The affliction of birth during a solar or lunar eclipse; need for śānti

रवीन्द्वोर्ग्रहणे जातो दारिद्र्यक्लेशरोगवान् । म्रियतेऽपि ततः शान्ति-माचरेद्धितकामुकः ॥ १ ॥

One born during an eclipse of the Sun or of the Moon is possessed of poverty, distress and disease; he may even die. Therefore one who desires his welfare should perform the śānti (pacificatory) rite.

BPHS Adhyāya 92, śloka 1

Śloka 2 — Golden image of the nakṣatra-lord; image of the Sun in a solar eclipse

रवीन्द्वोर्ग्रहणं यत्र नक्षत्रे तदधीशजाम् । मूर्तिं स्वर्णमयीं, सूर्य-रूपं चापि रविग्रहे ॥ २ ॥

In whichever nakṣatra the eclipse of the Sun or Moon occurs, an image of the lord of that nakṣatra should be made of gold; and in a solar eclipse a form of the Sun as well.

BPHS Adhyāya 92, śloka 2

Śloka 3 — Metals for the images: gold, silver, lead

सुवर्णेन, तथैवेन्दो-र्ग्रहणे रजतेन वै । चन्द्रस्वरूपं रचयेद्राहोः शीशकतस्तथा ॥ ३ ॥

— (that Sun-image is to be made) of gold; and likewise, in an eclipse of the Moon, a form of the Moon should be fashioned of silver, and a form of Rāhu of lead.

BPHS Adhyāya 92, śloka 3

Śloka 4 — Preparation of the ritual ground and installation of the images

समभूमौ शुचौ देशे गोमयेनोपलिप्य च । सूर्येन्द्वोस्तमसश्चापि प्रतिमां तत्र विन्यसेत् ॥ ४ ॥

On level ground, in a pure place, having smeared it with cow-dung, one should there install the images of the Sun, the Moon, and of Tamas (Rāhu).

BPHS Adhyāya 92, śloka 4

Śloka 5 — Red offerings for the Sun in a solar eclipse

सूर्यग्रहे रविप्रीति-करं रक्ताक्षतं तथा । रक्तचन्दनरक्तस्रग्-वस्त्राणि च समर्पयेत् ॥ ५ ॥

In a solar eclipse one should offer what gives pleasure to the Sun: red unbroken rice-grains, red sandal-paste, red garlands and red garments.

BPHS Adhyāya 92, śloka 5

Śloka 6 — White offerings for the Moon in a lunar eclipse

चान्द्रे ग्रहे शशिप्रीति-कराणि सितगन्धयुक् । सितपुष्पसितस्रग्वा-सांसि दद्याद् विचक्षणः ॥ ६ ॥

In a lunar eclipse the discerning man should give those things that please the Moon: white fragrant paste, white flowers, white garlands and white garments.

BPHS Adhyāya 92, śloka 6

Śloka 7 — Black offerings to Rāhu; white to the nakṣatra-lord

कृष्णानि गन्धपुष्पस्रग्-वस्त्राणि तमसेऽर्पयेत् । नक्षत्रेशाय च पुनः श्वेतं सर्वं निवेदयेत् ॥ ७ ॥

To Tamas (Rāhu) one should offer black fragrant paste, black flowers, black garlands and black garments; and to the lord of the nakṣatra one should present everything white.

BPHS Adhyāya 92, śloka 7

Śloka 8 — Mantras for worshipping the Sun and the Moon

आकृष्णेनेति मन्त्रेण सूर्यमाराधयेत् सुधीः । 'इमं देवा' इति ऋचा चन्द्रमभ्यर्चयेत्तथा ॥ ८ ॥

The wise man should propitiate the Sun with the mantra beginning 'ā kṛṣṇena…', and should likewise worship the Moon with the ṛc beginning 'imaṃ devāḥ…'.

BPHS Adhyāya 92, śloka 8

Śloka 9 — Mantra and dūrvā for Rāhu; the sacrificial fuel-sticks of each graha

'कया न' इति मन्त्रेण राहुं दूर्वाभिरर्चयेत् । राहुसूर्येन्दुसमिधो दूर्वार्कश्च पलाशकः ॥ ९ ॥

With the mantra beginning 'kayā naḥ…' one should worship Rāhu with dūrvā grass. The fuel-sticks (samidh) of Rāhu, the Sun and the Moon are dūrvā, arka and palāśa respectively.

BPHS Adhyāya 92, śloka 9

Śloka 10 — Homa with the appropriate samidh; aśvattha for the nakṣatra-lord

तत्तद्ग्रहाणां प्रीत्यर्थं समिद्भिर्जुहुयाद् बुधः । नक्षत्रेशप्रसादाया-श्वत्थस्य समिधः शुभाः ॥ १० ॥

The wise man should offer oblations with those (respective) fuel-sticks for the propitiation of the several grahas; and for winning the favour of the lord of the nakṣatra, fuel-sticks of aśvattha are auspicious.

BPHS Adhyāya 92, śloka 10

Śloka 11 — Abhiṣeka of the child and parents; salutation of the ācārya; feeding brāhmaṇas

कलशोदकतो जातं दम्पती चाभिषिञ्चयेत् । आचार्यमभिवाद्याथ ब्राह्मणान् भोजयेत् सुधीः ॥ ११ ॥

With the water of the (consecrated) pot one should sprinkle the new-born child and the married couple (his parents); then, having saluted the ācārya, the wise man should feed brāhmaṇas.

BPHS Adhyāya 92, śloka 11

Śloka 12 — Dakṣiṇā at the close; conclusion of the śānti

कर्मणोऽन्ते यथाशक्ति दद्याद् विप्राय दक्षिणाम् । एवं ग्रहणजातानां शुभदा शान्तिरीरिता ॥ १२ ॥

At the end of the rite one should give dakṣiṇā to the brāhmaṇa according to one's capacity. Thus has been declared the auspicious-yielding śānti for those born during an eclipse.

BPHS Adhyāya 92, śloka 12