Although it is generally supposed that the Súrya-siddhánta is the oldest, yet some consider the Brahma-siddhánta to be so: and it is stated in the S'ambhu-horáprakasa (an astrological work), that the Soma-siddhánta is the first, the Brahma-siddhánta the second, and the Súrya-siddhánta the third in the order of time. But this opinion is not generally received. Of the eighteen ancient Siddhántas only four (viz, Súrya-s., Brahma-s., Soma-s., and Vasishṭha-s.) are now procurable; the others are very rare.
In the translation wherever words are supplied by way of explanation they are included in brackets. In some places the original Sanskrit is so brief and terse, that it is not only obscure, but unintelligible, without the insertion of words to complete the sense: e. g. p. 24, S'loka 64.
Sansrkit College, Benares, 1860.
