Cause of the planetary mo-
tions.1. The Deities, invisible (to human sight), named S'íghrochcha, Mandochcha (Apogees) and Páta (Nodes,) consisting of (continuous and endless) time, being situated at the ecliptic, produce the motions of the planets.
2. The Deities, (S'íghrochcha and Mandochcha) attract the planets (from their uniform course) fastened by the reins of winds borne by the Deities towards themselves to the east or the west, with their right or left hands according as they are to their right or left.[1]
3. (Besides this) a (great) wind called Pravaha carries the planets (westward) which are also attracted towards their apogees. Thus the planets being attracted (at once) to the east and west get the various motions.
4. The Deity called Uchcha (apogee) draws the planet to the east or west (from its uniform progress) according as the Deity is east or west of the planet at a distance less than six signs.
5. As many degrees &c., as the planets, being attracted by their apogees, move to the east or the west, so many are called additive or subtractive (to or from their mean places).
6. In the same way, the Deity node named Ráhu by its power deflects the planet, such as the Moon, to the north or to the south from (the end of) the declination (of its corresponding
- ↑ The place of a planet rectified by the 1st or 2nd equation is nearer to its higher apsis (Mandochcha or S'íghrochcha) in its orbit, than the planet's unrectified place. The cause of this is that the Deities have hands furnished with reins of winds and by them they attract the planet towards themselves.
This will explain the meaning of the 2nd S'loka. B. D.
