________________
1
NOTES
N. B. Figures on the left indicate numbers of the
stanzas.
R-Portentous phenomena foreboding misfortune and death, Broadly speaking these include omens as well as other mystic devices which are briefly referred to in this treatise, namely, upasruti, chāyā, nāḍī, svapna etc. Lexicographers define the Rista thus:
रोगिणो मरणं यस्मादवश्यंभावि लक्ष्यते । तल्लक्षणमरिष्टं स्याद्विष्टमप्यभिधीयते ॥
The following definition based on the etymological sense अरिवत् त्रासयन्तीत्यरिष्टानि is found in the commentary of Vacaspati on the YS (App. VII). Regarding the earliest origin of the doctrine of omens and portents WEBER in his History of Indian Literature says "The doctrine of omens and portents was with the Indians intimately linked with astrology from the earliest times. Its origin may likewise be traced back to the ancient Vedic, nay, probably to some extent even to the primitive Indo-Germanic period. It is found embodied, in particular, in the literature of the Atharvaveda as also in the Grhyasutras of the other Vedas. A prominent place is also accorded to it in the Samhitas of Varahamihira, Narada etc and it has, besides, produced an independent literature of its own". (Eng. trans., 1882, p. 254). The same author in the same book further remarks:
"The fifth book (or the sixth adhyaya) has quite a peculiar character of its own and is also found as a separate Brahmana under the name of Adbhūta Brahmana; in the latter form, however, with some additions at the end, It enumerates untoward occurrences of 10
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
