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-455 ] STANDARD OF ATTRIBUTES (GUŅAPPAMĀŅA) 167
(c) comprehension of (the object of the future time. 451. Then what is (the inference by) comprehension of (the object of the past time ? (The inference by) comprehension of the object of the past time is (illustrated as follows:
Having seen forests with growing grasses, or the earth with grown up crop, and wells, tanks, rivers, canals, and ponds-(all) full (of water), it is proved by it (viz. inference) that there was in the past) good rain.
This is the inference by) comprehension of (the object of) the past time.
452. Then what is (the inference by) comprehension of (the object of the present time ? (The inference by) comprehension of the object of the present time is (illustrated as follows) :
Having seen a monk, who went out for begging alms, offered enough food and drink, it is proved by it (viz. inference) that there is (in the present) bumper harvest (subhikkha, literally, abundant supply of alms).
This is the inference by) comprehension of (the object of) the present time.
453. Then what is the inference by) comprehension of (the object of the future time ? (The inference by) comprehension of the object of the future time is (illustrated in the following verse):
The clearness of the sky, a dark mountain, clouds with (yellow) lightning, thunder (of clouds), whirl-wind (rotating clockwise), a red and humid evening // 118||
Having seen (such signs), or others such as) Varuna (originated from the constellation of Ardra, Mula, etc.), or Mahimda (originated from the constellation of Rohini, Fyeștha, etc.), or any other auspicious omen (uppaya, which is necessarily followed by rain) it is proved by it (viz. inference) that there would be in the future) good rain.
This is (the inference by) comprehension of (the object of) the future time.
454. By the contrary of these very (signs), there occur three kinds of comprehension, viz.
(a) comprehension of (the object of the past time; (b) comprehension of the object of the present time;
(c) comprehension of (the object of the future time. 455. Then what is the inference by) comprehension of (the object of the past time? (The inference by) comprehension of (the object of the past time is (illustrated as follows):
