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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[MAY, 1875.
The praise of Firmness. The gods with priceless jewels were not bought,
Nor with the poison-chalice made aghast,
Nor censed until they held the nectar fast*,The firm forsake not what they once have
sought. Sleeping sometimes upon the ground, sometimes
on gorgeous bed, Sometimes with simple herbs content, sometimes
on dainties fed, One moment clothed in rags, anon ruffling in
gallant show, The hero, following still his end, recks not of
joy or woe. Merey's the ornament of power, of courage
courteous rede, Of learning modesty, of wealth bounty to those
that need, Of hermits gentleness and truth, long-suffering
of a king, Of all men virtuous character, whence all these
glories spring
Let cunning statesmen praise or blame,
Let Fortune turn or go her way, Come instant death, or lingering shame,
Firm souls from virtue will not stray. A snake lay helpless in the box pining for lack
of meat, A rat by night gnaws through the side, and
yields his foe a treat, With strength recruited then the snake by that
same hole escapes, Behold how vain our efforts are! Fate all our
fortane shapes.t Flung down with force, the higher springs the
ball, So good men rise victorious from their fall. Sloth is the foe that makes our souls his lair, Vigour the friend that saves us from despair. The moon her wasted orb renews,
The tree when praned puts forth fresh leaf, Th' afflicted sage this course pursues, Nor yields to unavailing grief.
(Here ends the praise of Firm 1083.)
THE LUNAR MANSIONS OF THE MUHAMMADANS.
BY E. REHATSEK, M.C.E., Hon. Mem. B. Br. R.A.S. My attention was drawn to this subject
shape of a triangle, in the belly (according to
has by Professor Keru L. Chhatre's paper in the
some, in the tail) of Aries. Indian Antiquary, vol. III. p. 206, wherein he
III. 4 Seria; the Pleiades, said to consist of gives the European names of the principal
six stars, and not of seven, as commonly believed stars of the Hindu nakshatras. I need scarce.
and sung by poets.* ly observe that after eliminating many Arabic
IV. ulg: Aldebaran; a large, bright, red numes and Europeanizing others, numbers still
star in the eastern eye of Taurus ; this star is remain, and will, as long as science exists,
also called the Follower, because it comes after continue to bear testimony to the vast influence
the Pleiades. of the Arabs on European astronomy. In the lunar mansions given in the paper just alluded
V. ARRA Haka't: three stars close to each to, seven still retain their Arabic names; but other in the head of Orion. Doubtless Bella the Muhammadans count 28 mansions, which trix, Betelgueux, and a. are as follows:
VI. Aris Hana't; five stars arranged on the 1. b Shartân; two stars in Aries con- left shoulder of Orion; but according to some stituting its horns. There is a smaller star be
this mansion consists of three stars opposite to tween them called Flj Natth; this is a Arietis. those just mentioned, and is called i AlSome call these three stars together b y tahái. Allashrat. Probably they are a, b, and y. VII. Eli Şerâa', the arms. Two bright stars
II. wtb Batin; three small stars in the in the head of Gemini, the distance between them
• Au allusion to the charning of the ocean to obtain the Amrita. The fable has been rendered in English verse by Dr. Griffith of Bantras.
+ Klein&th Trimbak Telang observes that this stanza inculcates fatalism pure and simple, and is out of place here.
* "Que septem dici, sex tamen esse solent."-ED.
