Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

Author(s): J C Sikdar
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

Page 389

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STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SÚTRA [Ch. VI When he crosses to the east by covering the moonlight in the west, then the moon shows itself in the west and he appears in the east.
Like this two divisions should be known in regard to each movement of Rāhu to the north and south, north-west and south-west, south-east and north-east and north-west and southwest respectively.
When Rāhu, coming or going etc., stays (exists) by covering the moonlight, then in this world the human beings tell thus :
"Surely Rāhu devours the moon and when he crosses by the side of the moon" they say, "Surely the belly of Rāhu
is pierced by the moon"?.
When he returns by covering the moonlight, then the human beings say, "Surely the moon is vomitted by Rāhu" and when he stays by covering the moonlight in the lower region and in front, they tell that the moon is captured or devoured by him.
It is further explained that there are two Rāhus, viz. Dhruva Rāhu and Parva Rāhu. The former stays by covering the fifteenth part of the moonlight by his own fifteenth part of body since the Pratipadā of Krinapaksa (the first duy of the dark half of a month), e. g. the first part by his first, the second part by his second upto the fifteenth by his fifteenth part ; thus at last time the moon becomes completely covered.
Again the moon becomes partly covered (rakta) and partly uncovered (virakta), unshowing and showing itself in the Suklapaksa (the bright half of the month), when Rāhu stays by uncovering the first part of the moonlight by his first upto the fifteenth by his fifteenth part.
At last the moonlight becomes completely uncovered (virakta) and again covered and uncovered.
Parva-Rāhu exists by covering the moonlight after six months in the minimum, after forty-two months in the maximum and the rays of the sun after forty-eight years in the maximum.
1.2 Bhs, 12, 6, 453.