33S ON THE INDIAN, &C. 



major ; not only because their positions are not stated 

 by Brahmegupta, Bha'scara, and the Silryasid- 

 d'hmta, but also' because the authors, who give their 

 positions, ascribe to them a particular motion, or va- 

 riation of longitude, different from otlier stars, and 

 apparently unconnected with the precession of the equi- 

 noxes. 



Vara'haMihira has a chapter in \\\^Vafa}ihanlnta 

 expressly on the subject of this supposed motion of the 

 Rishis. He begins by announcing the intention of 

 stating their revolution conformably with the doctrine 

 of Vridd'ha Garga, and proceeds as follows : " When 

 king Yud'hist'hira ruled the earth, the Mim'is were 

 in Maghd, and the period of the era of that king is 

 ti526 years. They remain for a hundred years in each 

 asterism, being connected with that particular Nacsha" 

 tra, to which, when it rises m the east, the line of 

 their rising is directed *.'* 



The commentator, Bhattotpala, supports the 

 text of his author by quotations from Vridd'ha Garga 

 and CaVyapa. " At the junction of the Cali and 

 I)w4j>ar zges, says Garga, " the virtuous sages, who 

 delight in protecting the people, stood at the asterism, 

 over which the Pitris preside." That is at Maghd. 

 *' The mighty sages," says Ca's'yapa, "abide during 



According to a different reading noticed by the commentator, the 

 cone uding hemistich signifies " they constantly rise in the north- 

 cast j together with Arund'hati." 



