from the Ancient Books of the Hindus. 461 



Ro'bin), and that paffage of Saturn is diflinguiihed by the appellation of 

 Sacata-bheda, or the JecJion of the wain : an univerfal drought having reduced 

 the country to the deepeft diilrefs, and a total depopulation of it being appre- 

 hended, the king fummoned all his aflrologers and philofophers, who afcribed 

 it folely to the unfortunate paflage of the malignant planet; and Vasisht'ha 

 added, that, unlefs the monarch himfelf would attack Sani, as he ftrongly 

 advifed, neither Indra nor Brahma' himfelf could prevent the continuance 

 of the drought for twelve years. Dasarat'ha that inftant afcended his 

 miraculous car of pure gold, and placed himfelf at the entrance of Rohiiii, 

 blazing like his progenitor the Sun, and drawing his bow, armed with the 

 tremendous arrow Saribdraflra, which attracts all things with irreiiftible vio- 

 lence : Sani, the flow -moving child of Su'rya, drejfed in a blue robe, crowned 

 with a diadem, having four arms, holding a bow, a fpiked ' weapon t and a cimeter, 

 (thus he is defcribed in one verfe) difcerned his formidable opponent from 

 ithe laft degree of Crtttica, and rapidly defcended into the land of Barbara, 

 which burfl into a flame, while he concealed himfelf far under ground. The 

 hero followed him -, and his legions, marching to his affiitance, perifhed in 

 the burning fands; but Sani was attracted by the magnetick power of the 

 Sanhdrdflra, and, after a vehement conflict, was overpowered by Dasa- 

 rat'ha, who compelled him to promife, that he never more would attempt 

 •to pafs through the wain of Robin): the victor then returned to his palace, 

 and the regent of the planet went to SAiii-fl' ban in Barbara, while the 

 ground, on which he had fought, affumed a red hue. The Hindu aflrologers 

 fay, that Sani has hitherto performed his promife, but that, in four or five 

 years, he will approach fo nearly to Robin), that great mifchief may be feared 

 from {o noxious a planet, who has nothing in this age to apprehend from a 

 •hero in a felf-moving car with an irrefiftible weapon : they add, that Man- 

 i-GALA, or Mars, the child of Prit'hivi', has alfo been prevented from 



