216 HINDU ASTRONOMERS.. 



Brahmegupta and the reft did not neverthelefs Rate it on the ftrengfcfo 

 of authority, flnce it had been declared in the Saura Jzdd'hanta -, in- 

 like manner as the numbers of revolutions, the periphery of epicycles, . 

 <&c.?"* He replies t: In mathematical feience holy tradition is autho- 

 rity, fo far only as it agrees with demonltration-." He goes on to <• 

 fay " Such motion, as rcfults from the alfigncd revolutions, by which, 

 places being calculated agree with thofe which are obferved, mull 

 be admitted whether taught by a holy lage or by a^temporal teacher* 

 If then the fame places are deducible from other revolutions, which 

 of the affigned motions is the true one? The anfwer is, whichever 

 agrees with prefent, obfervation muft be admitted,. But, if in pro° 

 cefs of time the difference become great, .then .men. of -genius,, like 

 Brahmegupta, will arife, who will acknowledge fuch motions as. , 

 a Tee with prefent obfervation and compofe books {S'djlras) confor- 

 mable thereto. Accordingly this .mathematical fcience has.no end inu 

 eternal time," 



But Brahm,egupta's commentator, expounding a paffage of this 

 author 3 + which he conliders to be levelled againfl thofe who affirmed 

 a periodical revolution of the folflitial points, and which does deny 

 fuch a revolution, and declares the folftice to be invariable, becaufe the 

 longed day and fhortcft night occur conflantly at the end of Mitihuna 

 or Gemini, adverts in the courfe of his expofition of the text to paffa-«. 



" Why has it not been ftated by Brahmegupta and other flcitful-aflroncmers ? It was not perceived. 

 bjr them, becaufe it was then inconfiderable. But it is perceived by the moderns, becaufe it is now confides 

 able. Accordingly it is concluded, that there is motion, [of the folftice."] Bhascara in the Vafand-bhafys*.:, 



