Text 13] The Orbits of the Planets 349

tatah—from that bunch of stars; uparistat—above; usanad—Venus;
dvi-laksa-yojanatah—200,000 yojanas (1,600,000 miles); upalabh-
yate—is experienced; puratah—in front; pascdt—behind; saha—along
with; eva—indeed; vaé—and; arkasya—of the sun; Saighrya—speedy;
mandya—slow; sémydbhih—equal; gatibhih—the movements; arka-
vat—exactly like the sun; carati—rotates; lokandm—of all the planets
within the universe; nityadd—constantly; anukilah—offering favor-
able conditions; eva—indeed; prdyena—almost always; varsayan—
causing rainfall; carena—by infusing the clouds; anumiyate—is per-
ceived; sah—he (Venus); vrsti-vistambha—obstacles to rainfall; graha-
upasamanah—nullifying planets.

TRANSLATION

Some 1,600,000 miles above this group of stars is the planet
Venus, which moves at almost exactly the same pace as the sun ac-
cording to swift, slow and moderate movements. Sometimes Venus
moves behind the sun, sometimes in front of the sun and some-
times along with it. Venus nullifies the influence of planets that are
obstacles to rainfall. Consequently its presence causes rainfall, and
it is therefore considered very favorable for all living beings
within this universe. This has been accepted by learned scholars.

TEXT 13

Ta TH sea sie feeatsad qa:
aaGI TINT Ma Bapaaalg cafateaa aaifrara-
wUaTMeaIAAAA «| 22 I

usanasé budho vyakhyatas tata uparistad dvi-laksa-yojanato budhah
soma-suta upalabhyamanah prayena subha-krd yadarkad vyatiricyeta
tadativatabhra-prayanavrsty-adi-bhayam dsamsate.

usanasd—with Venus; budhah—Mercury; vyadkhydtah—explained;
tatah—from that (Venus); uparistat—above; dvi-laksa-yojanatah—
1,600,000 miles; budhah—Mercury; soma-sutah—the son of the moon;
upalabhyamanah—is situated; prdyena—almost always; subha-krt—
