xlvi ARYABHATIΥΑ On occasions, Suryadeva supplies to his commentary compendious verses with exposition thereof, with a view to supplement the information given in the text. These verses are introduced by such expressions as : अत्र संक्षेपवासनाप्रदर्शनार्थं मूलशास्त्रयुक्तिसिद्धप्रक्रियाऽभावाद् अस्मदीयेन ग्रन्थेन प्रकाश्यते । (Com. on LMa, IV. 1) ; अत्र वासनाप्रदर्शनार्थ मूलqfiafăạafitut steaấìàR vàã xaửufã (Com. on LMã., IV. 2). 3. Astronomical instruments and diagrams Suryadeva was a practical astronomer and it is interesting to find in his commentaries descriptions of astronomical instruments for celestial and other observations and instructions for diagrammatic representations. These descriptions are to be found especially in the sections devoted to the computation of the mean and true positions of planets and the eclipses. When prescriptions disagree, Suryadeva resorts to testing through instruments, vide, for instance, his observa| tion : शास्त्रान्तरेषु वैलक्षण्यात् यष्टियन्त्रादिभिः परीक्षितम् ॥ (Com. on LMa, III. 6-7) 4. Some peculiarities It is interesting to find towards the close of Suryadeva's works a mention of the contents and extent of the respective works besides a reference to his earlier writings and the indication of his future plans, a singular feature found in the works of a few Sanskrit authors. The details found herein are highly informative to the literary historian, bibliographer and text-critic. 5. Astronomical and astrological authorities cited Suryadeva refers in his works, especially in the Laghumanasavyakhya, to a large number of earlier authorities, most of whom are well known. Prthudakasvami (c. A. D. 860), commentator on the Brahmasphutasiddhanta and Khandakhadyaka, is referred by the abbreviated name Prthusvami'. From among the less known works and authors on astronomy cited, may be mentioned, Acarya Latadeva, SSSLSLSLSLSL SLS 1. On astronomical instruments, see his com. on A, Gola., 22 (pp. 143-44), 48 (pp. 182-83) ; and on L Mā., Upodghāta to ch. I. ii; II, 1, 2 ; III. 9, 13, 17, 18, 20; IV. 1, 6, 9.
