CHAPTER V ECLIPSES (1) ECLIPSE OF THE SUN Introductory stanza: 1. Now shall be given the solar eclipse as taught by Ācārya Aryabhaṭa. At the beginning of that one should know the determination of the elements (to be used). Mean distances in yojanas the Sun and Moon : 2. (The mean distance) of the Sun is 459585 (yojanas); that of the Moon is 34377 (yojanas). A rule for converting true distances known in minutes into true distances in yojanas: 3. These (severally) multiplied by their true distances in minutes (as determined before)¹ and divided by the radius (i.e., 3438 minutes) are known as the true distances in yojanas of the Sun and the Moon.2 That is, Sun's true distance in yojanas Sun's mean distance in yojanas x Sun's true distance in minutes Radius and Moon's true distance in yojanas Moon's mean distance in yojanas x Moon's true distance in minutes Radius Diameters of the Earth, the Sun, and the Moon in terms of yojanas: 4. The diameter, in terms of yojanas, of the Earth has been stated by the learned to be 1050; of the Sun 4410; and of the Moon, 315. ¹ Vide supra, Chapter IV, stanzas 9-12 and 19-20. 2 This rule is found to occur also in BrSpSi, xxi. 31(ii); ŚiDVṛ, I, iv. 5(i) ; LBh, iv. 3 ; Siśe, v. 4 (ii) ; Siśi, I, v. 5(i); TS, iv, 10(ii)-11,
