176 the needle joining the centres of the eclipsed and eclipsing bodies at the given time in the case of solar and lunar eclipses. (Subtract that from half the sum of the diameters of the eclipsed and eclipsing bodies). The remainder is the phase of the eclipse for the given time.¹ ECLIPSES By the given time is meant the time elapsed since the first contact or the time to elapse before the last contact. Construction of the phase of an eclipse for the given time: 64-65. Stretch out a fine bamboo needle (equal in length to that joining the centres of the eclipsed and eclipsing bodies at the given time) obliquely from the centre in such a way that its end may fall on the so called path of the eclipsing body. Taking the centre at that point, cut off the eclipsed body by means of a circle drawn with half the diameter of the eclipsing body as radius. As much portion is thus cut off, so much of the eclipsed body is seen to be eclipsed (in the sky). Construction of the phase of a (solar) eclipse for the time of immersion or emersion: 66-67. The sthityardha in terms of minutes of arc minus the minutes of the vimardardha is the means for projecting the phase of the eclipse for that time (i.e., immersion or emersion). The Sun's disc should be cut off with the help of that (i.e., that should be laid off from the sparsa or moksa bindu along the path of the eclipsing body towards the centre and the point thus obtained should be treated as the centre of the eclipsing body for that time). The disc of the Sun should be cut off by means of a pair of compasses. The seizure (of the Sun) occurs on the western side of the disc and the separation on the eastern side. The remaining chapter deals with the lunar eclipse. ¹ This rule is found also in BrSpSi, iv. 11-12; SiDV, I, iv. 19-20; Sise, v. 14.
