Khandakhadyaka: An Astronomical Treatise

A translation of Brahmagupta's Khaṇḍakhādyaka with notes and illustrations was published in 1934 A.D., as Part I of a complete edition. The Part II containing the Sanskrit text with Pṛthūdaka's commentary is now published. It has not been possible to reconstruct the Uttara-Khaṇḍakhādyaka or the supplementary part of the work in which Brahmagupta gave his own corrections to Āryabhaṭa's astronomical constants, new methods and additional topics, to make the Khaṇḍakhādyaka itself a complete manual of Hindu Astronomy. In view of this I have thought it proper to include in this publication all the additional verses that are found in the text as used by Bhaṭṭotpala in his commentary on it. These verses are generally of an explanatory character, and do not all appear to be of Brahmagupta's composition.

In preparing the Sanskrit portion of this edition, a photographic copy of the Berlin manuscript, obtained by the Calcutta University, has been used. I had access to another manuscript of the work possessed by the Calcutta University Library; I have also seen the Deccan College manuscript which was kindly secured for me by Dr. N. R. Ray, Ph.D., Librarian of the Calcutta University Central Library. All these three manuscripts are the same, even in respect of omissions and errors. As I send out this part of my edition of the work to the world, I sincerely express regrets for these and other errors, omissions and misprints, which I could not avoid owing to my own shortcomings and to other causes over which I could have no control.