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Nîti Literature of Burma.

91.

Excepting every fifth day, at the appearance of the Razor asterism,^[1] while that asterism is in the ascendant, and at the appearance of asterisms 7, 5, and 3, reckoned from the date of one's birth—excepting on these, one might cut off his beard: beard-cutting should not be done during war or while spells are being performed.^[2]

92.

Kings who do the things stated above, having conquered their enemies, will enjoy sovereignty for a longtime over the earth, even to the verge of the ocean. Happy in their prosperity, there will be the advancement of religion. Having great happiness by being established in the Scriptures, they will attain the eternal rest.

93.

Just as a gardener always waters a good fruit-bearing tree and cuts down one having branches old or overgrown,

↑ This is known as Kattikâ (Sk. Kṛittikâ), the first of the lunar asterisms, according to Buddhist astronomy. It consists of six stars figured as a razor, and corresponds nearly with the Pleiades. For the Indian divisions of the zodiac, see Colebrooke's "Essays," vol. ii., chap. xiv. For remarks on the Indian system of astronomy, see also Weber's "History of Indian Literature," pp. 246–264. There are several astronomical and astrological works found in Burma, which are either translations of or adapted from Sanskrit books. The Laghugraha and Suriyasiddhanta are among the most popular. Learned Brahmans, entertained by the court of Ava, from time to time, been instrumental in giving the Burmese the bulk of their scientific literature. During the latter half of the eighteenth century about sixty works were translated from the Sanskrit by the great scholar Maungdaung-sayadaw and others, and are known as the Byakavains, the first of the series being the Sarasvatî Vyâkaraṇa, a well-known Sanskrit grammar.
↑ In order to deviate the course of karma by artificial mans (yatrâ kale). The Yatrâ practice is common in Burma. When a man, for instance, is very sick and his death is anticipated, his friends and relatives try to ward it off by finding a substitute in a dummy formed from a plantain tree or otherwise, shaped as much as possible like a human being. The improvised dummy is then put into a coffin and all customary funeral rites are performed over it. By so doing, it is believed that the sick man's life will be spared. Other practices, similar in character, are also resorted to for various purposes.

[1] This is known as Kattikâ (Sk. Kṛittikâ), the first of the lunar asterisms, according to Buddhist astronomy. It consists of six stars figured as a razor, and corresponds nearly with the Pleiades. For the Indian divisions of the zodiac, see Colebrooke's "Essays," vol. ii., chap. xiv. For remarks on the Indian system of astronomy, see also Weber's "History of Indian Literature," pp. 246–264. There are several astronomical and astrological works found in Burma, which are either translations of or adapted from Sanskrit books. The Laghugraha and Suriyasiddhanta are among the most popular. Learned Brahmans, entertained by the court of Ava, from time to time, been instrumental in giving the Burmese the bulk of their scientific literature. During the latter half of the eighteenth century about sixty works were translated from the Sanskrit by the great scholar Maungdaung-sayadaw and others, and are known as the Byakavains, the first of the series being the Sarasvatî Vyâkaraṇa, a well-known Sanskrit grammar.

[2] In order to deviate the course of karma by artificial mans (yatrâ kale). The Yatrâ practice is common in Burma. When a man, for instance, is very sick and his death is anticipated, his friends and relatives try to ward it off by finding a substitute in a dummy formed from a plantain tree or otherwise, shaped as much as possible like a human being. The improvised dummy is then put into a coffin and all customary funeral rites are performed over it. By so doing, it is believed that the sick man's life will be spared. Other practices, similar in character, are also resorted to for various purposes.

[1]

[2]