Listen, as the ancient wisdom of time and auspiciousness unfolds. The day and night are each divided into fifteen parts, called muhūrtas, and certain of these—such as Aryaman, Rākṣasa, Brāhma, Pitrya, Agneya, and Abhijit—are named specifically. These particular muhūrtas are to be avoided on days when auspicious acts are to be performed. Yet, when a muhūrta is presided over by a favorable deity, one may proceed with actions such as journeys without hesitation. There are further times to be cautious: the eighth and tenth muhūrtas are marked by Śūla, and the eighteenth is associated with Śāni. The fifth and ninth muhūrtas are known for the fall of the thunderbolt, a sign of inauspiciousness. From the twenty-first constellation onward, each is to be known and considered in proper order. Among these, the solar, ancestral, and all pitṛ constellations, as well as the Tvaṣṭṛ, Mitra, and Ptabha constellations, are present in the dhiṣṇya. When there is an inauspicious conjunction here, its effects are felt. Counting the union of lunar days and weekdays, there are thirteen such combinations. For example, if the seventh lunar day falls on a Sunday, or the first lunar day on a Monday, certain specific conjunctions arise: Ānanda, Kāladaṇḍa, Dhūmradhātṛ, Sudhākara, Mitra, Mānasa, Padma, Lumbaka, Utpāta, Mṛtyu, Rākṣasa, Vara, Sthairya, and Vardhamāna—each with its own order and significance. On Sunday, the sequence includes Dasra, Bhārdidu, and Bhādvidha. From Vaiśvadeva comes Bhagusuta; from Vāruṇa, Bhāskarātmaja. On Monday, the conjunctions are Mitrabha and Ācārya; Tiṣya, Pauṣṇa, and the son of Bhṛgu. Nandā arises for Āditya and Bhauma; Bhadrā for Śukra and Śaśāṅka. Nandā falls on a Friday lunar day, Bhadrā on a Monday, and Jayā on Mars. The eleventh lunar day falls on Monday, the twelfth on Sunday. The ninth and fifth lunar days on Tuesday are called burnt conjunctions, considered inauspicious. On Wednesday, Śraviṣṭā and Aryamabha are noted; on Thursday, Jyeṣṭā and Bhṛgu's day. From Viśākhā onward, the four groups are reckoned for the Sun and Sunday, and so forth. The combinations that arise from the day and lunar date, as well as those formed by the day and the constellation, are generally not auspicious. There are also fierce influences to be aware of—those that are eight-eyed, great-bellied, slow, and Mandākinī, the slow-flowing one. These are associated in order with Śūdra, thief, Vaiśya, earth, deity, king, and cow. In the forenoon, such influences are harmful to kings; at midday, to Brāhmaṇas; in the afternoon, to common people. At night, they bring harm to night-wanderers, actors, and those who are active late. If the Sun enters Aries during the day, it is a sign of misfortune and conflict. At such times, horses, dogs, camels, bulls, foot-soldiers, weapons, tools, vehicles, as well as clubs, maces, swords, staffs, arrows, bows, and spears, are all affected. Food, rice pudding, alms, soup, milk, and curd, too, are touched by these influences, as are cows, merchants, all people, children, and those who dwell among cattle. If a four-footed animal, sesame, or a serpent is found sleeping, it signals a change. Weapons, vehicles, food, and all things pertaining to a person's caste are likewise influenced. There are those who are blind, slow-natured, of middling nature, or who have beautiful eyes—each is affected according to the time. When the Sun enters a fixed sign, it is known as Viṣṇupada. The Sun's passage through the equinox—at Libra and Aries—is recognized as a special transition. At the equinox, sixteen auspicious channels are declared. The direction of auspiciousness—whether east, west, south, or north—may fall on the previous day or the following day, as revealed by the movement of time. Thus, the wise mark the flow of time, the dance of days and constellations, ever mindful of the auspicious and inauspicious, so that all actions may be guided in harmony with the celestial order.