内容概述
本篇讲述了印度中世纪著名数学家、天文学家巴什迦罗（Bhaskara，约活跃于 1150 年前后）与其唯一女儿丽拉沃蒂（Lilavati，意为"漂亮"）之间的凄婉传说，并由此交代了巴什迦罗传世算术名著《丽拉沃蒂》（Lilavati）一书命名的由来。故事还暗示巴什迦罗很可能正是以女儿的名字为这本书命名，以寄托对不幸女儿的哀思与纪念，是数学史中流传甚广的佳话。
中文正文
95° 巴什迦罗的女儿
印度数学家和天文学家巴什迦罗活跃在 1150 年前后。他流传到今天的作品是一本题为《丽拉沃蒂》(Lilavati，"漂亮"的意思)的算术书。关于这本书，还有一个凄婉的故事。故事说，星相向巴什迦罗预言厄运就会降临，除非他唯一的女儿丽拉沃蒂能在一个黄道吉日的特定时刻出嫁。那天，焦急的新娘紧盯着滴漏不断下沉的水面，竟没留意一枚珍珠从她的头饰无声落下，滚落在滴漏的出口，堵住了水流。吉时已过，人们才发现那颗珠子，可惜太晚了。悲伤欲绝的姑娘只好孤独一生。为了安慰不幸的女儿，巴什迦罗就把她的名字作为书的名字。
英文正文
95° Bhaskara's daughter.
The Hindu mathematician and astronomer Bhaskara flourished around 1150. Of his works that have come down to us is an arithmetic entitled Lilavati ("the beautiful"), and a romantic story is told about this work. According to the tale, the stars foretold dire misfortune if Bhaskara's only daughter Lilavati should marry other than at a certain hour on a certain propitious day. On that day, as the anxious bride was watching the sinking water level of the hour cup, a pearl fell unnoticed from her headdress and, stopping the hole in the cup, arrested the outflow of water. Too late, after the unique lucky moment had passed, the accident was discovered, and the grief-stricken girl was faced with a life of spinsterhood. To console his unhappy daughter, Bhaskara gave her name to his book!
英语学习拓展
常用词汇
flourished音标/ˈflʌrɪʃt/
活跃；兴盛。
原文用法：Bhaskara flourished around 1150
arithmetic音标/əˈrɪθmətɪk/
算术。
原文用法：an arithmetic entitled Lilavati
entitled音标/ɪnˈtaɪtld/
题名为；命名为。
原文用法：an arithmetic entitled Lilavati
foretold音标/fɔːrˈtoʊld/
预言；预示。
原文用法：the stars foretold dire misfortune
propitious音标/prəˈpɪʃəs/
吉利的；适宜的。
原文用法：a certain propitious day
bride音标/braɪd/
新娘。
原文用法：the anxious bride
headdress音标/ˈheddres/
头饰；头冠。
原文用法：a pearl fell unnoticed from her headdress
arrested音标/əˈrestɪd/
阻止；使停止。
原文用法：arrested the outflow of water
同义词与近义词
对应核心词汇：flourished
对应核心词汇：flourished。
辨析：flourished 强调某人在某时期学术或事业上活跃兴盛；thrived 侧重在良好环境中茁壮成长；prospered 偏重财富与事业成功。
原文 Bhaskara flourished around 1150 指其于 1150 年前后学术活跃。
对应核心词汇：dire。
辨析：dire 表示极其严重、可怕的，语气强烈，常用于 dire misfortune；terrible 泛指糟糕；severe 偏重程度严厉。
原文 the stars foretold dire misfortune 突出预言的凶险。
对应核心词汇：propitious
对应核心词汇：propitious。
辨析：propitious 指时机、征兆吉利宜人；favorable 泛指有利条件；auspicious 多用于庆典开端。
原文 a certain propitious day 指宜嫁娶的吉日。
对应核心词汇：grief-stricken。
辨析：grief-stricken 由 grief 加 stricken 构成，强调突遭悲痛打击；sorrowful 较书面；miserable 侧重长期痛苦。
原文 the grief-stricken girl 描写痛失吉时的新娘。
常用短语与固定搭配
- come down to us：流传至今；传到我们手中。原文用法：Of his works that have come down to us is an arithmetic entitled Lilavati，指流传至今的作品。
- other than：除……之外；不同于。原文用法：should marry other than at a certain hour，表示"除非在某一特定时辰出嫁"。
- be faced with：面对；面临。原文用法：the grief-stricken girl was faced with a life of spinsterhood，指她将面临独身一生。
- to console someone：安慰某人。原文用法：To console his unhappy daughter, Bhaskara gave her name to his book，表达父亲以命名慰藉女儿。
常用句式
- "Of his works that have come down to us is …" 是文学性倒装句，等价于 "Among the works of his that have come down to us is …"，用于典雅地引出一部传世之作：Of his works that have come down to us is an arithmetic entitled Lilavati。
- "should marry other than at …" 表达"除非在……时刻出嫁，否则就会……"：if Bhaskara's only daughter Lilavati should marry other than at a certain hour。
- "be faced with a life of …" 表示"将面对……的一生"：the grief-stricken girl was faced with a life of spinsterhood。
长难句解析
Of his works that have come down to us is an arithmetic entitled Lilavati ("the beautiful"), and a romantic story is told about this work.
- 主干：Of his works ... is an arithmetic ... and a romantic story is told about this work — 修饰与从句：that have come down to us 定语从句修饰 works；entitled Lilavati 过去分词短语修饰 arithmetic；("the beautiful") 同位语说明书名含义 — 逻辑关系：and 连接两个并列分句，先点出传世著作，再引出与之相关的传说。
语言使用特点
- 本文属文学性数学史轶事，多用典雅书面语与倒装结构（如句首 Of his works ... is ...），增强叙述的庄重感。
- 大量使用过去时叙述传说，并以分词短语（watching ..., a pearl fell ..., stopping ..., arrested ...）串联动作，画面感强。
- 感情色彩词丰富：anxious、grief-stricken、unhappy、romantic 等烘托悲婉氛围，使数学史故事兼具人情味。
- 专有名词以斜体标示（Lilavati、Bhaskara's daughter），符合英文书名/篇名排版惯例。
迁移练习
- 用英语简要复述故事的关键四步：the stars foretold misfortune → Lilavati must marry at a propitious hour → a pearl stopped the hour cup → Bhaskara named his book Lilavati to console her。
- 用 entitled 造一个句子，描述一本以人名题名的书。
- 用 be faced with 写一句话，描写一个人面临的困境。
点击展开参考答案
- 复述示例：The stars foretold misfortune; Lilavati had to marry at a propitious hour; a pearl stopped the hour cup; Bhaskara named his book Lilavati to console her.
- 示例：He published an essay entitled The Lost Theorem, named after his late teacher.
- 示例：The young inventor was faced with a shortage of funds and had to seek help.