Brihajjataka 7

The Determination of Longevity

The years allotted to the Sun and the others in their signs of exaltation have been taught by Maya, Yavana, Maṇittha, Śakti, and others
as nineteen, twenty-five, fifteen, twelve, fifteen, twenty-one, and twenty, respectively.

In debilitation, [the longevity] indeed decreases to half of that; between them, the proportion is calculated; but the horā, some say, is equal to the degrees, while others say it is equal to the signs.
Except when retrograde, [the years] of planets situated in enemy houses are reduced by a third of their own [share]; and when their radiance is destroyed by the Sun, half [is lost], leaving aside Venus and Saturn.

All, a half, a third, a fourth, a fifth, and a sixth part are lost, in reverse order, starting from the twelfth house for malefics;
for benefics, it decreases by half of that; likewise, among those in one sign, the strongest takes one share; so says Satya.

From the whole, multiplied by the number of navāṃśas that have risen with half, the part obtained by dividing by one hundred and eight is lost
when a malefic is situated in the ascendant by this rule; but when aspected by a benefic, half of that goes to destruction.

The span of life for humans and elephants is twice sixty years, and five days; for horses, thirty-two; for donkeys and camels, the square of five [twenty-five]
less one; that very [longevity] for bulls and buffaloes; twelve is declared for dogs; and sixteen is the maximum for goats and the like.

When the highest degree of Pisces is in the ascendant and Mercury is in Taurus at twenty-five minutes,
the measure of maximum longevity is attained, provided that all [other planets] are joined in their signs of exaltation.

Viṣṇugupta also calculated the longevity thus, and so did Devasvāmin and Siddhasena;
and a defect arises in their [systems]: having set aside infant mortality, longevity would never be below twenty [years].

Under whichever combination full longevity is declared, the status of a universal monarch is taught by others under that [same combination];
this defect is evident, for another person also lives a full life even without wealth.

According to his own view, Jīvaśarman indeed declared the planetary lifespan contribution to be one-seventh part of the maximum longevity;
the statement of Satya, equal to the signs and navāṃśas traversed by the planets, attains much agreement.

In the system taught by Satya, having turned the desired planet into minutes, dividing by two hundred,
and casting off the parts of the circle [multiples of twelve], the years are obtained; and from the remainder, the months and so on.

By [planets] situated in their exaltation or retrograde, [the term] is multiplied by three; by those in their vargottama, own navāṃśa, domicile, or decan, it is doubled.
This much is the distinction in the doctrine taught by Bhadatta; the rest of the measure has already been stated in the first [system].

Yet here, endowed with strength, the horā gives [years] equal to the navāṃśas and equal to the signs;
and when a malefic rises, that is not an increase; nor is there anything to be done here with the years prescribed in the first [system].

Satya's instruction is best here; but [some astrologers] make an inappropriate [result] by numerous multiplications,
and [claim] mastery through multiplying many times; but whichever single [multiplier] is the greatest, that alone should be applied.

When Cancer is the ascendant with Jupiter and the Moon, and Mercury and Venus are situated in cardinal houses,
and the remaining [planets] reside in the eleventh, sixth, and third, immeasurable longevity occurs here, without [dependence on] the ordinary method.