Brihadyatra 11: adhyāyaḥ 11

Chapter 11: General Rules and Exceptions

This fruit which has been stated regarding benefics and malefics standing in the ascendant and other houses

is inconclusive, because of the discrepancy of results among those occurring at the same time.

Those who know horary astrology declare this: […] powerless, and an enemy of the lord of the period,

is a giver of inauspicious fruit; and when untimely, even a benefic planet in the rising sign does not yield desired fruit.

When timely, endowed with strength, and a friend of the lord of the period, […] is a giver of auspicious fruit;

Even a malefic planet would bear auspicious fruit. And on this point there is a verse taught in the science:

"Even a benefic planet whose fruit is to come after an exceedingly long time is not to be employed,

Nor a malefic planet whose fruit is untimely and who has been defeated by an enemy.

The lord of the period, purified by the aṣṭakavarga of his own dwelling,

and not deficient or fruitless, would be likewise by the rule of the day's portion."

Some teachers desire a benefic lord of the period to be positioned in the ascendant,

and a malefic planet to be in a house of increase, not in the ascendant; and on that, there are two verses:

"When benefic planets are in the ascendant, good is determined without exception;

At the rising of a malefic planet, it is undoubtedly unfavorable for the marcher.

Therefore, one should place a cruel lord of the period, endowed with the qualities of strength for the marcher,

in signs of increase, never in the ascendant by any means."

And that is contradictory of them: how will its own fruit be given in the other periods?

In this way, destruction of all fruit occurs for one who seeks fruit.

Therefore, this is not definitive; having inspected the nativity, one should indicate good and bad.

Maṇittha and Vasiṣṭha have stated in two verses this distinction in meter:

Those rulers at birth who are protectors and increasers—

one should without hesitation employ even those [if they are] malefics in the ascendants of an expedition.

And whatever planetary combinations producing good or bad fruits have been declared in the natal horoscope,

after inspecting all of them, one should employ them also in marches.

If Saturn is in the ascendant in his own sign, Mars in Aries, the Moon in her own house,

Venus in Libra, Mercury in Gemini, and the Sun in Leo, one should know it to be the birth of a king.

Whatever planets at the time of birth are situated in houses of increase from the Moon or the rising sign,

all of them are designated variously; malefics are to be considered as equal to benefics.

Whichever [planet] occupies the tenth house from another, becomes subservient to him by rule;

and that which stands in a succedent house likewise becomes a protector.

Those occupying houses of increase from each other are declared to be *tāna* equals;

and the significators were declared at the beginning in the chapter on miscellaneous matters.

Whoever is an enemy of the lord of the natal sign or of the lord of the ascendant, if placed in the ascendant, even though a benefic,

causes bodily ruin; even a malefic, if a friend of the two, brings good.

One who is not designated a significator or a *tāna* of the lords of one's own natal sign and ascendant, even if a benefic,

situated in the ascendant, produces fear and manifold destruction for the marching [king].

Even a malefic situated in the ascendant bestows good on men if designated a significator or a *tāna*.

Therefore, with great effort, this alone should be considered by those wishing to march: what has attained the status of significator or *tāna*.

Even a single [planet], whether benefic or malefic, situated in a cardinal house [and] moving in retrograde,

or even its division situated in the rising sign, causes manifold destruction to travelers.

The Sun in the ascendant in the sign of his son [Saturn] gives joy through women and gems;

placed in any of the remaining signs, he quickly causes slaughter, imprisonment, and agitation.

The Moon occupying the rising sign, in whichever sign [she is placed],

causes the growth of enemies, the loss of splendor, and ruin for marching [kings].

Mars situated in the ascendant in the sign of the son of the Sun [Saturn] grants the destruction of enemies and victory;

situated in the remaining signs, Mars causes the loss of gems and wealth.

Mercury in the ascendant in the signs of the Sun, the Moon, and Mars causes misfortune;

in [the signs] of Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn, he produces royal consecration, victory, wealth, and splendor.

Jupiter in the sign of Venus or the Moon is declared to destroy wealth and soldiers;

in the signs remaining after those, he is the giver of land, friends, wealth, and victory.

Venus in the sign of Mercury causes loss of strength, gives wealth, and slays enemies;

in the signs of the remaining [planets], she causes wind disease, fever, and the wrath of enemies.

Saturn in the ascendant in the sign of the Sun produces affection, happiness, and gain;

placed in the sign of any other, he is unfavorable, causing the loss of majesty, strength, and honor.

Saturn situated in his own sign causes the destruction of wealth and limbs;

the Moon [in her own sign causes] the attainment of women and gems; the Sun [in his own sign causes] kingship;

Mars [in his own sign causes] turmoil in the army; Mercury [in his own sign causes] the hearing of welcome news;

Suraguru [in his own sign] causes the attainment of pleasures; Venus [in her own sign causes] victory.

Whatever planet sets or rises while standing on the southern path of the thousand-rayed [Sun],

that planet, if in the ascendant, causes the destruction of soldiers, wealth, and limbs for the marching [king].

Whatever planet comes into view or sets to the north of the hot-rayed [Sun],

or [stands] in the middle [of the ascendant], bestows flowers, garments, and food on the marching [king].

An abnormality in regular motion, brightness, color, or size is called an unnatural alteration (*vikṛti*);

[a planet] in an unnatural alteration situated in the ascendant is not auspicious; situated in its own house, it bestows good.

Rāhu was born in Bharaṇī, Mercury in Śravaṇa, the Sun in Viśākhā, Venus in Puṣya,

and the births of Saturn, Mars, Jupiter, Ketu, the Sun, and the Moon are in Revatī, Pūrvaphalgunī, Āśleṣā, and Kṛttikā.

The lunar mansion of any [planet] that is struck by the threefold portents or severely afflicted by planets—

if it is in the ascendant at an expedition, it must be avoided, even if otherwise favorable.

When the great friend of the lord of the planetary period or its division is in the ascendant of the marching [king],

even a universal ruler as an enemy comes under subjection of his own accord, with head bowed.

When a king sets out during an ascendant or its division that is an enemy of the lord of the planetary period,

his valiant men and horses slaughtered, he falls under the power of the enemy.

Body, wealth, soldiers, vehicles, ministers, enemies, path, death, mind,

actions, income, and expenditure are declared to be the houses, beginning with the rising sign.

The fruit of the expedition is in the fourth house; enemies and negligence are in the seventh house.

One should declare the good or bad of these from their association with benefic or malefic planets.

In the opinion of the teacher Satya, a Moon devoid of strength is praised in marches;

others have declared that the Moon is praised only when lacking directional strength.

Whatever good or bad fruit is declared for each [planet] standing in the rising sign during a march—

exactly that whole result, good or bad, is declared for the march by day when the planet's division occupies the ascendant.