Chapter on the Discrimination of the Vargas — Bṛhat-Pārāśara-Horāśāstra, Adhyāya 7

वर्गविवेचनाध्यायः

The complete Chapter on the Discrimination of the Vargas chapter of the Bṛhat-Pārāśara-Horāśāstra — all 43 verses, each in the original Sanskrit with VedicSpace's clean-room English translation, cited by śloka. Translated from the Chaukhamba (Devachandra Jha) edition and audited against the printed plates.

Śloka 1 — Opening; what is read from the rāśi (kṣetra) and the horā varga

अथ षोडशवर्गेषु विवृणोमि विवेचनम् । लग्ने देहस्य विज्ञानं होरायां सम्पदादिकम् ॥ १ ॥

Now I expound the discrimination to be made among the sixteen vargas. In the lagna [i.e. the rāśi-varga] is the knowledge of the body; in the horā, wealth and the like.

BPHS Adhyāya 7, śloka 1

Śloka 2 — Significations of dreṣkāṇa, caturthāṃśa, saptamāṃśa

द्रेष्काणे भ्रातृजं सौख्यं तुर्यांशे भाग्यचिन्तनम् । पुत्रपौत्रादिकानां वै चिन्तनं सप्तमांशके ॥ २ ॥

In the dreṣkāṇa, the happiness arising from brothers; in the fourth-part (turyāṃśa), the consideration of fortune; and in the saptamāṃśa, the consideration of sons, grandsons and the rest.

BPHS Adhyāya 7, śloka 2

Śloka 3 — Significations of navāṃśa, daśāṃśa, dvādaśāṃśa, ṣoḍaśāṃśa

नवमांशे कलत्राणां दशमांशे महत् फलम् । द्वादशांशे तथापित्रोश्चिन्तनं षोडशांशके ॥ ३ ॥

In the navāṃśa, [the consideration] of spouses; in the daśāṃśa, great fruit [i.e. eminent results]; in the dvādaśāṃśa, likewise of the parents; and the consideration in the ṣoḍaśāṃśa —

BPHS Adhyāya 7, śloka 3

Śloka 4 — Significations of ṣoḍaśāṃśa (completed) and viṃśāṃśa

सुखासुखस्य विज्ञानं वाहनानां तथैव च । उपासनाया विज्ञानं साध्यं विंशति भागके ॥ ४ ॥

— the knowledge of comfort and discomfort, and likewise of vehicles. The knowledge of one's worship (upāsanā) is to be arrived at in the twentieth part (viṃśāṃśa).

BPHS Adhyāya 7, śloka 4

Śloka 5 — Significations of caturviṃśāṃśa, bhāṃśa (27th), triṃśāṃśa, khavedāṃśa (40th)

विद्या या वेद बाह्वंशे भांशे चैव बलावलम् । त्रिंशांशके रिष्टफलं खवेदांशे शुभाशुभम् ॥ ५ ॥

Whatever learning there is, [is seen] in the veda-bāhu part (the twenty-fourth); in the bhāṃśa (the twenty-seventh), strength and weakness; in the triṃśāṃśa, the fruit of misfortune (riṣṭa); in the kha-veda part (the fortieth), the auspicious and inauspicious.

BPHS Adhyāya 7, śloka 5

Śloka 6 — Significations of akṣavedāṃśa (45th) and ṣaṣṭyaṃśa; malefic ṣaṣṭyaṃśa lord

अक्षवेदविभागे च षष्ट्यंशेऽखिलमीक्षयेत् । यत्र कुत्रापि सम्प्राप्तः क्रूरषष्ट्यंशकाधिपः ॥ ६ ॥

And in the akṣa-veda division (the forty-fifth) and in the ṣaṣṭyaṃśa one should examine everything. Wherever a cruel (malefic) lord of the ṣaṣṭyaṃśa has arrived —

BPHS Adhyāya 7, śloka 6

Śloka 7 — Destruction from a malefic ṣaṣṭyaṃśa lord; benefic kalāṃśa (16th) lord

तत्र नाशो न सन्देहो मुने ! विधिवचो यथा । यत्र कुत्रापि सम्प्राप्तः क्लांशाधिपतिः शुभः ॥ ७ ॥

— there is destruction there, O sage, without doubt, according to the word of the Creator. Wherever a benefic lord of the kalāṃśa (the sixteenth part) has arrived —

BPHS Adhyāya 7, śloka 7

Śloka 8 — Growth from a benefic kalāṃśa lord; close of the varga-signification section

तत्र वृद्धिश्च पुष्टिश्च गर्गादीनां वचो यथा । इतिषोडशवर्गाणां भेदास्ते प्रतिपादिताः ॥ ८ ॥

— there is increase and nourishment, according to the word of Garga and the others. Thus have those distinctions of the sixteen vargas been set forth to you.

BPHS Adhyāya 7, śloka 8

Śloka 9 — Use of viṃśopaka-bala for prediction

उदयादिषु भावेषु खेटस्य भवनेषु वा । विंशोपकबलं वीक्ष्य शुभाशुभफलं दिशेत् ॥ ९ ॥

In the bhāvas beginning with the ascendant, or in the [rāśi-]houses of a planet, one should declare the auspicious and inauspicious fruit after examining the viṃśopaka-bala.

BPHS Adhyāya 7, śloka 9

Śloka 10 — Announcement of the viṃśopaka-bala teaching

अथातः सम्प्रवक्ष्यामि विंशोपकबलं द्विज । यस्य विज्ञानमात्रेण विपाकं दृष्टिगोचरम् ॥ १० ॥

Now, therefore, I shall fully declare the viṃśopaka-bala, O twice-born one, by the mere knowledge of which the ripening [of karma] becomes visible to the eye.

BPHS Adhyāya 7, śloka 10

Śloka 11 — Base rule: full strength in svakṣetra/ucca, zero in the seventh therefrom

विंशोपकबलं वीक्ष्यं सूर्यादीनां खचारिणाम् । स्वगृहोच्चे बलं पूर्णं शून्यं तत्सप्तमस्थिते ॥ ११ ॥

The viṃśopaka-bala of the sky-moving bodies beginning with the Sun is to be examined thus: in its own house and in ucca the strength is full; when placed in the seventh from that [i.e. in nīca], it is zero.

BPHS Adhyāya 7, śloka 11

Śloka 12 — Proportional strength between ucca and nīca; two-rāśi lords by odd/even sign

गृहस्थितिवशाज्ज्ञेयं द्विराश्यधिपतेस्तथा । मध्येऽनुपाततो ज्ञेयमोजयुग्मर्क्षभेदतः ॥ १२ ॥

For a lord of two rāśis it is likewise to be known according to its placement in [either] house; and in between, it is to be known by proportion, on the distinction of odd and even signs.

BPHS Adhyāya 7, śloka 12

Śloka 13 — Which grahas give Sūrya-horā and which Candra-horā results

सूर्यहोराफलं दद्युर्जीवार्कवसुधात्मजाः । चन्द्रास्फुजिदर्कपुत्राश्चन्द्रहोराफलप्रदाः ॥ १३ ॥

Jupiter, the Sun and the son of the Earth (Mars) give the fruit of the Sun's horā; the Moon, Venus (Āsphujit) and the son of the Sun (Saturn) are the givers of the fruit of the Moon's horā.

BPHS Adhyāya 7, śloka 13

Śloka 14 — Mercury; even/odd signs; full fruit at the start of one's own horā

फलद्वयं बुधो दद्यात् समे चेन्दोस्तदन्यके । रवेः फलं स्वहोरादौ फलहीनं विरामके ॥ १४ ॥

Mercury gives both fruits. In an even [rāśi] the Moon's [horā-fruit prevails], in the other (the odd) the Sun's fruit. At the beginning of its own horā [the fruit is full]; at its end it is devoid of fruit.

BPHS Adhyāya 7, śloka 14

Śloka 15 — Same proportional method extended to dreṣkāṇa, caturthāṃśa, navāṃśa etc.

मध्येऽनुपातात् सर्वत्र द्रेष्काणेऽपि विचिन्तयेत् । गृहवत्तुर्यभागेऽपि नवांशादावपि स्वयम् ॥ १५ ॥

In between, by proportion everywhere; one should consider it in the dreṣkāṇa too, and in the fourth-part as in the [rāśi-]house, and by oneself likewise in the navāṃśa and the rest.

BPHS Adhyāya 7, śloka 15

Śloka 16 — Triṃśāṃśa: Sun carries Mars's fruit, Moon carries Venus's

सूर्यः कुजफलं धत्ते भार्गवस्य निशापतिः । त्रिंशांशके विचिन्त्यैवमत्रापि गृहवत् स्मृतम् ॥ १६ ॥

The Sun bears the fruit of Mars, and the lord of night (the Moon) that of Venus (Bhārgava). In the triṃśāṃśa it is to be considered thus; here too it is held [to be reckoned] as in the [rāśi-]house.

BPHS Adhyāya 7, śloka 16

Śloka 17 — The ṣaḍvarga and its viṃśopaka allotments

लग्नहोराद्रकाणाङ्क-भागसूर्यांशका इति । त्रिंशांशसहिताश्चैते षड्वर्गाः, विश्वकाः क्रमात् ॥ १७ ॥ रस नेत्राब्धिपञ्चाश्विभूमयः—

The lagna (rāśi), horā, dreṣkāṇa, the aṅka-part (the ninth) and the sūrya-part (the twelfth) — these together with the triṃśāṃśa are the six vargas (ṣaḍvarga). Their viśvakas (viṃśopaka units) in order are: the flavours (6), the eyes (2), the oceans (4), five (5), the Aśvins (2), the earth (1).

BPHS Adhyāya 7, śloka 17

Śloka 18 — The saptavarga and the beginning of its viṃśopaka allotments

… सप्तवर्गके । ससप्तमांशके तत्र विश्वकाः पञ्च लोचनम् ॥ १८ ॥

… in the saptavarga. There, [in the ṣaḍvarga] together with the saptamāṃśa, the viśvakas are: five (5), the eyes (2), …

BPHS Adhyāya 7, śloka 18

Śloka 19 — Remaining saptavarga viṃśopaka values; gross and subtle fruit

त्रयः सार्धं द्वयं सार्धवेदा द्वौ रात्रिनायकः । स्थूलं फलं च संस्थाप्य तत् सूक्ष्मं च ततस्ततः ॥ १९ ॥

… three (3), two-and-a-half (2½), four-and-a-half (4½), two (2), and the lord of night (1). Having established the gross fruit, [one should derive] the subtle fruit therefrom, step by step.

BPHS Adhyāya 7, śloka 19

Śloka 20 — The daśavarga and its first viṃśopaka values

दशवर्गा दिगंशाढ्याः कलांशाः षष्टिभागकाः । त्रयं क्षेत्रस्य विज्ञेयाः पञ्च-षष्ट्यंशकस्य च ॥ २० ॥

The ten vargas are [the saptavarga] augmented by the dik-part (the tenth), the kalāṃśa (the sixteenth) and the sixtieth part. Three (3) is to be known for the kṣetra (rāśi), and five (5) for the ṣaṣṭyaṃśa.

BPHS Adhyāya 7, śloka 20

Śloka 21 — Remaining daśavarga values; announcement of the ṣoḍaśavarga viṃśopakas

सार्धैकभागाः शेषाणां विश्वकाः परिकीर्तिताः । अथ वक्ष्ये विशेषेण विश्वकां मम सम्मताम् ॥ २१ ॥

For the remaining [vargas] the viśvakas are declared to be one-and-a-half parts each. Now I shall state in particular the viśvaka [scheme] approved by me.

BPHS Adhyāya 7, śloka 21

Śloka 22 — Ṣoḍaśavarga viṃśopakas: horā, triṃśāṃśa, dreṣkāṇa

क्रमात् षोडशवर्गाणां क्षेत्रादीनां पृथक् पृथक् । होरा-त्रिंशांश-द्रकाणे कुचन्द्र शशिनः क्रमात् ॥ २२ ॥

In order, separately for each of the sixteen vargas beginning with the kṣetra: for the horā, the triṃśāṃśa and the dreṣkāṇa, [the values are] the earth (1), the moon (1) and the moon (1) respectively.

BPHS Adhyāya 7, śloka 22

Śloka 23 — Ṣoḍaśavarga viṃśopakas: kalāṃśa, navāṃśa, kṣetra, ṣaṣṭyaṃśa

कलांशस्य द्वयं ज्ञेयं त्रयं नन्दांशकस्य च । क्षेत्रे सार्धत्रयं, वेदाः स्मृताः षष्ट्यंशकस्य हि ॥ २३ ॥

Two (2) is to be known for the kalāṃśa (sixteenth), and three (3) for the nanda-part (the ninth); in the kṣetra, three-and-a-half (3½); and for the ṣaṣṭyaṃśa the Vedas (4) are held [to be the value].

BPHS Adhyāya 7, śloka 23

Śloka 24 — Remaining ṣoḍaśavarga values; full viśvā-bala and the adhimitra grade

अर्धमर्धं च शेषाणां ह्येतत् स्वीयमुदाहृतम् । पूर्णं विश्वाबलं विंशो धृतिः स्यादधिमित्रके ॥ २४ ॥

And half each for the remaining [vargas] — this has been stated as [the value] in one's own [varga]. The full viśvā-strength is twenty; in an adhimitra (great friend's) [varga] it would be dhṛti (eighteen).

BPHS Adhyāya 7, śloka 24

Śloka 25 — Viśvā-bala by friendship grade

मित्रे पञ्चदश प्रोक्तं समे दश प्रकीर्तितम् । शत्रौ सप्ताधिशत्रौ च पञ्च विश्वाबलं भवेत् ॥ २५ ॥

In a friend's [varga] fifteen is declared; in a neutral's, ten is proclaimed; in an enemy's, seven; and in a great enemy's, the viśvā-strength would be five.

BPHS Adhyāya 7, śloka 25

Śloka 26 — Computing sphuṭa viṃśopaka; threshold of fruitfulness

वर्गविश्वाः स्वविश्वघ्नाः पुनर्विंशतिभाजिताः । विंशोपकं फलार्हं तत्पञ्चोनं फलदं नहि ॥ २६ ॥

The varga-viśvās, multiplied by their own viśvā [values] and then divided by twenty, [yield] the viṃśopaka fit to give fruit. That which is less than five gives no fruit at all.

BPHS Adhyāya 7, śloka 26

Śloka 27 — Grades of viṃśopaka strength

तदूर्ध्वं स्वल्पफलदं दशोर्ध्वं मध्यमं स्मृतम् । तिथ्यूर्ध्वं पूर्णफलदं बोध्यं सर्वं खचारिणाम् ॥ २७ ॥

Above that (five) it gives slight fruit; above ten it is held to be middling; above the tithis (fifteen) it gives full fruit. All this is to be understood of the sky-moving bodies.

BPHS Adhyāya 7, śloka 27

Śloka 28 — Udaya-asta viṃśopaka: full fruit in the seventh from the Sun

अथान्यदपि वक्ष्यामि मैत्रेय ! त्वं विधारय । खेटाः पूर्णं फलं दद्युः सूर्यात्सप्तमके स्थिताः ॥ २८ ॥

Now I shall declare something further, O Maitreya — do you hold it fast. Planets placed in the seventh from the Sun give full fruit.

BPHS Adhyāya 7, śloka 28

Śloka 29 — Zero fruit when with the Sun; proportion in between

फलाभावं विजानीयात् समे सूर्यनभश्चरे । मध्येऽनुपातात् सर्वत्र ह्युदयास्त-विंशोपकाः ॥ २९ ॥

One should know the absence of fruit when a sky-mover is level with the Sun; and in between, by proportion everywhere — these are the udaya-asta (rising-and-setting) viṃśopakas.

BPHS Adhyāya 7, śloka 29

Śloka 30 — Declaring results from varga-viśvā strength

वर्गविश्वाबलं ज्ञेयं फलमस्य द्विजर्षभः ! । यच्च यत्र फलं बुद्ध्वा तत्फलं परिकीर्तितम् ॥ ३० ॥

The varga-viśvā strength is to be known, and its fruit, O bull among the twice-born. Having understood which fruit belongs where, that fruit is to be proclaimed.

BPHS Adhyāya 7, śloka 30

Śloka 31 — Order of application; compounding full with full

वर्गविश्वाबलं चादावुदयास्त मतः परम् । पूर्णं पूर्णेऽतिपूर्णं स्यात् सर्वदैवं विचिन्तयेत् ॥ ३१ ॥

First the varga-viśvā strength, and thereafter the rising-and-setting [viṃśopaka] is held [to be applied]. Full upon full becomes over-full; one should consider thus in every case.

BPHS Adhyāya 7, śloka 31

Śloka 32 — Compounding the other grades; validity through the daśā

हीनं हीनेऽतिहीनं स्यात् स्वल्पेऽल्पात्यल्पकं स्मृतम् । मध्यं मध्येऽतिमध्यं स्याद् यावदस्य दशास्थितिः ॥ ३२ ॥

Deficient upon deficient becomes over-deficient; slight upon slight is held to be exceedingly slight; middling upon middling becomes over-middling — [and so it holds] for as long as that planet's daśā lasts.

BPHS Adhyāya 7, śloka 32

Śloka 33 — Kendra bhāvas

अथान्यदपि वक्ष्यामि मैत्रेय शृणु सुव्रत । लग्नतुर्यास्तवियतां केन्द्रसंज्ञा विशेषतः ॥ ३३ ॥

Now I shall declare something further, O Maitreya of good vows — listen. Of the lagna, the fourth, the seventh (asta) and the tenth (viyat), the designation is specifically kendra.

BPHS Adhyāya 7, śloka 33

Śloka 34 — Paṇaphara and āpoklima bhāvas

द्विपञ्चरन्ध्रलाभानां ज्ञेया पणफणाभिधा । त्रिषड्भाग्यव्ययानां स्यादापोक्लिममिति द्विज ॥ ३४ ॥

For the second, fifth, eighth (randhra) and eleventh (lābha), the appellation paṇaphara is to be known; for the third, sixth, ninth (bhāgya) and twelfth (vyaya) it would be āpoklima, O twice-born one.

BPHS Adhyāya 7, śloka 34

Śloka 35 — Koṇa and trika (duḥsthāna) bhāvas

लग्नात् पञ्चमभाग्यस्य कोणसंज्ञा विधीयते । षष्ठाष्टव्ययभावास्तु दुःसंज्ञास्त्रिकसंज्ञकाः ॥ ३५ ॥

From the lagna, the fifth and the ninth (bhāgya) are assigned the designation koṇa. The sixth, eighth and twelfth bhāvas are called 'duḥ' (evil) and are designated the trika.

BPHS Adhyāya 7, śloka 35

Śloka 36 — Caturasra and upacaya bhāvas

चतुरस्रं तुर्यरन्ध्रं कथयन्ति द्विजोत्तम । स्वस्थादुपचयर्क्षाणि त्रिषडायाम्बराणि हि ॥ ३६ ॥

The fourth and the eighth (randhra) they call caturasra, O best of the twice-born. From one's own position, the upacaya signs are indeed the third, sixth, eleventh (āya) and tenth (ambara).

BPHS Adhyāya 7, śloka 36

Śloka 37 — The names of the twelve bhāvas

तनुर्धनं च सहजो बन्धुपुत्रारयस्तथा । युवतीरन्ध्र धर्माख्य-कर्मलाभव्ययाः क्रमात् ॥ ३७ ॥

Body (tanu), wealth (dhana), the co-born (sahaja), kinsfolk (bandhu), son (putra), enemies (ari), and likewise wife (yuvatī), the aperture (randhra), that named dharma, action (karma), gain (lābha) and loss (vyaya) — in order.

BPHS Adhyāya 7, śloka 37

Śloka 38 — Transition to the special teaching heard from Brahmā

संक्षेपेणैतदुदित-मन्यद् बुद्ध्यनुसारतः । किञ्चिद् विशेषं वक्ष्यामि यथा ब्रह्ममुखाच्छ्रुतम् ॥ ३८ ॥

This has been stated in brief; the rest [is to be understood] according to one's own intelligence. I shall state some particular matter, just as it was heard from the mouth of Brahmā.

BPHS Adhyāya 7, śloka 38

Śloka 39 — Reading a bhāva also from its kāraka: Sun for the 9th, 10th, 11th

नवमेऽपि पितुर्ज्ञानं सूर्याच्च नवमेऽथवा । यत् किञ्चिद् दशमे लाभे तत्सूर्याद् दशमे शिवे ॥ ३९ ॥

Knowledge of the father [is had] from the ninth, or else from the ninth from the Sun. Whatever [is to be considered] in the tenth and the eleventh, that [is also to be considered] in the tenth and the eleventh (śiva) from the Sun.

BPHS Adhyāya 7, śloka 39

Śloka 40 — Moon as reference for the 4th, 1st, 2nd, 11th, 9th

तुर्ये तनौ धने लाभे भाग्ये यच्चिन्तनं च तत् । चन्द्रात्तुर्ये तनौ लाभे भाग्ये तच्चिन्तयेद् ध्रुवम् ॥ ४० ॥

Whatever consideration belongs to the fourth, the body-house (first), the wealth-house (second), the gain-house (eleventh) and the fortune-house (ninth) — that one should assuredly consider from the Moon likewise: in the fourth, the first, the eleventh and the ninth [from her].

BPHS Adhyāya 7, śloka 40

Śloka 41 — Mars for the 3rd, Mercury for the 6th

लग्नाद् दुश्चिक्यभवने यत्कुजाद् विक्रमेऽखिलम् । विचार्यं षष्ठभावस्य बुधात् षष्ठे विलोकयेत् ॥ ४१ ॥

Whatever [is to be considered] in the third house from the lagna, all of it is to be considered from the third (vikrama) from Mars. What belongs to the sixth bhāva, one should observe in the sixth from Mercury.

BPHS Adhyāya 7, śloka 41

Śloka 42 — Jupiter for the 5th, Venus for the 7th, Saturn for the 8th and 12th

तनयस्य गुरोः पुत्रे, जायायाः सप्तमे भृगोः । अष्टमस्य व्ययस्यापि मन्दान्मृत्यौ व्यये तथा ॥ ४२ ॥

For a son, [look] in the fifth from Jupiter; for the wife, in the seventh from Venus; and for the eighth and the twelfth too, [look] from Saturn — in the death-house (eighth) and in the loss-house (twelfth).

BPHS Adhyāya 7, śloka 42

Śloka 43 — General rule: read a bhāva also from its lord

यद्भावाद्यत् फलं चिन्त्यं तदीशात्तत्फलं विदुः । ज्ञेयं तस्य फलं तद्धि तत्र चिन्त्यं शुभाशुभम् ॥ ४३ ॥

Whatever fruit is to be considered from a given bhāva, that same fruit they know [is to be considered] from its lord as well. Its fruit is to be known in that manner; there the auspicious and inauspicious are to be weighed.

BPHS Adhyāya 7, śloka 43