Chapter on Praśna (Horary Astrology) — Bṛhat-Pārāśara-Horāśāstra, Adhyāya 84

प्रश्नाध्यायः

The complete Chapter on Praśna (Horary Astrology) chapter of the Bṛhat-Pārāśara-Horāśāstra — all 47 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 — Maitreya's request — introduction to praśna

श्रुतं महर्षे ! निखिलं यदुक्तं कृपया त्वया । इदानीं वक्तुमुचितं प्रश्नैरेव तु जन्मिनाम् ॥ १ ॥

Maitreya said: O great ṛṣi! I have heard in full all that you have graciously spoken. Now it is fitting that you speak of [what may be known] for embodied beings by praśna (query) alone.

BPHS Adhyāya 84, śloka 1

Śloka 2 — Topics knowable by praśna — mind, travellers, family, life and death

भावं मनोगतं वाऽपि पथिकागमनादिकम् । स्त्रीपुत्रयोर्लाभहानी मरणं जीवनं तथा ॥ २ ॥

— the intent held in the mind, and also the coming and going of a traveller, gain and loss with regard to wife and sons, and likewise death and life —

BPHS Adhyāya 84, śloka 2

Śloka 3 — Maitreya's request concluded

रोगिणामेतदखिलं कृपया वद मे प्रभो । त्वामन्तरा नचान्योऽस्ति कश्चित्तत्त्वविशारदः ॥ ३ ॥

— and all this concerning the sick: graciously tell it to me, O lord; apart from you there is no one else expert in the truth [of this science].

BPHS Adhyāya 84, śloka 3

Śloka 4 — Parāśara's assent

अथ ब्रवीमि ते विप्र ! यथाभिलषितं तव । प्रश्नाज्ज्ञातो भवेत् सर्वं ज्ञेयं तच्छृणु यत्नतः ॥ ४ ॥

Parāśara said: Now, O Vipra, I shall tell you according to your wish. From the praśna everything that is to be known may be known; hear that attentively.

BPHS Adhyāya 84, śloka 4

Śloka 5 — Method: read the bhāvas first, then strength

भावैर्विचार्य विषयान् जानीयात् प्राग् बुधस्ततः । बलाबलविवेकेन शुभाशुभफलं दिशेत् ॥ ५ ॥

The wise one should first ascertain the subjects to be considered by [assigning them to] the bhāvas; thereafter, by discriminating strength and weakness, he should declare the auspicious or inauspicious result.

BPHS Adhyāya 84, śloka 5

Śloka 6 — Bhāva significations for praśna — 1st and 2nd

स्वरूपलक्षणं प्रश्न-कर्तुर्दुःखसुखे तनोः । रत्नानां लाभहानी तु धनस्थानाद् विचिन्तयेत् ॥ ६ ॥

The form and marks of the querent, and his sorrow and happiness, [are to be considered] from the tanu (lagna); but gain and loss of gems should be considered from the dhana-sthāna (2nd).

BPHS Adhyāya 84, śloka 6

Śloka 7 — Bhāva significations — 3rd and 4th

पराक्रमं भ्रातृ-भृत्य-सुखं सहजभावतः । मित्रालयग्राममातृ-वाहनानां सुखं सुखात् ॥ ७ ॥

Prowess, and happiness from brothers and servants, [are read] from the sahaja bhāva (3rd); the happiness of friends, dwelling, village, mother and vehicles from the sukha bhāva (4th).

BPHS Adhyāya 84, śloka 7

Śloka 8 — Bhāva significations — 5th and 6th

अपत्यमतिशास्त्राणि चिन्तयेत् पञ्चमालयात् । शत्रुमातुलरोगांस्तु व्रणानपि रिपोस्तथा ॥ ८ ॥

Offspring, intellect and the śāstras should be considered from the fifth house; but enemies, the maternal uncle, diseases and also wounds from the ripu (6th).

BPHS Adhyāya 84, śloka 8

Śloka 9 — Bhāva significations — 7th and 8th

विवादस्त्रीवणिग्वृत्ति-गमनागमनानि वै । सप्तमान् मृत्युभावाच्च मृत्युं युद्धं च रुग्भयम् ॥ ९ ॥

Disputes, wife, the trader's livelihood, and going and coming [are read] from the seventh; and from the mṛtyu bhāva (8th), death, war, and fear of disease.

BPHS Adhyāya 84, śloka 9

Śloka 10 — Bhāva significations — 9th and 10th

वापीदेवालयादीनां निर्माणं नवमालयात् । राज्यं पितृसुखं राज-कर्म चिन्त्यं पितुर्गृहात् ॥ १० ॥

The construction of tanks, temples and the like [is read] from the ninth house; kingdom, happiness from the father, and royal service are to be considered from the pitṛ-gṛha.

BPHS Adhyāya 84, śloka 10

Śloka 11 — Bhāva significations — 11th and 12th

कन्याकाञ्चनसस्यानि वाहनानि च लाभतः । व्ययतो रिपुरोधश्च व्ययं भोगादिकर्मसु ॥ ११ ॥

Daughters, gold, grain and vehicles [are read] from the lābha (11th); and from the vyaya (12th), obstruction by enemies, and expenditure upon enjoyments and such acts.

BPHS Adhyāya 84, śloka 11

Śloka 12 — Strength and weakness of a bhāva

भावः स्वस्वामिसत्खेटै-र्युक्तो दृष्टोऽपि वर्धते । अशुभैरीक्षितयुतो नष्टो मिश्रैस्तु मध्यमः ॥ १२ ॥

A bhāva joined with, or even aspected by, its own lord or by benefic grahas prospers; joined with or aspected by malefics it is ruined; but with mixed [grahas] it is middling.

BPHS Adhyāya 84, śloka 12

Śloka 13 — Kapaṭa praśna — a query asked with ill intent

प्रश्नाङ्गगौ चन्द्रमन्दौ विरश्मिज्ञो घटे रविः । पृच्छको दुष्टभावेना-यातश्चेति विनिर्णयेत् ॥ १३ ॥

[If] the Moon and Saturn are in the praśna-lagna, Mercury is without rays (combust), and the Sun is in Aquarius, one should conclude that the questioner has come with a wicked intent.

BPHS Adhyāya 84, śloka 13

Śloka 14 — Kārya-siddhi — accomplishment of the matter asked about

प्रश्नाङ्गपस्तनुं कार्य-गेहं कार्याधिपो यदि । कार्यमङ्गाधिपः कार्या-धीशोऽङ्गं वाऽपि पश्यति ॥ १४ ॥

If the lord of the praśna-lagna aspects the lagna and the lord of the matter aspects the house of the matter; or if the lagna-lord aspects the house of the matter and the lord of the matter aspects the lagna —

BPHS Adhyāya 84, śloka 14

Śloka 15 — Kārya-siddhi — with effort or effortless

स्वस्वभावस्थयोर्लग्न-कार्याधीशनभोगयोः । मिथोदृष्टिस्तदाऽपि स्यात् कार्यसिद्धिः प्रयासतः । पूर्णेन्दुनेक्षितौ नो चे-दनायासं तु सा भवेत् ॥ १५ ॥

— or when the lagna-lord and the lord of the matter, each standing in his own bhāva, aspect one another — then too the matter is accomplished, but through effort, if they are not aspected by the full Moon; whereas [if they are so aspected] it comes about without effort.

BPHS Adhyāya 84, śloka 15

Śloka 16 — Speed of accomplishment

ससद्ग्रहे तनौ सौम्य-वर्गगे शीर्षकोदये । त्वरितं व्यत्यये नैव मिश्रे सिद्धिर्विलम्बतः ॥ १६ ॥

When the lagna is with a benefic graha, or in a benefic's varga, and is a śīrṣodaya (head-rising) sign, [the matter succeeds] quickly; in the contrary case, not at all; when mixed, success comes with delay.

BPHS Adhyāya 84, śloka 16

Śloka 17 — Mauṣṭika praśna — dhātu / jīva / mūla by navāṃśa

प्रश्नाङ्गे ऽस्ति त्रिकोणे वा स्वांशं स्वांशगतो ग्रहः । पश्येत्तदा धातुचिन्ता जीवचिन्तान्यभागगः ॥ १७ ॥

If a graha standing in its own aṃśa aspects its own aṃśa in the praśna-lagna or in a trikoṇa, then the query concerns a dhātu (mineral); if it stands in another's aṃśa [and so aspects], the query concerns a jīva (living thing).

BPHS Adhyāya 84, śloka 17

Śloka 18 — Mauṣṭika praśna — mūla; order in even signs

परांशं परभागस्थो मूलचिन्तां विनिर्दिशेत् । युग्मभेंऽशक्रमाज् ज्ञेये जीवं मूलं च धातुकम् ॥ १८ ॥

A graha standing in another's aṃśa and aspecting another's aṃśa indicates a query about mūla (vegetable matter). In an even rāśi, by the order of the aṃśas, jīva, mūla and dhātu are to be known.

BPHS Adhyāya 84, śloka 18

Śloka 19 — Mauṣṭika order in odd signs; start of the traveller topic

ओजेंऽशक्रमतो धातु-मूलजीवानि मौष्टिके । प्रश्नाङ्गतः सुखे सौम्य-खेटो वा दशमे स्थितः ॥ १९ ॥

In an odd rāśi, by the order of the aṃśas, [the answer] in a mauṣṭika (closed-fist) query is dhātu, mūla, jīva. [Next:] If a benefic graha is placed in the 4th or the 10th from the praśna-lagna —

BPHS Adhyāya 84, śloka 19

Śloka 20 — Departure and arrival of a traveller; timing of arrival

गमनं न भवेद् गन्तुः पापखेटे न चागमः । लग्नाच्चतुर्थाद् दशमाद् यावद्भिर्दिवसैर्ग्रहः ॥ द्वितीयराशिमभ्येति तावद्भिः पथिकागमः ॥ २० ॥

— then the departure of one who intends to go does not take place; and with a malefic graha [there] there is no arrival. In as many days as the graha reaches the second rāśi from the lagna, from the 4th, or from the 10th, in that many days is the traveller's arrival.

BPHS Adhyāya 84, śloka 20

Śloka 21 — Traveller on the road

सप्तमस्थानगश्चन्द्रो भाग्येशो भाऽपरार्धगः । पथिकं तु तदायान्तं पथि विद्याद् द्विजोत्तम ! ॥ २१ ॥

When the Moon is in the seventh house and the lord of the ninth is in the latter half of a rāśi, then, O best of the twice-born, know that the traveller is on the road, coming.

BPHS Adhyāya 84, śloka 21

Śloka 22 — Traveller already home

सुखे जीवोऽथवा शुक्र-श्चन्द्रो वा यदि संस्थितः । पथिकं गेहमायान्तं विद्याद् गणकसत्तमः ॥ २२ ॥

If Jupiter, or Venus, or the Moon is placed in the 4th, the best of astrologers should know the traveller to be coming home.

BPHS Adhyāya 84, śloka 22

Śloka 23 — Traveller arrived home — Jupiter and Venus in 2nd or 3rd

प्रश्नलग्नाद् द्वितीये वा तृतीये जीवभार्गवौ । पथिकं गेहमायातं जानीयात् प्रश्नवित्तदा ॥ २३ ॥

Or if Jupiter and Venus are in the second or the third from the praśna-lagna, then the knower of praśna should know the traveller has come home.

BPHS Adhyāya 84, śloka 23

Śloka 24 — Quick return of one abroad

सितवित्सूर्यमन्दाना-मेकोऽपि चरलग्नगः । प्रवासी शीघ्रमायाति वक्री नैव यदा ग्रहः ॥ २४ ॥

If even one of Venus, Mercury, the Sun and Saturn is in a movable lagna, the one living abroad returns quickly — provided that graha is not retrograde.

BPHS Adhyāya 84, śloka 24

Śloka 25 — Distress of the traveller

पृच्छोदयगते लग्ने सदृष्टेऽशुभेक्षिते । अशुभैः केन्द्रगैर्वापि पथिकः क्लेशसंयुतः ॥ २५ ॥

When the lagna risen at the query is [un]aspected [by benefics] and is aspected by malefics, or when malefics occupy the kendras, the traveller is beset with distress.

BPHS Adhyāya 84, śloka 25

Śloka 26 — Risk to the traveller — thieves

प्रश्नाङ्गतोऽष्टमे सूर्ये भौमे वाऽपि तु चौरभीः । सिंहे रवौ, विधौ वाऽपि कुजे निधनगे सति ॥ २६ ॥

If the Sun or Mars is in the eighth from the praśna-lagna, there is fear of thieves. And when the Sun is in Leo, and when the Moon or Mars is in the eighth —

BPHS Adhyāya 84, śloka 26

Śloka 27 — Fear of weapons; wealth of the traveller

शनीक्षिते शस्त्रभीति-र्लग्ने चेन्न शुभो भवेत् । सशुभे दशमे वाऽपि नवमे सधनो हि सः ॥ २७ ॥

— and aspected by Saturn, there is fear of weapons, if no benefic is in the lagna. But if the tenth or the ninth is with a benefic, he is indeed wealthy.

BPHS Adhyāya 84, śloka 27

Śloka 28 — Vivāha praśna — early marriage

प्रश्नाङ्गतस्त्रिषड्लाभ-जायापञ्चमभावगः । शशी-सूर्यज्ञगुरुभि-र्वीक्षितो वाऽपि लग्नतः ॥ २८ ॥

The Moon placed in the 3rd, 6th, 11th, 7th or 5th from the praśna-lagna, or else aspected from the lagna by the Sun, Mercury and Jupiter —

BPHS Adhyāya 84, śloka 28

Śloka 29 — Vivāha praśna — marriage soon

केन्द्रकोणगता जीव-विच्छुक्रसितरश्मयः । जायाङ्गपौ लग्नजाया-गतौ पाणिग्रहोऽचिरात् ॥ २९ ॥

— [and when] Jupiter, Mercury, Venus and the Moon are in kendras and koṇas, and the lords of the 7th and of the lagna are placed in the lagna and the 7th [respectively], marriage takes place before long.

BPHS Adhyāya 84, śloka 29

Śloka 30 — Strī-mṛtyu yoga — death of the wife

पापाः सुखे मदे वाऽपि विबलो भार्गवो यदि । स्वर्भानुः सप्तमे वा स्या-न्म्रियते तु तदाङ्गना ॥ ३० ॥

If malefics are in the 4th or the 7th, or if Venus is powerless, or if Rāhu is in the seventh, then the wife dies.

BPHS Adhyāya 84, śloka 30

Śloka 31 — Death of the first wife

पापान्विते सप्तमे तु सुखे शुभखगान्विते । प्रथमा म्रियते पत्नी, धृता जीवति निश्चितम् ॥ ३१ ॥

But when the seventh is joined with malefics and the fourth is joined with benefic grahas, the first wife dies, while she who is [afterwards] taken to wife certainly lives.

BPHS Adhyāya 84, śloka 31

Śloka 32 — Garbha praśna — safety of a pregnancy

सशुभः पञ्चमः स्वामि-युक्तो वा तदवेक्षितः । सबलो मासपस्तर्हि गर्भं सकुशलं वदेत् ॥ ३२ ॥

If the fifth is with a benefic, or joined with its own lord, or aspected by him, and the lord of the month is strong, then one should declare the pregnancy to be safe.

BPHS Adhyāya 84, śloka 32

Śloka 33 — Santāna praśna — sex of the child by odd/even rāśi

सुतप्रश्नजनुर्लग्ना-धीशौ पुंराशिगौ यदि । पुत्रं तदा विजानीयात् कन्या स्त्रीराशिगौ तु तौ ॥ ३३ ॥

In a query about offspring, if the lords of the 5th (of sons) and of the lagna are in male rāśis, then one should know [the child to be] a son; but if those two are in female rāśis, a daughter.

BPHS Adhyāya 84, śloka 33

Śloka 34 — Santāna praśna — Saturn's odd/even placement

शनिरोजर्क्षगो वाऽपि विषमांशगतो भवेत् । पुत्रदः पुत्रिकाजन्म-प्रदस्तु समभांशगे ॥ ३४ ॥

Saturn standing in an odd rāśi, or in an odd aṃśa, gives a son; but standing in an even rāśi or aṃśa he gives the birth of a daughter.

BPHS Adhyāya 84, śloka 34

Śloka 35 — Santāna praśna — Sun, Moon, Jupiter; aspects on the 5th

ओजे सूर्येन्दुगुरवः पुत्रजन्मप्रदाः स्मृताः । दृष्टावपि सुते शुक्र-भौमेन्दूनां युतौ भवेत् ॥ ३५ ॥

The Sun, Moon and Jupiter in an odd [rāśi or aṃśa] are held to give the birth of a son. Also when the fifth is aspected by, or joined with, Venus, Mars and the Moon, [a son] results.

BPHS Adhyāya 84, śloka 35

Śloka 36 — Santāna praśna — strong Venus and Moon

सितेन्दू बलिनौ पुत्र-स्थानं प्रश्नाङ्गतो यदि । पश्यतः सुतदौ, कन्या-प्रदौ पञ्चमगौ यदि ॥ ३६ ॥

If strong Venus and the Moon aspect the house of sons reckoned from the praśna-lagna, they give a son; but if they are situated in the fifth, they give a daughter.

BPHS Adhyāya 84, śloka 36

Śloka 37 — Santāna praśna — obstruction to progeny

नीचास्तारित्रिकस्थान-गतौ सन्ततिबाधकौ । लाभगौ प्रबलावेतौ सुतदौ विबुधैः स्मृतौ ॥ ३७ ॥

Those two [Venus and the Moon], placed in nīca, in combustion, in the house of enemies, or in the trika houses, obstruct progeny; but strong and placed in the eleventh, they are held by the wise to be givers of a son.

BPHS Adhyāya 84, śloka 37

Śloka 38 — Putra yoga — exchange of lagna and 5th lords

पञ्चमाधिपतिर्लग्ने लग्नेशः पञ्चमे यदि । बलेन्दुयुतस्तर्हि पुत्रोत्पत्तिरसंशयम् ॥ ३८ ॥

If the lord of the fifth is in the lagna and the lord of the lagna is in the fifth, joined with a strong Moon, then the birth of a son is beyond doubt.

BPHS Adhyāya 84, śloka 38

Śloka 39 — Putra yoga — both lords exalted and in mutual aspect

प्रश्नाङ्गपञ्चमेशौ चेदुच्चगौ भवतोऽपि च । मिथोदृष्टौ तदा पुत्र-जन्म वाच्यं बुधैः सदा ॥ ३९ ॥

If the lords of the praśna-lagna and of the fifth are in ucca, and also aspect each other, then the wise should always declare the birth of a son.

BPHS Adhyāya 84, śloka 39

Śloka 40 — Sonlessness — afflicted lord of the 5th

अस्तंगते पञ्चमेशे नीचे वा पीडिते खलैः । अपुत्रः प्रश्नकर्ता स्या-ज्जातोऽपि म्रियते क्षणात् ॥ ४० ॥

When the lord of the fifth is combust, or in nīca, or afflicted by malefics, the questioner will be sonless; and even if [a son] is born, he dies in an instant.

BPHS Adhyāya 84, śloka 40

Śloka 41 — Childlessness — 5th lord with Rāhu or Mars

स्वर्भानुना कुजेनापि युक्तश्चेत् पञ्चमाधिपः । तदाऽनपत्यता ज्ञेया पूर्वैरेतदुदीरितम् ॥ ४१ ॥

If the lord of the fifth is joined with Rāhu, or also with Mars, then childlessness is to be known; this has been declared by the ancients.

BPHS Adhyāya 84, śloka 41

Śloka 42 — Rogī-maraṇa praśna — death of a patient

पापर्क्षं प्रश्नलग्नं चे-दष्टमं पापखेटयुक् । पापेक्षितं वाऽन्तराले पापयोरष्टमे शशी ॥ ४२ ॥

If the praśna-lagna is a malefic's rāśi; if the eighth is joined with a malefic graha, or aspected by a malefic; or if the Moon is in the eighth between two malefics —

BPHS Adhyāya 84, śloka 42

Śloka 43 — Rogī-maraṇa praśna — further death indications

सपापो वा खला रन्ध्रे व्यये, चन्द्रो नगेऽष्टमे । लग्नेऽरिभे तदा मृत्युः सत्वरं रोगिणो भवेत् ॥ ४३ ॥

— or if malefics are in the eighth or the twelfth, or the Moon is in the seventh, the eighth, the lagna, or the sixth — then the death of the sick person occurs quickly.

BPHS Adhyāya 84, śloka 43

Śloka 44 — Rogī-maraṇa praśna — Moon/Sun axis and Mars in Aries

चन्द्रे तनौ सप्तमेऽर्के, कुजेऽजेऽलिनवांशगे । चन्द्रेण सहिते मृत्यु-मादिशेद्रोगिणस्तदा ॥ ४४ ॥

When the Moon is in the lagna and the Sun in the seventh; or when Mars, standing in Aries in the navāṃśa of Scorpio, is together with the Moon — then one should declare the death of the sick person.

BPHS Adhyāya 84, śloka 44

Śloka 45 — Rogī-kalyāṇa yoga — recovery of the patient

प्रश्नलग्नात् सप्तमर्क्षे सशुभे वाऽथ लग्नपे । उदिते मृत्युपे हीनबले लाभा-धिपे तथा ॥ ४५ ॥

If the seventh rāśi from the praśna-lagna holds a benefic, or else if the lagna-lord is risen (heliacally, i.e. not combust), while the lord of the eighth is weak in strength, and likewise the lord of the eleventh —

BPHS Adhyāya 84, śloka 45

Śloka 46 — Rogī-kalyāṇa yoga concluded; mixed result

प्रबले, रोगिणः क्षेममादिशेद् गणकोत्तमः । लग्नात् सप्तमगे मिश्र-ग्रहे मिश्रं फलं वदेत् ॥ ४६ ॥

— being strong, the best of astrologers should declare the well-being of the sick person. If mixed grahas occupy the seventh from the lagna, one should declare a mixed result.

BPHS Adhyāya 84, śloka 46

Śloka 47 — Colophon verse — closing address to Maitreya

इति ते कथितं विप्र ! वेद्यं प्रश्नाङ्गतो बुधैः । तद्वदेवाखिलं वस्तु ज्ञातुं शक्यमसंशयम् ॥ ४७ ॥

Thus, O Vipra, I have told you what is to be known by the wise from the praśna-lagna; in just the same way every matter can undoubtedly be known.

BPHS Adhyāya 84, śloka 47