Now the six sources of strengths of a planet.
169 – 171. (a) In this context, Kalyana Varma is quoted on Dig Bala (directional strength), Sthaana Bala (positional strength), Kala Bala (temporal strength) and Chestha Bala (motional strength). In .deciding various issues, directional strength, positional strength, temporal strength and motional strength are the four sources of strength necessary to a planet which are narrated below. A planet devoid of these strengths is weak.
(b) Jupiter and Mercury in Ascendant, the Sun and Mars in the 10th, Saturn in the 7th, and Venus and the M6t>n in the 4th gain what is called directional strength.
(c) A planet in its exaltation sign, Moola Trikona sign, own sign, or in friendly or own Navamsa, in aspect to a benefic assumes strength.
(d) The Moon and Venus obtain positional strength in feminine signs while the other planets do so in masculine signs.
(e) Jupiter, the Sun and Venus are strong in day time. Mercury’s strength remains in tact throughout, i.e. both in day and in night. Saturn, the Moon and Mars are
strong during nights. The lord of ascendant’s Hora, and the lords of the month and day of birth get strength. Benefics are strong in bright fortnight and malefics in dark fortnight. Strong are the following planets. One that conquers another in a war one that is in retrograde motion and the one that has its rays in full (i.e. not combust). The Sun and the Moon are strong in their northerly course. This is Cheshta Bala as per Satyacharya.
Notes: (a) I have sufficiently dealt with calculations of such strengths in my various translations like Brihat Parasara Hora Sastra, Saravali, Sambhu Hora Prakasa etc. etc. with which the reader is already familiar. For more information, the reader may further consultant Dr. M. Vijaya Raghavulu’s Hindu Astrological Calculations.
(b) This is called Digbala.
(c) This is called Sthaana Bala (or positional strength).
(d) Same as “c” above.
(e) The second line of sloka 171 reads erroneously as “Hora¬ Masa-Dinadhipaascha” which refers to lords of Hora on the and day only. It should actually read as
“Hora-Masa, Dina, abda, paksha” to include the lord of the year also. These are part of Kala Bala or temporal strength.
172. Yuddha Bala: Bala Bhadra now deals with the conqueror in the words of Varaha Mihira from his chapter on Planetary War in Brihat Samhita). A planet that is large (Vipula), glossy (Snigdha), brilliant (Dyutiman) and is in the north is the winner. So says Varaha Mihira. In the same chapter, the defeated planet is described thus. One in the south (of the other), is rough, trembling, withdrawing from the other without contacting it, small, mounted, of ugly ppearance, and bereft of radiance and colour. Here the winner should be understood by the expressions “Vipulaadi Lakshana yukto” (that is being large etc.) and “Dakshina Dikstho” (placed in the south of the other). “Viloma Gathi” means, retrograde motion, and “Sampoornagaavah” means endowed with full rays. Thus observes the author.
Notes: The chapter referred to by the author is the 17th in Brihat Samhita of Varaha Mihira. This work has a marvellous English translation by Prof. M. Rama Krishna Bhatt and contains a variety of useful information.
For understanding the exact meanings of terms like “large” (Vipula), rough, trembling etc. we must have a proper grasp of relevant astronomical instructions which at least I do not have. “Sthigmo” should read as “Snigdho”meaning “glossy”.
173. Ayana Bala: Venus, Mars, the Sun and Jupiter get Ayana Bala with northern declination. Saturn and the Moon obtain Ayana Bala with southern declination. Mercury is strong in this regard with either declination.
Notes: The original verse is erroneous in that the Moon is “included among planets with northern declination and excluded from those with southern declination. But, the Sun appears in both the cases. The rendering is for rectified version.
Ayana Bala is called equinoctial strength which is assigned to a heavenly body by virtue of its position with a certain Kranti or declination. When the declination of the” Sun, Mars, Jupiter and Venus is 23° N 27′ they are in full strength. Similarly, the Moon and Saturn are hi full power with 23° S 27′. In case of Mercury, he commences with a minimum of half Roopa at celestial equator – zero degree – and gradually increases his power with either declination, getting full at 230 27′ North or South.
174. 176. (a) Drekkana Bala: Male planets get strength in the 1st decanate of any sign. Female and hermaphrodite planets get this strength in the 2nd and 3rd decanates respectively.
(b) Beliacally Risen Planets: According to Yavanas, planets that have emerged from the Sun are only strong.
(c) Tribhaga Bala: When the night duration is divided into three equal parts, the Moon, Venus and Mars get strength in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd parts in order. When the day duration is similarly divided, Mercury, the Sun and Saturn get this strength in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd parts respectively. Jupiter is ever (i. e. throughout the 24 hours) strong in this respect.
(d) Naisargika Bala: Saturn, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, the Moon are (universally) stronger than the other in the ascending order.
The wise should consider these various sources of strength of planets.
177. Retrogression in Exaltation: Other preceptors state that a planet in retrogression in its exaltation sign is devoid of strength. Though it may be in exaltation due to entry in retrogression from the next sign, it loses its strength because of excessive schedule of traverse.
Notes: The first condition is clear. For example, Mars (R) in Capricorn loses its exaltation potence.
“Ati Vakra” (or Anu Vakra) denotes a planet that re-enters its exaltation sign from the next sign in retrograde motion. For example, retrograde Venus re-entering Pisces, its exaltation sign, from Aries. In this case also, the planet is said to be weak.
178. A planet in exaltation gives excellent effects. In its Moola Trlkona sign or in own sign, its effects are medium. Limited will be its effects if in a friendly sign or be aspected by a friendly planet.
179. Strength of the Moon: Seniors among Yavanas say that the Moon is endowed with moderate strength for ten days from the first day of bright lunar half. During the next ten days, it is excellent in power, after which it has very little strength for ten days.
Notes: Also see the notes for sloka 86, chapter 1 of Jyotisharnava Nauanitam for similar views.
180. If the Moon is placed with full rays, brilliant and bright-circled, the subject will be an unconquerable king.
182. The effects revealed by various Rasis will correspond to their strengths and that of their lords. If the Rasi and its lord have identical strengths, only one of them be considered. If two planets are identically strong, the one with higher Naisargika Bala will have to be considered. This view is held by many preceptors while Chudamani Acha.rya stipulates that if the ascendant (or a sign) and its lord are equally strong, only the lord of the ascendant (or of the sign) be considered.
Divisions like exaltation, Moola Trikona and own sign have already been stated (so observes the author).
183-186. Gunakara on Planetary States & Effects: (a) Planets attain following nine Avasthas or states. Deepta when in exaltation, Svastha in own sign, Harshita in a friend’s sign, Santa in a benefics sign, Sakta without losing its rays (i.e. after rising from combustion), Vikala when rays are lost in the Sun, Deena when in debilitation, Rhala when with a malefic, and peedita when defeated in a war.
(b) A planet in Deepta state gives the following effects. The subject will be valorous and will conquer the band of his enemies. He will be blessed with wealth and will play with ruttish elephants like a king.
(c) One with a planet in Svastha state will have precious stones, grains and family. He will be an army chief and will destroy his foes.
(d) With a planet in Harshita state, he will have gold and women and will subdue his enemies. .
(e) He will be endowed with happiness, wealth, pleasure, duty and intelligence with a planet in Santa state.
(f) A planet in Sakta state will make the subject develop liking for robes, flowers and women.
(g) A planet in Deena state will cause loss of money and thrust poverty.
(h) A planet in Vikala state will deprive the subject of place, destroy wealth and will cause fear from enemies.
(i) Trouble from diseases and much grief is caused by a planet in Peedita state.
(j) One will be in grief, will lose wealth, be devoid of wife and will wander in distant places even without any allies if a planet is in Khala state.
Notes: As there are various other kinds of Avasthas, this kind of classification is called “Deeptadi Avasthas” meaning Deepta and other Avasthas or exaltation and other states.
In chapter 3, hereof, more detailed information on Avasthas of various kinds may be found for better knowledge.
Sambhu Hora Prakasa gives ten kinds of such Avasthas instead of nine given by most texts. For details, see sloka 43 etc. in chapter 2, ibid.
187-190. Now told are briefly in the words of Kalyana Varma the effects of planets on the basis of their strengths.
(a) Strong Benefics: If at birth all benefic planets are strong, the subject will have good conduct, be truthful, auspicious and purity of mind. He will have an
attractive appearance, be splendorous, learned in Sastras, respectful of. Brahmins and -Gods and fond of superior clothes, garlands, water and ornaments.
(b) Strong Malefics: If all the malefic planets are in strength, the subject will be a miser, will indulge in misdeeds, be intent on achieving his ends and promoting
quarrels, be indolent, crafty, torturing, dirty, ungrateful, of tale-bearing nature and ugly.
(c) Planets in Masculine Signs: One having planets in strength in masculine signs will be fond of war. If they be weak, the subject will be highly hard-hearted, cruel and foolish.
(d) Planets in Feminine Signs: Strong planets in feminine signs will make the subject soft and timid in disposition. Further he will be fond of water, flowers (or flowers growing in water like lotus) and robes. He will be gifted with knowledge in arts and be happy with regard to ‘robes (“happy with his kinsfolk” is the meaning of another reading).
Thus ends the section (in chapter 1) entitled Planets & Their Properties.
