121 - The science of Jyotisha (Astronomy and Astrology)

Agni said: 

1. Ishall describe the science of astrology which gives discrimination of good and bad events. It is the quintessence of four lakhs (of treatises). By knowing this (science) one becomes omniscient. 

         2. The marriage of girlsshould not be done when there is shadashtaka¹ or dvidvādaśa² as well as in trikoņa³. In other cases, as well as in samasaptaka, there will be happiness. 

 1. The sixth and eighth; counting from the ascendant in the horoscope of the proposed life partners the ascendant in the other person's horoscope gives sixth or eighth. 

2. The second and twelfth; counting as before which gets the second or twelfth. 

3. The trine, Leo, Taurus, Viryo, Sagittarius, Libra and Aquarious are the trines for the planets sun etc.

3. If there is friendship between the lords of the second and twelfth (houses)or the trines or there is single lordship, then there will be prosperity in the married life even if there be hostility. 

4. Even in such a condition the union may be made, but not in sixth-eighth (sadashtaka) condition. (If the marriage is done) when Jupiter or Venus has set, the bridegroom and bride would dic. 

5. A marriage is not commendable when the Sun is in the house of Jupiter or Jupiter is in the house of the Sun. 

6. The marriageshould be postponed by three fortnights or by four months respectively when there is transit (of a planet from one house to another) or retrograde motion (of a planet). A vow or marriageshould not be done when there is retrograde motion or transit of Jupiter. 

7. (Marriages done) in (the months of) Chaitra (April-May), Pausa (January-February) on the riktā days (fourth, ninth and the fourteenth day of a fortnight) or when (lord) Hari (Vishņu) is asleep, or on Tuesdays and Sundays or on the new moon day would bring forth unfavourable result. But the twilight (time) is auspicious. 

8. A marriage is said to be commendable in the asterisms rohiņi, uttarā, mūla, svāti, hasta and revati (when the Sun is) in Libra or Gemini. 

9. Oneshould avoid a viddharaksha⁴ in celebrating a marriage, piercing the ears, vow, rite to determine the sex of a child before its birth, the first feeding of the child, and the tonsure. 

10. The rite to determine the sex of the child before its birthshould be done in (the asterism) sravaņa, müla and pushya, on Sundays, Tuesdays and Jupiter and in (the signs of) Aquarius, Leo and Pisces. 

         4. Certain asterisms said to be opposed to certain other asterisms.

 11. The discharge of a debt (should be done) in (the asterisms) hasta, müla, mruga (sirsha) and revati and on Wednesday and Friday. The (rite of) chewing of betal leafshould be done on Sunday, Monday, Thursday and Friday and in (the asterism) müla. 

12. The first feeding (of a child) (should be done) on a Friday or Thursday or in (the asterism) mruga (sirsha) in (the sign of) Pisces, in the five asterisms (beginning with hasta (chitra and sväti) and in the three asterisms beginning with kruttikā (rohiņi and mrugasirsha). 

13. New fruits and foodshould be eaten in (the asterisms of) aśhvini or revati, pushya, hasta, jyeshtha, rohiņi, Śravaņa and ašhvini. 

14. Medicineshould be administered in (the asterisms of) sväti, saumya (name of the five stars in orion's head), the three pūrvas (Purvaphālguni, pūrvabhadrapada and pūrvāsādha, maghā, yāmya (bharani) and the three (beginning with) sravana which are auspicious. 

15-20. Oneshould bathe first after becoming free from illness on Tuesday or Sunday or Saturn. Oneshould write eight times the syllable 'hrim' and the name (of the enemy) in the middle and the (names of the eight) vasus as well as the (syllable) hrim in the (eight) angular points on a Tuesday and wear it in his cloth on the neck with the gorochanā (pigment got from the cow) and saffron. It is certain that one's enemies get subjugated by this mantra. Srim hrim is the protective (mantra) when the (mantras) Srim and hrim are written on the bhūrja leaf as stated above in the eight (points) together with gorochanā and saffron and covered by turmeric. (Similar writing) on a stone slab kept buried under the soil with its face downwards nullifies them. Om hüm saḥ is the mantra. This mantra written on a bhūrja leaf along with gorochanā and saffron wards off death. The first, fifth and ninth houses confer satisfaction and second, sixth and twelfth confer general welfare. 

21-23. The third, seventh and eleventh cause acquisition; fourth, eighth and twelfth cause enmity. (The twelve houses Mesha etc. denote) respectively the body, wealth, brothers, friendship, progeny, enmity, wife, death, righteousness, activity, income and expenditure. Oneshould speak about the nine täräbala¹ (as follows): the janma (birth), sampat (prosperity), vipat (misfortune), kshema (welfare), pratyari (enmity), sadhaka (seeker or accomplisher), nidhana (death), mitra (friend) and paramamitra (close friend). 

1. Counting from the birth asterism to the asterism of that day that numbershould be divided by nine, the remainder indicates the tárábala asshown above.

24. The firstshave (of a child) is commended on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in the six months commencing with Mägha (February-March). 

25-26. The karnavedha (piercing of the ear) (should be done) on Wednesday and Thursday in the (asterisms of) pushya, Sravana and chitra. The commencement of study in the fifth year (should be done) after worshipping (lord) Hari (Vishnu) and (goddesses) Vāņi (goddess of speech) and Śrī (Lakshmi, goddess of wealth), avoiding the sixth, first and the fifteenth, the rikthā days (fourth, ninth and fourteenth days) and Tuesday. The tying up of the girdle is auspicious (if done) in the six months commencing with Māgha. 

27-31. The tonsure and other (rites) are not commended in (the asterisms) Sravana etc. The investiture of a brahmin (boy) performed when the Jupiter or Venus has set and the Moon is waning brings forth death or stupidity. The rite marking conclusion of the studyshould be done on an auspicious day, in the asterism suitable forshaving, at an auspicious place on the rising constellations in a good house. The imparting of the science of archery in the asterisms aśhvini, maghā, chiträ, svāti, yamya (bharañi), uttarā, punarvasu and pushya is commendable. One who desires to liveshould not wear new clothes in the asterisms bharaņi, ārdrā, maghā, āšleshā, krutikā and uttaraphālguni. (Wearing of new) clothes on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday is not objectionable at (the time of) marriage (and other festive occasions). 

32. Wearing of gems like conch-shell and coral is commen dable in (the asterisms of) revati, ašvini, dhanisthā, and the five commencing with hasta. 

33. Anything bought in (the asterisms of) bharani, sarpa (a particular constellation), dhanishtha, the three pūrva (pūrva-phålguni, pūrvabhādrapada and pūrvāshādha) and väruña (Satabhisak) causes adversity. Also its sale causes adversity.

34. Anything bought in (the asterisms of) aśhvini, svāti, chitrā, revati and Satabhishak and on Sunday causes profit. If anything is sold (on the days ruled by these asterisms) causes adversity. 

35. An employershould not be attended upon in (the asterisms of bharani, the three pūrvas (see verse 33 above), ārdrā, aśleshā, maghā, svāti, kruttikä, jyeshthā and višākhā. 

36. Money is deposited or articles are given or taken back in (the asterisms of) uttara, Sravana and säkra (jyestha). The coronation of a kingshould be done (in these asterisms). 

37. Entering a house (for the first time) is auspicious in the months other than Chaitra (April-May), jyeshtha (June-July), Bhadra (pada) (September-October), Ašhvina (October-November), Pausa (January-February) and Māgha (February-March). 

38. The commencement (of the construction) of a house in (the asterisms of) aśhvini, rohiņi, müla, the three uttaras (Uttaraphalguni, uttarabhādrapada, and uttarāsādha), sväti, hasta and anurādhā is commendable. 

39-40. Sundays and Tuesdaysshould be avoided for (the excavation of) a tank or (the construction of) a palace. So also the building of a houseshould be avoided when Jupiter is in Leo or in (the conjunction of) Jupiter and Sun or in an intercalary month or when Venus is in the transit ascension or descension or has set. (It would cause) burning by fire, fear, disease, affliction from the sovereign or loss of wealth. 

41. Hayshould be gathered in the five (asterisms of śravaņa etc.). Oneshould enter the (new) house in the asterisms of dhanishthā, uttarā and vāruņa (Satabhishak). 

42. The second, third, fifth, seventh and thirteenth days (of a fortnight are commendable) for the construction of a boat. A sovereignshould be seen in (the asterisms of) hasta, revati and ashvini. 

43. Pilgrimage undertaken in (the asterisms of) the three uttara (uttarāsādha, uttaraphalguni, and uttarabhadrapada), dhanistha, ārdrā, kruttikä, saumya (margasirsha), visakha,āśleshā and ašhvini accomplishes prosperity. 

44-47. Oneshould not graze the cows in the three (asterisms of) uttarā, rohiņi or on sinivali chaturdasi (day prior to new moon) or in (the asterisms of) Sravana, hasta, chitra and vaishnavi (Sravaņa). Oneshould not enter (the cow-pen) in (the asterisms of) anila (svāti), uttarā, rohiņi, mruga (sirsha), punarvasa, Sravana and hasta. Oneshould do agriculture in (the asterisms of) punarvasu, uttarā, svāti, Bhaga (pūrvaphālguni), mūla, Indra (purvāsādha) and vāruņa (śatabhishak) or on Thursday or Friday or Monday or Sunday or in (the zodiacal signs of) Taurus, Virgo and Gemini. 

48-51. One who desires fortuneshould sow seeds except that of the mandāra (coral) on the second, third, fifth, seventh, tenth and thirteenth (days of the fortnight) and in (the asterisms of) revati, rohiņi, Indra (pūrvāṣādha), Agni (kruttika), hasta, maitra (anurādha) and uttara. Harvest of grainsshould be done in (the asterisms of) revati, hasta, mūla, Sravaņa. Bhaga (pūrva-phālguni), maitra (anuradhi), pitrudaiva (maghā) and saumya (mrugasirsha). Oneshould take them into the house at the time of the rise of (the asterism) mrugasirsha or in (the asterisms of) hasta, chitrā, Aditi (punarvasu), svāti, revati or in the three stars (commencing with) Sravaņa or in a fixed sign or on Thursdays, Fridays and Wednesdays or in (the asterisms of) yamya (bharani) Aditi (punarvasu), maghā, jyestha and uttara. 

52. (The following mantras) written on a leaf and placed amidst the heap of grains in (the asterisms of) the three pūrvas (pūrvāsādha, pūrvaphālguni and purvabhädrapada), visakhā, dhanistha and vāruņa (satabhisak) increases the grains “Om, (salutation) to the bestower of wealth and the lord of all wealth. Give me wealth. Oblations. O goddess lla (Lakshmi)! One who makes the world thrive! The desire incarnate! Grant me wealth in the new year! Oblations. 

53. Wisemen know that grainsshould be taken out in the (above) six asterisms. Tanks, gardens and (images of) godsshould be consecrated when the Sun is in the Cancer. (Lord) Chakrapāņi (the wielder of the disc) (Vishnu)should always be laid down when the Sun is in the (sign of) Gemini and it is the twelfth day after the new moon. 

54. When the Sun is in the (sign of) Leo and in Libra and the two twelfth days after the new-moon, the first is the day of getting up of (lord) Indra and (the second one) is the waking up of (lord) Hari.

55-57. Similarly, (the goddess) Durgā is made to get up when the Sun enters (the sign of) Virgo. When a bhadrātithi (the second, seventh and twelfth days of a lunar fortnight) occurs on a Tuesday, Sunday or Saturday and is marked by three fourth of a constellation that (combination) is known as tripuskara. All ceremoniesshould be done when the moon and star are pure. 

58. One has to forecast prosperity for those in whose (chart), the Moon is situated in the sixth, seventh, tenth or eleventh house from the ascendant. 

59-60. The second, fifth and ninth in the bright fortnight brings good. The asterisms are (known to be) friendly, extremely friendly, accomplisher of riches and welfare etc. (The one known as friendly) causes death by its ascendancy. That which is calamitous (causes) destruction of wealth. Oneshould know that which is pratyari (enemy) (causes) death. One gets death in that which is (known as) destruction. 

61. The period from the eighth day of the dark (fortnight) till the eighth day of the bright (fortnight), the moon is known to be waning and is known to be full thereafter. 

62. It is known to be mahājyaishthi if the Sun is in (the signs of) Taurus or Gemini and Jupiter is in (the asterisms of) mrugasirsha or jyeshtha and the full moon (occurs) on a Thursday. 

63. It is also called mahājyaisthi when Jupiter and Moon are in (the asterism of)jyesthā and the Sun is in (the asterism of) rohini on the full moon day in the month of jyeshtha (June-July). 

64. The banner of (lord) Indra fastened to the supportshould be hoisted in (the asterism of) svāti. Itshould be lowered down after a week in (the asterism of) aśhvini and in the sign of Leo. 

65. When the Sun is eclipsed by Rāhu (the ascending node) any gift is deemed to be gold, all the brahmins are equal to (lord) Brahma and all the waters are equal to Gangå. 

66. O Brahmins! The entry of the Sun in the different signs is known by the names of dhvāňkshi, mahodari, ghorā, mandå, mandakini and rājasi. 

67. If the Sun passes (from one sign to the other) in the karanas (divisions of a day) bálava, kaulava and taitila, then the people would be happy. 

68. People would suffer from poverty and harassment by the sovereign if (the Sun) enters (the astral combinations known as) gara, vava, vaņik, visti, kintughna and sakuna. 

69. If the Sun makes a transit in lying position in chatuspada, visti or vānijya (karaṇas¹ or divisions of the day), it would cause famine or war between sovereigns or quarrel among husbands and wives. 

1. These are different karanas or eleven divisions of the day.

70. If (the Sun) stays in one's birth-star it would cause disease or mental anguish, while (its presence) in the asterisms of kruttika and rohiņi would cause misery for nine nights and three nights respectively. 

71-76. It is said that the transit in (the asterism of) mrugasira (causes misery) for five nights, in ārdrà (causes) death, and in punarvasu or pushya (causes) (misery) for seven nights. Its entry in (the asterism of) åśleshā (causes misery) for nine nights, in maghā (causes misery) until one's death, in pūrvaphålguni (causes misery) for two months and in uttarà (causes misery) for fifteen (days). While the sun is in (the asterism of) hasta, the (asterisms) chitrå, svāti and visäkhả would bring misery for a fortnight, two months and twenty days respectively. Its transit in (the asterisms of) anurādhā, jyeshthà, müla and pūrvāshädha (would cause misery) for ten days, a fortnight, no relief (from misery) or fifteen days respectively. (The Sun's transit) in (the asterisms of) uttarā, śravana, dhanishtā and Satabhishak (would cause misery) for twenty days, two months, fifteen days or ten days respectively. There will not be relief (from misery) if it enters (the asterism) bhādrapada. (The Sun's transit) in (the asterisms of) uttarā, revati and ašhvini would (cause misery) for fifteen days or ten days or a single day respectively. 

77. Its transit in (the asterism) bharaṇi causes danger to life and it becomes auspicious by doing oblations with the gayatri (mantra). Making a gift of a cow with five kinds of grains, sesamum, clarified butter to a brahmin compensates (the evil influences). 

78-79. The periods of influence of the Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Saturn, Jupiter, Rähu and Venus are six, fifteen, eight, seventeen, ten, nineteen, twelve and twentyone years respectively.