Introduction

Many of the dictums given in Bhavarth Ratnakar are not fully explained in available translations because of which they are discarded by both professional astrologers and amateur astrologers. Those who know the deeper meaning of these dictums don’t disclose it to others and those who are learning astrology do not understand them due to lack of understanding/knowledge. Purpose of this article is to bring out the deeper meaning of these dictums in light of views of other Rishis and with real life examples. In future articles in this series, I will be sharing my point of view on other Shlokas / dictums from this wonderful book.

Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Bhavarth Ratnakar of Shri Ramanujacharya

Stanza 1

मेषलग्नेतुजातस्य राजयोगोऽ�प लभ्यते।

चतथर्पञ्चमाधीशुसम्बन्धेनन संशयः||1||

For a person born in Mesha Lagna, Rajyoga will form by the combination of the Sun and the Moon.

Points to ponder

Below are the few points which would help to understand this dictum:

As per the principle mentioned in other classics, any combination of lords of trine (1^st, 5^th and 9^th house) and squares (4^th, 7^th & 10^th house) forms Rajyoga.
Sun is the Lord of fifth house and Moon is the Lord of fourth house for Aries ascendant. Combination of them forms a Rajyoga.
Sun & Moon conjoint in any Trine or Square houses
Sun & Moon in Aries
Dispositor of Sun & Moon occupy friendly, own sign or exaltation sign
Sun & Moon in aspect of Jupiter
Sun or Moon in debilitation or in house of an enemy aspected by malefics
Dispositor of Sun and Moon in debilitation
Mars is in trik houses or debilitation. Strength of Lagna lord is always needed for Rajyoga to give any positive result

Example 1: Salman Rushdie

Sun & Moon are conjunct in Gemini sign. Note: this is a very close conjunction both planets are within a few minutes away from each other. Such a combination occurs on the day of Amavatsya.

Stanza 3

मोषलग्नेतुजातस्य भाग्यान्त्यस्थाननायकः ।

देवेन्द्रपज्योू राज्यस्थ सभवेन्मारकःस्मतःृ ||3||

For a Mesha lagna person, Jupiter, lord of the 9th and 12th, becomes a maraka if he occupies the 10th house.

This is a translation of Stanza 3 of Chapter 1 given by BV Raman in his book “Bhavartha Ratnakara”.

In other words, Jupiter in Capricorn for Aries ascendant = Maraka

Points to ponder

Below are the few points which would help to understand this dictum:

Some important significations of Jupiter as per Uttra Kalamitra – sons, grandsons, bhahmanas, one’s own teachers, religious, social and other duties, elder brother, honor from King etc.
Some important significations of 9th house as per Bhrigu Sutra – Faith, wisdom and divine worship; fortune or luck (bhagya), philosophy, religious and philosophical beliefs, meditation, intuition and forethought, places of worship, sacrifices and charity, father, preceptor (Guru), teaching, Dhanna, grandchildren, dreams and visions, knees; communication with spirits, long journeys, voyage, air travel, higher education, foreign travel;
If 9th lord suffers with debilitation it will give bad results related to all or some of the significators mentioned above effects like – misfortune, blessing of god taken away, enmity with father or guru, trouble with government etc.
9th House is the most powerful trine, if its lord suffers, growth of native is obstructed
Some important significations of 10th house as per Bhrigu Sutra – highs, honor, dignity, public esteem, name and fame, power prestige, credit (for good work and conduct), success and status, rank and renown, respect and reputation, ambition and authority, worldly activities, responsibilities, permanency (in service), promotion, advancement, appointment, profession, last rites to one’s parents, religious functions. Government, high position such as President, Prime Minister or Minister, pilgrimage to holy places, honour from Government.
Debilitated planet in the 10th house would mean some or all of these significations mentioned above would suffer.
Also we know that the 10th house is the most powerful Kendra.

So overall if we see, both the most powerful Kendra and Trine (Kona) houses are suffering. This combination will cause much humiliation, public scorn, disrespect to native from its own guru, god, father, government of the day, king, due to bad (unholy – 9th house) karma (10th house).

Remember Maraka gives death, as per Indian philosophy there are 8 types death, they are:

Vyatha (agony/distress/suffering)
Dukha (pain/sorrow)
Bhaya (fear/anxiety)
Lajja (shame)
Roga-vyadhi (illness)
Bhandhan (confining/fastening/bondage)
Apamaan (insult)
Mrityu (death)

Hence Jupiter will provide any one or combination of above results as per this dictum. Let us understand where this dictum will work

Jupiter in Capricorn around 5 degrees (deep debilitation)
Weak Lagna lord – Mars
Weak Sun or Saturn
Jupiter getting Neech bhanga
Saturn in Libra
Saturn in Aquarius
Strong Mars aspecting Jupiter
Saturn in other Kendra houses
Jupiter in Cancer navamsha (Aries 10’00-13’20)
Other combination for Neech bhanga
Strong Lagna lord – Mars
Strong Sun and/or Moon

Views from other classics

Jatak Parijat/Adhyaya 6/ Shloka 35:

“If the malefic planets be in their depression signs at a person’s birth, he will do sinful acts; if the benefic planets occupy their depression signs, he will keep his sins concealed; if Jupiter being depressed occupies the 10^th bhava or Mars be in the 5^th bhava depressed in position, the effect will be the same.”

Notes: Here Rishi Vaidyanath mentions Jupiter in depression in 10^th house will indicate concealed sinful acts by native.

Chamatkar Chintamani of Bhatt Narayana/S.S. Sareen/Chapter 5/Jupiter in Tenth house: “This Jupiter of Taurus, Virgo, Libra, Capricorn or Aquarius indicates at 16 or 24 loss of father, dispute, unfortunate partnership between them, debt, imprisonment, hard-ship etc.”

Source unknown:

R Shantanam in his notes on Saravali mentions effects of debilitated Jupiter for Aries ascendant (page 389) “…so to say with the fall of Jupiter alone, the Aries radix loses all its charm and the life becomes worthless.”

Kalyan Verma in Saravali does not mention the effect of debilitated Jupiter for Aries ascendant but R Santhanam has added these notes from other classics.

Examples

Vimshotari Dasha of Jupiter dasha started for this person in December 1994. In 1995, native returned to India from Dubai after 2 years of stay due to insistence from his father (10H) to attend his sister’s marriage (9H). He could not finish the term of his contract at Dubai.

After coming to India, he remained jobless for 3 years. Later the native opened a shop of imported items (12H) in 1998, during Jupiter MD & Saturn AD, which he had to close after 5 years. He had seen a lot of ups and downs in terms of career/work/business/karma in life. Even after having so many planets in own house, his life is nothing but mediocre. This native’s relationship with his father has always been on rocks.

Note Jupiter is retrograde, which caused him to return to his homeland. Sister’s marriage is seen from the 9th house which is Sagittarius sign owned by Jupiter. Father can be seen by 10th house (per some) where Jupiter is placed. Natural karaka of Father is the Sun which is in 5th house. 5H is 8th from 10th house of career hence father’s role can be seen more than one way.

“Excitement has vanished for quiet (long time back) in life …. trying my best…” words of native.

Here we can see Jupiter giving maraka effect and giving Vyatha (agony/distress/suffering) to native.

Decoding Bhavarth Ratnakar – 1 by Vidhan Pandya