Week 6 · Unit 4 · Yogas, Wealth, Longevity and Condition
Milestone 4 of 4: Rāja Yoga, and the luminaries' yogas
Rāja Yoga and the Luminaries' Yogas
Chapter 41's Kendra–Trikoṇa doctrine, and the lunar and solar combinations that are genuinely common.
Assumes you have done: Units 1 and 2 of this week — functional nature and the blocking conditions
Why this matters
Rāja Yoga is the most famous phrase in Jyotish and the most abused. Chapter 41 gives forty-eight verses of it, with conditions attached to nearly every one, and the conditions are what popular practice discards. Chapters 39 and 40 then give the lunar and solar yogas — which are much less glamorous and much more frequently relevant, because Sunāphā, Anaphā, Durudharā and Kemadruma occur in a large fraction of all charts.
Learn
The most famous phrase in Jyotish, and the one most often used to mean nothing.
The doctrine
The core idea of Chapter 41 is a single sentence: a connection between a Kendra lord and a Trikoṇa lord produces distinction.
The reason is worth having, because it makes the rule memorable and it explains the variations. The Kendras are the houses of power — position, action, foundation, partnership. The Trikoṇas are the houses of merit — the self, what you generate, what you have received. Power without merit and merit without power are both incomplete. Rāja Yoga is their union.
Chapter 41 then works that principle through a series of pairings: the Lagna lord and the 5th lord; the Ātmakāraka and the Putrakāraka; the 9th lord and the Ātmakāraka; readings from the Kārakāṁśa as well as the natal Lagna. All of them are instances of one idea.
The conditions, which are the substance
Read verses 6 and 7, and count.
Mahārāja Yoga requires: an exchange between the Lagna lord and the 5th lord, and the Ātmakāraka and Putrakāraka in the 1st or the 5th, and those planets in exaltation, Navāṁśa or own sign, and aspected by a benefic.
Four simultaneous conditions. That is not a combination you will find often, and that is the point of stating it so tightly.
Now verses 13 and 14, which are the most useful in the chapter for a modern reader:
If the Ṣaḍvargas of the Ascendant are occupied or aspected by one and the same planet, even then Rāja Yoga is formed. If the aspect is full the Rāja Yoga will also be full; in case it is half or one fourth, the Rāja Yoga will also be half Rāja Yoga or one fourth Rāja Yoga respectively.
Go through verses 6 to 20 counting qualifiers — “and is aspected by a benefic”, “and they are in their exaltation”, “unobstructed”, “according to the strength of both”. They are on nearly every combination. The conditions are not decoration on the doctrine. They are the doctrine, and stripping them is what turns Chapter 41 into a horoscope column.
Three questions, applied
By now you have the sequence, and Rāja Yoga is where it earns its keep.
Is it formed? A Kendra lord and a Trikoṇa lord in exchange, conjunction, mutual occupation, or full mutual aspect — Chapter 36 verse 11.
Is it blocked? Does either planet also rule a Trishadāya — the 3rd, 6th or 11th? Chapter 36 verse 15.
Can it deliver? Dignity, Ṣaḍbala, functional nature, house placement.
Five Rāja Yoga formations in a chart is not unusual — with seven grahas ruling twelve houses, Kendra–Trikoṇa lord connections turn up readily. Five that survive all three questions would be genuinely remarkable. Counting formations measures nothing.
The lunar yogas, which are actually common
Chapter 39 is less glamorous and more often relevant.
Sunāphā — a graha other than the Sun in the 2nd from the Moon. Anaphā — one in the 12th from the Moon. Durudharā — both. Kemadruma — neither.
Simple to check, and one of them applies to every chart ever cast, which is why these are worth actually knowing rather than looking up.
The Sun is excluded because it is close to the Moon for part of every month, so counting it would make the distinction almost meaningless. Rahu and Ketu are conventionally excluded too, though BPHS does not say so here — a case where practice supplies a condition the text does not, and worth flagging as such.
Two more from Chapter 39 worth having. Adhi Yoga — benefics in the 6th, 7th and 8th from the Moon — with Parashara himself saying the outcome is graded by the strength of the participating planets. And a Dhana Yoga from all the benefics in the Upachayas from the Moon, graded again: three benefics, very affluent; two, medium; one, a little.
The grading is in the source. Twice, in one short chapter.
The solar yogas
Chapter 40 mirrors Chapter 39 with the Sun as anchor. A graha other than the Moon in the 2nd from the Sun is Veśi; in the 12th, Vośi; in both, Ubhayachari.
Four verses, and the fourth reverses the first three: the above said effects are to be considered when all these yogas are caused by benefic planets; on the contrary, when they are formed by malefics, the effects will be contrary.
So Veśi is not favourable. Veśi formed by a benefic is favourable. One verse, and it changes the entire chapter — which by now should be the most familiar thing in the world.
Where Week 6 leaves you
You can now look at a chart and say which combinations are present, whether each one is blocked, and whether the planets forming it are in a condition to produce anything.
That last capability is what most yoga teaching lacks, and having it changes what you can say to someone. Not “you have Rāja Yoga” — which is nearly meaningless — but there is a Kendra–Trikoṇa connection here, it is not blocked, and both planets have dignity, so I would take it seriously. Or, just as often, the combination is present and one of the two planets is debilitated in the 12th, so I would not lean on it.
Week 7 asks the next question. Given what a chart is set up to do — what does a life actually receive?
Read BPHS
This is the source itself. The teaching above prepares you for it; it does not replace it.
सहस्त्ररश्मितश्चन्द्रे कण्टकादिगते क्रमात् ।
धनधीनैपुणादीनि न्यूनमध्योत्तमानि हि ॥ १ ॥
- If the Moon is in an angle, Panaphara or Apoklima from the Sun the native's wealth, intelligence and skill be respectively little, middling and excellent.
स्वांशे वा स्वाधिमित्रांशे स्थितश्च दिवसे शशी ।
गुरुणा दृश्यते तत्र जातो धनसुखान्वितः ॥ २ ॥
स्वांशे वा स्वाधिमित्रांशे स्थितश्च शशभृन्निशि ।
शुक्रेण दृश्यते तत्र जातो धनसुखान्वितः ॥ ३ ॥
एतद्विपर्ययस्थे च शुक्रेज्यानवलोकिते ।
जायतेऽल्पधनो बालो योगेऽस्मिन्निर्धनोऽथवा ॥ ४ ॥
2-4. In the case of a day birth when the Moon is in his own Navamsha or in an extreme friend's Navamsha, is aspected by Jupiter, the native will be endowed with wealth and happiness. In the case of a night birth when the Moon is in his own Navamsha or in his extreme friend's Navamsha, and is aspected by Venus the native will be endowed with wealth and happiness. When the situation is contrary in the above two cases and the Moon is aspected by Jupiter or Venus, the native will have little wealth or he will be devoid of wealth altogether.
चन्द्राद्रन्ध्रारिकामस्यैः सौम्यैः स्याधियोगकः ।
तत्र राजा च मन्त्री च सेनाधीशश्च बलक्रमात् ॥ ५ ॥
5 ADHI YOGA FROM THE MOON: When there are benefics in the 8th, 6th and 7th House from the Moon, the resultant yoga is called Adhi yoga. The native having this yoga in his horoscope will be either a king or a minister or an army Chief according to the strength of the participating planets.
चन्द्राद् वृद्धिगतैः सर्वे: शुभैर्जातो महाधनी ।
द्वाभ्यां मध्यधनो जात एकेनाऽल्पधनो भवेत् ॥ ६ ॥
- DHANA YOGA: When there are all the benefics in the upachaya Houses (3-6-10 and 11) from the Moon, the native will be very affluent, he will have medium effects with regard to being wealthy when two benefics are so placed and, he will have a little wealth when one is there.
चन्द्रात् स्वान्त्योभयस्थे हि ग्रहे सूर्यं विना क्रमात् ।
सुनफाख्योऽनफाख्यश्च योगो दुरधराह्वयः ॥ ७ ॥
राजा वा राजतुल्यो वा धीधनख्यातिमाञ्जनः ।
स्वभुजार्जितवित्तश्च सुनफायोगसम्भवः ॥ ८ ॥
भूपोऽगदशरीरश्च शीलवान् ख्यातकीर्तिमान् ।
सुरूपश्चाऽनफाजातो सुखैः सर्वै समन्वितः ॥ ९ ॥
उत्पन्नसुखभुग दाता धनवाहन-संयुतः ।
सद्भृत्यो जायते नूनं जनो दुरधराभवः ॥ १० ॥
7-10 SUNAPHA ANAPHA AND DURADHARA YOGAS: When there is in the 2nd House from the Moon,any other planet than the Sun, the Yoga so formed is Sunapha, in 12th House the yoga is Anapha and in both Houses (2 and 12) it is Duradhara. The native born in the Sunapha Yoga, will be a king or equal to a king, be intelligent, wealthy and famous and will have self earned wealth; in the Anapha yoga, he will be a king, be free from diseases, be virtuous, famous charming and will be blessed with every kind of happiness and; in the Duradhara yoga, he will enjoy all pleasures, will be charitable, be endowed with wealth and conveyances and his servants will certainly be excellent.
चन्द्रादाद्यधनाऽन्त्यस्थो विना भानुं न चेदग्रहः ।
कश्चित् स्याद्वा विना चन्द्रं लग्नात् केन्द्रगतोऽथवा ॥ ११ ॥
योगः केमद्रुमो नाम तत्र जातोऽतिगर्हितः ।
बुद्धिविद्याविहीन्यश्च दरिद्रापत्तिसंयुतः ॥ १२ ॥
अन्ययोगफलं हन्ति चन्द्रयोगो विशेषतः ।
स्वफलं प्रददातीति बुधो यत्नाद् विचिन्तयेत् ॥ १३ ॥
11-13 KEMADRUMA YOGA: If with the Moon or in the 2nd and 12th House from the Moon and in an angle from the Ascendant there is no planet except the Sun, the yoga thus formed is called Kemadruma. The native born in this yoga will be very much disgraced, be devoid of intelligence and learning and be subject to penury and calamities. The chandra yogas particularly destroy the effects of other yogas and give their own effects and therefore the wise should consider them with great care and attention.
सूर्यात् स्वान्त्योभयस्यैश्च बिना चन्द्र कुजादिभिः ।
वेशि-वोशिसमाख्यौ च तथोभयचरः क्रमात् ॥ १ ॥
- VESI, VOSI AND UBHAYA CHARI YOGAS: If there is any planet Mars etc. except the Moon in the 2nd House from the Sun, the yoga thus formed is called Vesi yoga, in the 12th House it is vosi and in both (2 and 12) it is ubhayachari yoga.
समदृक् सत्यवाङ् मर्त्यो दीर्घकायोऽलसस्तथा ।
सुखभागल्पवित्तोऽपि वेशियोगसमुद्भवः ॥ २ ॥
वोशौ च निपुणो दाता यशोविद्याबलान्वितः ।
तथोभयचरे जातो भूपो वा तत्समः सुखी ॥ ३ ॥
2-3 EFFECTS OF THESE YOGAS: The native born in the vesi yoga will be even sighted, truthful, longbodied, lazy, happy and will have a little wealth; in the Vosi yoga he will be skilful, charitable and will be endowed with fame, learning and strength and, in the ubhayachari yoga he will be a king or equal to a king in happiness.
शुभग्रहभवे योगे फलमेव विचिन्तयेत् ।
पापग्रहसमुत्पन्ने योगे तु फलमन्यथा ॥ ४ ॥
- The above said effects are to be considered when all these yogas are caused by benefic planets, on the contrary when they are formed by malefics, the effects will be contrary to the above ones.
अथाऽतः सम्प्रवक्ष्यामि राजयोगान् द्विजोत्तम ! ।
येषां विज्ञानमात्रेण राजपूज्यो जनो भवेत् ॥ १ ॥
ये योगाः शम्भुना प्रोक्ताः पुरा शैलसुताग्रतः ।
तेषां सारमहं वक्ष्ये तवाग्रे द्विजनन्दन ! ॥ २ ॥
1-2. O excellent of the Brahmins, now I shall speak of the Rajayogas by the mere knowledge of which one becomes worthy of royal favours. O Son of a Brahmin, I will tell you the substance of those yogas which in the ancient times were told by Lord Shiva before his consort Paravati, the daughter of Himalayas.
चिन्तयेत् कारकांशे वा जनुर्लग्नेऽथ ऽथवा द्विज ! ।
राजयोगकरौ द्वौ द्वौ स्फुटौ खेटौ प्रयत्नतः ॥ ३ ॥
आत्मकारकपुत्राभ्यां योगमेकं प्रकल्पयेत् ।
तनुपञ्चमनाथाभ्यां तथैव द्विजसत्तम ! ॥ ४ ॥
लग्नपुत्रेशयोरात्मपुत्रकारकयोर्द्वयोः ।
सम्बन्धात् पूर्णमर्धं वा पादं वीर्यानुसारतः ॥ ५ ॥
3-5. O Brahmin, the consideration of Rajayoga has to be made from the karakamsha Lagna and the Janama Lagna. Two spashta grahas forming the Rajayoga should be well considered. O excellent of the Brahmins, one Rajayoga should be considered from the Atma Karaka and Putra Karaka pair of planets and another from the ascendant Lord and the 5th Lord. It is from the relation and according to the strength of both the Atma Karaka and Putra Karaka, and the ascendant Lord and the 5th lord, that the full, half or the one fourth yoga is to be understood.
लग्नेशे पञ्चमे भावे पञ्चमेशे च लग्ने ।
पुत्रात्मकारकौ विप्र ! लग्ने च पञ्चमे स्थित ॥ ६ ॥
स्वोच्चे स्वांशे स्वभे वाऽपि शुभग्रहनिरीक्षितो ।
महाराजाख्ययोगाऽत्र जातः ख्यातः सुखान्वितः ॥ ७ ॥
6-7. MAHARAJA YOGA: If there is an exchange between the ascendant Lord and the 5th Lord and O Brahmin, the Atmakaraka and Putra karaka planets are in the Ascendant or in the 5th House and, they are in their exaltation, Navamsha or own sign and are aspected by a benefic planet, the yoga that is so formed is called Maharaja yoga and the native born in this yoga will be famous and happy.
भाग्येश: कारको लग्ने पञ्चमे सप्तमेऽपि वा ।
राजयोगप्रदातारौ शुभखेटयुतेक्षितौ ॥ ८ ॥
- When the 9th Lord, the Atmakaraka planet are in the Ascendant or in the 5th or the 7th House from the natal Ascendant or the Karakamsha Ascendant and they are in conjunction or are aspected by benefic, the yoga formed thus is Rajayoga.
लग्नेशात् कारकाच्चापि धने तुर्ये च पञ्चमे ।
शुभखेटावे भावे जातो राजा भवेद् ध्रुवम् ॥ ९ ॥
तृतीये षष्ठभे ताभ्यां पापग्रहयुतेक्षिते ।
जातो राजा भवेदेवं मिश्रे मिश्रफलं वदेत् ॥ १० ॥
9-10. When there are benefics in the 2nd, 4th and 5th from the Ascendant Lord or from the Atmakaraka sign, the native will certainly become a king or from these very places there are, in the 3rd and 6th House, malefics or they are aspected by malefics the native will be a king. If there are mixed planets in this situation the effects will also be mixed.
स्वांशे वा पञ्चमे शुक्रे जीवेन्दुयुतवीक्षिते ।
लग्ने लग्नपदे वाऽपि राजवर्गो भवेन्नरः ॥ ११ ॥
- If Venus is in the karakamsha or in the 5th House there from or in the Ascendant or in the Arudha Ascendant along with or in the aspect of Jupiter or the Moon, the native will be related to the royal circles.
जन्माङ्गे कालहोराङ्गे कलाङ्गे येन केनचित् ।
एकग्रहेण सन्दृष्टे त्रितये राजभाग् जनः ॥ १२ ॥
- If the natal Ascendant, or Hora Lagna or Ghatika Lagna has the aspect of even a single planet, the native will be a king.
लग्नषड्वर्गके चैवमेकखेटयुतेक्षिते ।
राजयोगो भवत्येव निर्विशंक द्विजोत्तम ! ॥ १३ ॥
पूर्णदृष्टे पूर्णयोगमर्धदृष्टेऽर्धमेव च ।
पाददृष्टे पादयोगमिति ज्ञेयं क्रमात् फलम् ॥ १४ ॥
13-14. O excellent of the Brahmins, if the Shadavargas of the Ascendant (Sign, Hora Decanate, Navamsha, Dwadshamsha, Trishamsha) are occupied or aspected by one and the same planet, even then Rajayoga is formed: If the aspect is full the Rajayoga will also be full, in case it is half or one fourth, the Rajayoga will also be half Rajayoga or one fourth Rajayoga respectively.
लग्नत्रये स्वभोच्चस्थे खेटे राजा भवेद् ध्रुवम् ।
यद्वा लग्ने दृकाणेंऽशे स्वोच्चखेटयुते द्विज ! ॥ १५ ॥
- 0 Brahmin, if the three Ascendants (i.e. the natal, Hora and Ghatika Ascendant) are occupied by planets in their own, exaltation sign or if there are exalted planets in the Ascendant or Decanate Ascendant and the Navamsha Ascendant it causes Raja Yoga,
पदे शुभे स-चंद्रे च घने देवगुरौ तथा ।
स्वोच्चस्थखेटसन्दृष्टे राजयोगो न संशयः ॥ १६ ॥
- There will undoubtedly be a Rajayoga if there are benefics along with the Moon in the Arudha or Pada Lagna, Jupiter in the 2nd House and both these have the aspect of a planet in his exalation sign.
शुभे लग्ने शुभे त्वर्थे तृतीये पापखेचरे ।
चतुर्थे च शुभे प्राप्ते राजा वा तत्समोऽपि वा ॥ १७ ॥
- The native will be a King or like a king if the Ascendant, the 2nd and the 4th House have benefics in them and the 3rd has malefics in it.
स्वोच्चस्थो हरिणांको वा जीवो वा शुक्र एव वा ।
बुधो वा धनभावस्थ: श्रियं दिशति देहिनः ॥ १८ ॥
- If even one among the Moon, Jupiter, Venus and Mercury is exalted in the 2nd House, the native will be endowed with wealth.
षष्टेऽष्टमे तृतीये वा स्व-स्वनीचगता ग्रहाः ।
लग्नं पश्येत् स्वभोच्चस्थो लग्नपो राज्ययोगदः ॥ १९ ॥
- If the 6th, 8th and 3rd are occupied by debilitated planets and the Ascendant Lord in his own or exaltation sign aspects the Ascendant, there is Rajayoga.
षष्ठाऽष्टमव्ययाधीशा नीचस्था रिपुधेऽस्तगाः ।
स्वोच्चस्वभगलग्नेशो लग्नं पश्यंश्च राज्यदः ॥ २० ॥
- If the 6th, 8th and 12th Lord is in his debilitation in enemy's sign or combust; or the Ascendant Lord in his exaltation or in his own sign aspects the Ascendant, it causes Rajayoga.
Show the full passage — 24 verses
स्वोच्चस्वभस्थराज्येशो लग्नं पश्यंश्च राज्यदः ।
शुभा: केन्द्रस्थिता वाऽपि राज्यदः नाऽत्र संशयः ॥ २१ ॥
- If the 10th Lord in his own or in his exaltation sign as the Ascendant or if all the benefics are in angles, it causes Rajayoga.
शुभराशौ शुभांशे च कारको धनवान् भवेत् ।
तदंशकेन्द्रेषु शुभे नूनं राजा प्रजायते ॥ २२ ॥
- If the Atmakaraka is in benefic's sign or Navamsha, the native will be wealthy, if there are benefics in angles from the Karakamsha lagna, he will be a King.
लग्नारूढं दारपदं मिथ: केन्द्र स्थितं यदि ।
त्रिलाभे वा त्रिकोण वा तदा राजा न संशयः ॥ २३ ॥
- If the Arudha Lagna and Darapada Lagna are in mutual angles or in the 3rd of the 11th House or in mutual trines (5.9), the native will be undoubtedly a King.
भावहोराघटीसंज्ञलग्नानि च प्रपश्यति ।
स्वोच्चग्रहो राजयोगो लग्नद्वयमथापि वा ॥ २४ ॥
- If the Bhava Lagna, Hora Lagna, Ghatika Lagna all the three or two of them are aspected by planets in their exaltation, the native will be a King.
राशेद्रेष्काणतोंऽशाच्च राशेरंशादथापि वा ।
यद्वा राशिदृणाभ्यां लग्नद्रष्टा तु योगदः ॥ २५ ॥
- When the said Ascendants, their cecanates and Navamshas or the said Ascendants and their navamshas or the said Ascendants and their decanates are aspected by the Ascendant Sign. it causes Rajayoga.
पटे स्वोच्चखगाक्रान्ते चन्द्राक्रान्ते विशेषतः ।
क्रान्ते च गुरु-शुक्राभ्यां केनाप्युच्चग्रहेण वा ॥ २६ ॥
दुष्टार्गलग्रहाभावे राजयोगी न संशयः ।
शुभारूढ़े तत्र चन्द्रे घने देवगुरौ तथा ॥ २७ ॥
26-27. When the Arudha Pada is occupied by an exalted planet, particularly the Moon in exaltation or by Jupiter or Venus or by any exalted planet and there is no Argala by a malefic, it undoubtedly forms a Rajayoga or the Moon is in the Pada Lagna along with a benefic planet and in the 2nd House from it there is Jupiter, then also a Rajayoga is formed.
दुःस्थानेशोऽपि नीचस्थो यदि लग्नं प्रपश्यति ।
तदाऽपि राजयोगः स्यादि ज्ञेयं द्विजोत्तम ! ॥ २८ ॥
- O excellent of the Brahmins, it should be known that if even the Lords of malefic houses (6,8 and 12) in their debilitation aspect the Lagna, it also causes Rajayoga.
चतुर्थदशमार्थाय-पतिदृष्टे विलग्नभे ।
पदाल्लाभे तु शुक्रेण दृष्टेऽप्यारूढभे शुभे ॥ २९ ॥
राजा वा तत्समो वापि जातको जायते ध्रुवम् ।
षष्ठाष्टमगते नीचे लग्नं पश्यति वा तथा ॥ ३० ॥
तृतीयलाभगे नीचे लग्नं पश्यति वा तथा ।
लग्नांशकेन्द्रेषु शुभे निग्रहानुग्रहक्षमः ॥ ३१ ॥
29-31. If the Lords of the 4th, 10th, 2nd and 11th House aspect the Lagna, Venus has her aspect on the 11th House from the Pada Lagna and the Pada Lagna has a benefic in it, the native will be a king or like a king. If debilitated planets in the 6th or the 8th Houses aspect the Ascendant or if the debilitated planets in the 3rd or the 11th House aspect the Lagna or if there are benefics in angles from the Navamsha of the Ascendant the native has the capacity of giving punishment or forgiving it.
अथाऽहं सम्प्रवक्ष्यामि राजयोगादिकं परम् ।
ग्रहाणां स्थानभेदेन दृष्टियोगंशात् फलम् ॥ ३२ ॥
- I shall now speak of the Rajayogas based on their different places, on their aspects and their conjunctions.
तपःस्थानाधिपो मन्त्री मन्त्राधीशो विशेषतः ।
उभावन्योन्यसंदृष्टौ जातश्चेदिह राज्यभाक् ॥ ३३ ॥
यत्र कुत्रापि संयुक्तौ तौ वापि समसप्तमौ ।
राजवंशभवो बाहो राजा भवति निश्चितम् ॥ ३४ ॥
33-34. The 9th Lord is akin to a minister and 5th Lord akin to the chief minister. If both have the mutual aspect, the native is entitled to be a king. If they are in conjunction any where or if they are in the 7th House from each other, then the native born in a royal family will certainly be a King.
वाहनेशस्तथा माने मानेशो वाहने स्थितः ।
बुद्धिधर्माधिपाभ्यां तु दृष्टश्वेदिह राज्यभाक् ॥ ३५ ॥
- If the 4th Lord occupies the 10th House and the 10th Lord occupies the 4th House and there is the aspect on them of the 5th and the 9th Lord, even then the native will have share in kingdom.
सुतकर्म-सुह्नल्लग्ननाथा धर्मपसंयुताः ।
यस्य जन्मनि भूपोऽसौ कीर्त्या ख्यातो दिगन्तरे ॥३६ ॥
- When the 5th, 10th, 4th and the Ascendant Lords are together with the 9th Lord, the native will be a King and his fame spreads over the whole world.
सुखकर्माधिपौ वापि मन्त्रिनाथेन संयुतौ ।
धर्मनाथेन वा युक्तौ जातश्चेदिह राज्यभाक् ॥ ३७ ॥
- If the 4th or the 10th lord are in conjunction with the 5th or the 9th Lord, the native will share a Kingdom.
सुतेशे धमत्रनाथेन युते लग्नेश्वरेण वा ।
लग्ने सुखेऽथवा माने स्थिते जातो नृपो भवेत् ॥ ३८ ॥
- If the 5th Lord in conjunction with the 9th Lord or the Ascendant Lord is situated in the Ascendant, the 4th House, or the 10th House, the native will be a King.
धर्मस्थाने स्थिते जीवे स्वगृहे भृगुसंयुते ।
पचंमाधिपयुक्ते वा जातश्चेदिह राजभाक् ॥ ३९ ॥
- If Jupiter in conjunction with Venus and in his own sign or Jupiter in conjunction with the 5th Lord, is situated in the 9th House, the native will be a King.
दिनार्धाच्च निशार्धाच्च परं सार्धद्विनाडिका ।
शुभा वेला तदुत्पन्नो राजा स्यात्तत्समोऽपि वा ॥ ४० ॥
- Two and half Ghatis (60 minutes) from mid-day or from midnight is auspicious time. The native born on this time will be a King or equal to a King.
चन्द्रः कवि कविश्चन्द्रमन्योऽन्यं त्रिभवस्थितः ।
मिथ: पश्यति वा क्वापि राजयोग उदाहतः ॥ ४१ ॥
- If the Moon and venus are respectively in the 3rd and the 11th House and mutually aspect each other or if they mutually aspect each other from any other house, the yoga so formed is a Rajayoga.
चन्द्रे वगोत्रत्तमांशस्थे सबले चतुरादिभिः ।
ग्रहैर्दृष्टे च यो जातः स राजा भवति ध्रुवम् ॥ ४२ ॥
- If the strong Moon is in Vargottamansha and is aspected by 4 or more planets, the native will be a King.
उत्तमांशगते लग्ने चन्द्रान्यैश्चतुरादिभिः ।
ग्रहैर्दृष्टेऽपि यो जात: सोऽपि भूमिपतिर्भवेत् ॥ ४३ ॥
- If the Ascendant is in utamamsha and is aspected by four or more planets other than the Moon the native will be a King.
ज्यल्पैरूच्चस्थितैः खेटे राजा राजकुलोद्भवः ।
अन्यवंशभवस्तत्र राजतुल्यो धनैर्युतः ॥ ४४ ॥
- If even less than three planets are in their exaltation signs, then the native of a royal birth will be a king and one born in any other family will be equal to a King.
चतुर्भिः पञ्चभिर्वाऽपि खेटै: स्वोच्चत्रिकोणगैः ।
हीनवंशभवश्चापि राजा भवति निश्चितः ॥ ४५ ॥
- If four or five planets are in their exaltation or in their Mooltrikona signs then even a base born native will certainly be a King.
षड्भिरूच्चगतैः खेदैश्चक्रवर्तित्वमाप्नुयात् ।
एवं बहुविधा राज-योगा ज्ञेया द्विजोत्तम ! ॥ ४६ ॥
- O excellent of the Brahmins, if 6 planets are in their exaltation signs, the native will be chakravarti King (a King who has conquered states in all the four directions from his kingdom) and in this way many Rajayogas should be known.
एको गुरुर्भृगुर्वापि बुधो वा स्वोच्चसंस्थितः ।
शुभग्रहयुते केन्द्रे राजा वा तत्समो भवेत् ॥ ४७ ॥
- If one of Jupiter, Venus and Mercury is in his exaltation sign and the other benefics are in angles, the native will be a King or equal to a King.
केन्द्रेस्थितैः शुभैः सर्वे: पापेश्च त्रिषडायगैः ।
हीनवंशोऽपि यो जातः स राजा भवति ध्रुवम् ॥ ४८ ॥
- If all the benefics are in angles and all the malefics are in trishadaya (3-6-11) even the base born native will certainly bea King.
Practice
State the lunar yogas from Chapter 39 verses 7 to 10.
Write your answer down before opening the explanation.
Show the answer and why
Answer: A planet other than the Sun in the 2nd from the Moon — Sunāphā. In the 12th from the Moon — Anaphā. In both — Durudharā. In neither — Kemadruma.
Simple to check and genuinely common, which is why these are Working rather than Reference. Note the exclusion of the Sun: the Sun is almost always near the Moon in one direction or the other for part of the month, so counting it would make these yogas nearly meaningless. Note also that Rahu and Ketu are conventionally excluded too, though BPHS does not say so here.
Source: BPHS 39.7–10
Kemadruma is the absence of any planet in the 2nd or 12th from the Moon, and it has an alarming reputation. How should it be read?
Write your answer down before opening the explanation.
Show the answer and why
Answer: As an isolated Moon — a mind without immediate support on either side — and as one factor among many rather than a verdict.
Kemadruma is defined by absence, which makes it structurally different from every other yoga you have met. And it is common: with seven grahas spread across twelve signs, two specific signs being empty is not unusual. A great deal of alarming material has been written about it. The proportionate reading is that an unsupported Moon is worth noticing, especially in questions about mind and emotional continuity, and that it is routinely offset by the Moon's own dignity, by benefic aspect, and by Kendra placement — none of which Chapter 39 mentions and all of which Chapter 12's cancellation logic would apply.
Source: BPHS 39.7–10
Chapter 40's solar yogas are structurally identical to the lunar ones. What does verse 4 add?
Write your answer down before opening the explanation.
Show the answer and why
Answer: That the stated effects hold when the yogas are formed by benefics, and reverse when formed by malefics.
One verse, and it changes the whole chapter. Veśi, Vośi and Ubhayachari are not favourable in themselves — they are favourable if benefics form them. This is the same architecture as everything else this week, and it is worth noticing that Chapter 39 does not state the equivalent condition for the lunar yogas explicitly, though most practice applies it. Where the text states a condition, cite it. Where practice supplies one, say so.
Source: BPHS 40.4
What is Adhi Yoga, and what does Parashara say it produces?
Write your answer down before opening the explanation.
Show the answer and why
Answer: Benefics in the 6th, 7th and 8th from the Moon. The native becomes a king, a minister, or an army chief — according to the strength of the participating planets.
Note that last clause, because it is the delivery test appearing inside the yoga's own definition. Parashara does not say Adhi Yoga makes you a king; he says it produces one of three outcomes graded by the strength of the planets forming it. The condition is not an addition the course is making. It is in the verse.
Source: BPHS 39.5
Read Chapter 41 verses 6 to 14 and count the conditions attached. What pattern do you find?
Write your answer down before opening the explanation.
Show the answer and why
Answer: Almost every combination carries qualifiers — exaltation, own sign, benefic aspect, particular houses, particular strength.
Verse 6–7's Mahārāja Yoga requires an exchange between the Lagna lord and the 5th lord, and the Ātmakāraka and Putrakāraka in the 1st or 5th, and those planets in exaltation, Navāṁśa or own sign, and aspected by a benefic. That is four simultaneous conditions. Verses 13–14 grade the Rāja Yoga itself by the strength of the aspect involved — full aspect, full Rāja Yoga; quarter aspect, quarter Rāja Yoga. The chapter is not a list of ways to be a king. It is a carefully conditioned doctrine, and the conditions are the substance.
Source: BPHS 41.6–14
Apply it to a chart
Chart B — Albert Einstein, the synthesis chart — A whole documented life, where the evidence pulls in more than one direction. · about 24 min
| Graha | Sign | House | Degree | Nakshatra | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | Pisces | 10 | 1°20'30" | Purva Bhadrapada 4 | neutral |
| Moon | Scorpio | 6 | 21°47'54" | Jyeshtha 2 | debilitated |
| Mars | Capricorn | 8 | 4°44'52" | Uttara Ashadha 3 | exalted |
| Mercury | Pisces | 10 | 10°58'43" | Uttara Bhadrapada 3 | debilitated |
| Jupiter | Aquarius | 9 | 5°19'05" | Dhanishtha 4 | neutral |
| Venus | Pisces | 10 | 24°49'11" | Revati 3 | exalted |
| Saturn | Pisces | 10 | 12°01'26" | Uttara Bhadrapada 3 | neutral |
| Rahu | Capricorn | 8 | 9°18'36" | Uttara Ashadha 4 | not assigned in BPHS |
| Ketu | Cancer | 2 | 9°18'36" | Pushya 2 | not assigned in BPHS |
| Lagna | Gemini | 1 | 19°38'02" | Ardra | lord Mercury |
Both running charts with birth data are worth examining here, and they show different things. Chart B has an unusual planetary concentration; Chart C has a Moon whose immediate neighbourhood is the whole of the lunar-yoga question.
- In Chart C, find the Moon and look at the 2nd and 12th houses from it. Is there any graha other than the Sun in either? Name the resulting lunar yoga, or its absence.
- Do the same for Chart B. The Moon is in Scorpio; check the signs on either side.
- Now the solar yogas: same procedure, 2nd and 12th from the Sun, excluding the Moon. Name what you find in each chart.
- Rāja Yoga in Chart B: using your functional-nature classification from earlier this week, is there a Kendra lord and a Trikoṇa lord in any of the four relationships from Chapter 36 verse 11? If so, check the blocking condition, then assess delivery.
- Write one paragraph on Chart B answering the three questions: is a Rāja Yoga formed, is it blocked, can it deliver? Cite your evidence for each.
- Repeat the full sequence on your own chart.
Check your understanding
Answer from memory first. Looking back at the reading before you try turns a memory test into a copying exercise.
What is the core Rāja Yoga doctrine, in one sentence?
Write your answer down before opening the explanation.
Show the answer and why
Answer: A connection between a Kendra lord and a Trikoṇa lord produces distinction — because the Kendras supply power and the Trikoṇas supply merit.
That is the idea underneath the whole chapter, and it is worth having in that form because it explains why the combination matters. Power without merit and merit without power are both incomplete; the yoga is their union. Chapter 41 then explores it through the Lagna lord and 5th lord, through the Ātmakāraka and Putrakāraka, through the Kārakāṁśa, and through several other pairings — all instances of the same principle.
Verses 13–14 say that if the Ṣaḍvargas of the Lagna are occupied or aspected by one and the same planet, Rāja Yoga is formed — full if the aspect is full, half if half, a quarter if a quarter. What does this show?
Write your answer down before opening the explanation.
Show the answer and why
Answer: That Parashara grades yogas rather than treating them as binary.
This is one of the most useful verses in the chapter for a modern reader, because it authorises directly what popular practice denies: a yoga can be partial. Not "you have Rāja Yoga" or "you don't", but how much. Combine that with the aspect-strength machinery of Chapter 28 and you have a genuinely graduated instrument.
Source: BPHS 41.13–14
Someone reports having five Rāja Yogas in their chart. What is your first question?
Write your answer down before opening the explanation.
Show the answer and why
Answer: Whether any of them survive the blocking conditions and the delivery test.
Five formations is not unusual — with seven grahas ruling twelve houses, Kendra–Trikoṇa lord connections are common. What is much less common is five that are unblocked by Trishadāya lordship, formed by planets with dignity and strength, and involving planets that are functionally benefic for that ascendant. Counting yogas is not a measure of anything. Checking them is.
Where would you look for: Sunāphā; Veśi; Mahārāja Yoga; and the blocking condition for a Yoga Kāraka?
Write your answer down before opening the explanation.
Show the answer and why
Answer: Chapter 39 verses 7–10; Chapter 40 verse 1; Chapter 41 verses 6–7; Chapter 36 verse 15.
Four locations, and the fourth is the one to have instantly. Whenever anyone claims a yoga, Chapter 36 verse 15 is the first place to check, and being able to cite it changes the conversation.
What you carry forward
Two things grow across the whole course. This unit adds to both.
To your chart-analysis process
- **Step 10 (completed) — identify Yogas, supporting and contradicting.** For each: confirm the formation, check the blocking conditions, grade it where the source grades it, and judge whether the planets can deliver. Record contradicting combinations, including penury and affliction yogas, alongside favourable ones.
To your field manual
- Lunar yogas (39.7–10): a graha other than the Sun in the 2nd from the Moon — Sunāphā; in the 12th — Anaphā; in both — Durudharā; in neither — Kemadruma.
- Kemadruma is defined by absence and is common. Read it as an unsupported Moon, and check the usual offsets — Moon's dignity, benefic aspect, Kendra placement.
- Adhi Yoga (39.5): benefics in the 6th, 7th and 8th from the Moon. Outcome graded by the strength of the planets forming it — the condition is in the verse.
- Solar yogas (40.1–4): a graha other than the Moon in the 2nd from the Sun — Veśi; in the 12th — Vośi; in both — Ubhayachari. Effects hold for benefics and REVERSE for malefics (40.4).
- Rāja Yoga core doctrine: a Kendra lord connected to a Trikoṇa lord. Kendras supply power, Trikoṇas supply merit; the yoga is their union.
- Ch. 41 grades Rāja Yoga by aspect strength — full, half, quarter (41.13–14). A yoga can be partial.
- Counting yogas measures nothing. Formation, blocking, delivery — every time.
By now you should be able to
- State the Kendra–Trikoṇa doctrine and the conditions Chapter 41 attaches
- Identify Sunāphā, Anaphā, Durudharā and Kemadruma in any chart
- Explain what Kemadruma actually is and why it is less alarming than it sounds
- Judge whether a Rāja Yoga present in a chart is in a condition to deliver