BPHS Chapter 18 — Effects of the Fifth House

अथ पञ्चमभावस्य कथयामि फलं द्विज ! |
लग्नपे सुतभावस्थे सुतपे च सुते स्थिते ॥ १ ॥

केन्द्रत्रिकोणसंस्थे वा पूर्ण पुत्रसुखं वदेत् ।
षष्ठाष्टमव्ययस्थे तु सुताधीशे त्वपुत्रता ॥ २ ॥

सुतेशेऽस्तं गते वाऽपि पापाक्रान्ते च निर्बले ।
तदा न जायते पुत्रो जातो वा प्रियते ध्रुवम् ॥ ३ ॥

Verse 1–3

1-3 O Brahmin, Now I speak of the effects of the 5th House: The Ascendant Lord and the Fifth Lord being placed in the 5th House or in a kendra or Trikona, the native should be told of the thorough happiness of the son; the situation of the 5th Lord in the 6th or 8th or 12th House is to be predicted as the thorough lack of son. If the Fifth Lord is combust, is in conjunction with a malefic planet and is also weak, then no son will be born or if born his death is quite certain.

पष्ठस्थाने सुताधीशे लग्नेशे कुजसंयुते ।
प्रियते प्रथमापत्यं काकबन्ध्या च गेहिनी ॥ ४ ॥

Verse 4

In case the 5th Lord being in the 6th House, and the Ascendant Lord in Conjunction with Mars, the native's first born child will die whereafter his wife will become sterile ("काकबन्ध्या" "Kakbandhya") (one who is incapable of conceiving after producing one child).

Here are two examples to prove this:


Date of birth	Time of birth	Place of birth
2-11-1955	9.50 P M IST	Meerut.

This native has Gemini Ascendant. The 5th Lord is Venus who placed in the 6th House. The Ascendant Lord Mercury together

Diagram from BPHS chapter 18 — Diagram from the source text, BPHS chapter 18.

with Mars is in the 4th House. The native got a son two years after marriage. He (the son) died 1 1/2 years after by snakebite. The wife felt pain in the abdomen after sometime. During medical tests it was found that she had developed a lump of tissues on the mouth of her ovary which was operated. After operation she was incapacitated of conceiving and producing children as the ovary itself was removed in the operation.

The second example is that of an acquaintance of mine:


Date of birth	Time of birth	Place of birth
3-4-1942	11.15 PM. IST	Hapur

Here the Ascendant is Sagittarius. The fifth Lord is Mars who is placed in the 6th House. The Ascendant Lord Jupi ter is also together with Mars. Therefore, this combination brought the above said effect hundred percent.

सुताधीशो हि नीचस्थो व्ययषष्टाष्टमस्थितः ।
काकबन्ध्या भवेन्नारी सुते केतुबुधौ यदि ॥ ५ ॥

Verse 5

If the debilitated Fifth Lord is situated in 12th, 6th or 8th house and Mercury in the 5th House, the native's wife will be Kakbandhya 'काकबन्ध्या (Sterile after giving birth to one child).

सुतेशो नीचगो यत्र सुतस्थानं न पश्यति ।
तत्र सौरिबुधो स्यातां काकबन्ध्यात्वमाप्नुयात् ॥ ६ ॥

Verse 6

The native's wife will be sterile ("काकबन्ध्या" "Kakbandhya") if the Fifth Lord is in his debilitation or he does not aspect the Fifth House and Saturn and Mercury are situated there (in the fifth House).

भाग्येशो मूर्तिवर्ती चेत् सुतेशो नीचगो यदि ।
सुते केतु-बुधौ स्यातां सुतं कष्टाद् विनिर्दिशेत् ॥ ७ ॥

Verse 7

If the 9th Lord is in the 5th House and the 5th Lord is debilitated and Mercury and Ketu are there in the 5th House, son will be obtained after great ordeal, the astrologer should predict so.

षडादित्रयसंस्थोऽपि नीचो वाऽप्यरिसंस्थितः ।।
पापाक्रान्ते सुतस्थाने पुत्रं कष्टाद्विनिर्दिशेत ॥ ८ ॥

Verse 8

If the debilitated 5th Lord is situated in the 6th, 8th or 12th House or in an enemy sign, and the 5th House is occupied by malefic planets the son is got after great ordeal.

षष्ठाष्टमव्ययस्थो वा नीचो वा शत्रु राशिग: ।
सुतेशश्च सुते तस्य कष्टात् पुत्रं विनिर्दिशेत ॥

Which may be explained in this way: If the 5th Lord be in the 6th, 8th or 12th House or in his debilitation sign or in an enemy sign or in the 5th House, the getting of son will occur after great ordeal.

पुत्रभावे बुधक्षेत्रे मन्दक्षेत्रेऽथवा पुनः ।
मन्दे मान्दियुते दृष्टे तदा दत्तादय: सुताः ॥ ९ ॥

Verse 9

Should there be the signs of Mercury or Saturn in the 5th House and should it (the 5th House) have the conjunction or aspect of Saturn and Mandi, the native will have adopted sons.

रवि-चन्द्रौ यदैकस्थावेकांशकसमन्वितौ ।
त्रिमातृथिरसौ यद्वा द्विपित्राऽपि च पोषितः ॥ १० ॥

Verse 10

If the Sun and the Moon are placed in the same sign and in the same Navamamsha, then the native is brought up by three mothers or two fathers.

पञ्चमे षड्ग्रहैर्युक्ते तदीशे व्ययराशिगे ।
लग्नेशेन्दू बलाढयौ चेत् तदा दत्तसुतोद्भवः ॥ ११ ॥

Verse 11

If the 5th House is occupied by 6 planets, its Lord is placed in the 12th House and the Ascendant Lord and the Moon are endowed with strength, in this combination also the native will have adopted son.

सुते ज्ञजीवशुक्रैश्च सबलैरवलोकिते ।
भवन्ति बहवः पुत्रा: सुतेशे हि बलान्विते ॥ १२ ॥

Verse 12

The 5th House is aspected by strong Mercury, Jupiter and Venus and the 5th Lord is also endowed with strength, the combination will confer many children on the native.

सुतेशे चन्द्रसंयुक्ते तद्रेष्काणगतेऽपि वा ।
तदा हि कन्यकोत्पत्तिः प्रवदेद् दैवचिन्तकः ॥ १३ ॥

Verse 13

If the 5th Lord is together with the Moon and is also in the Decanate of the Moon, the astrologers opine that the native will beget only daughters.

सुतेशे चरराशिस्थे राहुणा सहिते विधौ ।
पुत्रस्थानं गते मन्दे परजातं वदेच्छिशुम् ॥ १४ ॥

Verse 14

If the 5th Lord is in a moveable sign and is in conjunction with the Moon and Rahu and Saturn is placed in the 5th House, the native should be spoken of as born Parajata (begot by other then the father).

लग्नादष्टमगे चन्द्रे चन्द्रादष्टमगे गुरौ ।
पापग्रहैर्युते दृष्टे परजातो न संशयः ॥ १५ ॥

Verse 15

If there is placed the Moon in the 8th House from the Ascendant and Jupiter is situated in the 8th House from the Moon and these (the Moon and Jupiter) are together with or are aspected by malefic planets, the native is undoubtedly born as 'Parajata'.

पुत्रस्थानाधिपे स्वोच्चे लग्नाद्वा द्वित्रिकोणगे ।
गुरुणा संयुते दृष्टे पुत्रभाग्यमुपैति सः ॥ १६ ॥

Verse 16

The 5th Lord in his exaltation occupies the 2nd, 3rd, Ist, 5th or 9th house and these have the aspect or conjunction of Jupiter, the native will have the blessing of obtaining a son.

'Jataka Parijaat'' Phal Deepika', 'Surya Jataka' give the combinations for obtaining a son. The consideration of the son is to be made from the Ascendant, the Moon, the 7th House and Jupiter. If the 5th House from Jupiter is situated by benefic planet, Jupiter himself is together with a benefic planet, the native obtains a son and the son is longlived. The same result should be understood from the Ascendant, the Moon and the 7th House, that is in the 5th House from these there are placed benefic planets and they themselves are together with benefic planets, then any of these combinations in the horoscope will bless the native with the obtainment of a son.

If Mercury, Venus and the Moon are placed in the 5th House the issues will be daughters. Only Jupiter placed in the 5th House has the capability of conferring 5 sons on the native. The fifth Lord in his highest exaltation and in the Navamamsha of a male planet being placed in the 5th House and not being conjuct with or aspected by malefic planets gives the native many sons.

If Mercury, Jupiter, Venus are in their own signs or in their exaltation signs, are placed in a Kendra or Trikona, the native obtains a son as wealthy as a king.

त्रिचतुःपापसंयुक्ते सुते सौम्यविवर्जिते ।
सुतेशे नीचराशिस्थे नीचसंस्थो भवेच्छिशुः ॥ १७ ॥

Verse 17

If the 5th House has 3 or 4 malefic planets placed in it and is devoid of any benefic influence on it and the 5th Lord is in his debilitation sign, then the native has a desire of indulging in mean deeds (that is he will have a base profession).

Translator's note

The 5th is the House of the Intellect. Therefore it has धी 'Dhi' as one of its various names. The House of Intellect having through conjunction the influence of 3 or 4 malefic planets means the malefic influence at its highest. Besides this the 5th Lord is placed in his debilitation sign and the 5th House is devoid of any benefic influence, then it can be reasonably assumed that the native will have a thinking of low level in his mind, evil nature will be there in him and he will be unable to think of virtue. Therefore thinking of his benefit remains a long way from him. Some commentators have explained it in this way "that the native in this combination will get a son indulging in mean deeds". We do not think this interpetation as proper because this combination will not be in harmony with other combinations which describe the lack of sons. When the 5th Lord is weak and the 5th House has malefic influences to the maximum amount and does not have, even a single benefic influence, then the possibility of the native's obtaining a son seems to be almost nil. In the edition of Ranjan publications the reading is "सौम्यविवर्जिते" which means "devoid of benefic planets or influences". But we donot think so. In our view here the expression is सौम्यविवर्जिते which means "devoid of benefic influence. In the Chaukhamba edition there is 'शुभवर्जिते' in the original sloka which also means "devoid of benefic influence."

पुत्रस्थानं गते जीवे तदीशे भृगुसंयुते ।
द्वात्रिंशे च त्रयस्त्रिंशे वत्सरे पुत्रसंभवः ॥ १८ ॥

Verse 18

When the 5th House is occupied by Jupiter and the 5th Lord is together with Venus the child will be born of the native in his 32nd or 33rd year.

सुतेशे केन्द्र भावस्थे कारकेण समन्विते ।
षटुत्रिंशे त्रिंशदब्दे च पुत्रोत्पत्तिं विनिर्दिशेत् ॥ १९ ॥

Verse 19

If the 5th Lord is placed in a Kendra (angle) and has conjunction with the significator (Jupiter) the birth of native's child should be predicted in his 30th or 36th year.

लग्नाद् भाग्यगते जीवे जीवाद् भाग्यगते भृगौ ।
लग्नेशे भृगुयुक्ते वा चत्वारिंशे सुतं वदेत् ॥ २० ॥

Verse 20

The native's child birth is to be spoken of occuring in his 40th year, should Jupiter be placed ninth from the Ascendant and Venus ninth from Jupiter or the Ascendant Lord be conjuct with Venus.

पुत्रस्थानं गते हौ तदीशे पापसंयुते ।
नीचराशिगतो जीवो द्वात्रिंशे पुत्रमृत्युदः ॥ २१ ॥

Verse 21

In the event of Rahu being placed in the 5th House, the 5th Lord be in Conjunct with a malefic planet and Jupiter being in his debilitation sign, the combination will be the son's death bringing in the native's 32nd year.

जीवात् पञ्चमगे पापे लग्नात् पञ्चमगेऽपि च ।
षट्त्रिंशे च त्रयस्त्रिंशे चत्वारिंशे सुतक्षयः ॥ २२ ॥

Verse 22

Child loss to the native will occur in his 33rd or 36th year in the event of malefic planet occupying the 5th House from the Ascendant or from Jupiter.

लग्ने मान्दितमायुक्ते लग्नेशे नीचराशिगे ।
षट्पञ्चाशत्तमेऽब्दे च पुत्रशोकसमाकुलः ॥ २३ ॥

Verse 23

If there is Mandi in the Ascendant and the Ascendant Lord is placed in his debilitation sign, the native will be full of grief due to his son's death, in his 56th year.

चतुर्थे पापसंयुक्ते षष्ठभावे तथैव हि ।
सुतेशे परमोच्चस्थे लग्नेशेन समन्विते ॥ २४ ॥

कारके शुभसंयुक्ते दशसंख्यास्तु सूनवः ।
परमोच्चगते जीवे धनेशे राहुसंयुते ॥ २५ ॥

भाग्येशे भाग्यसंयुक्ते संख्याता नव सूनवः ।
पुत्रभाग्यते जीवे सुतेशे बलसंयुते ॥ २६ ॥

धनेशे कर्मभावस्थे वसुसंख्यास्तु सूनवः ।
पञ्चमात् पञ्चमे मन्दे सुतस्थे च तदीश्वरे ॥ २७ ॥

सूनवः सप्तसंख्यश्च द्विगर्भे यमलौ वदेत् ।
वित्तेशे पञ्चमस्थाने सुतस्थे च सुताधिपे ॥ २८ ॥

जायन्ते षट् सुतास्तस्य तेषां च त्रिप्रजामृतिः ।
मन्दात् पञ्चमगे जीवे जीवात् पञ्चमगे शनौ ॥ २९ ॥

सुतभे पापसंयुक्ते पुत्रमेकं विनिर्दिशेत् ।
पञ्चमे पापयुक्ते वा जीवात् पञ्चमगे शनौ ॥ ३० ॥

पल्यन्तरे पुत्रलाभं कलत्रत्रयभाग् भवेत् ।
पञ्चमे पापसंयुक्ते जीवात् पञ्चमगे शनौ ॥ ३१ ॥

लग्नेशे धनभावस्थे सुतेशो भौमसंयुतः ।
जातं जातं शिशुं हन्ति दीर्घायुश्च स्वयं भवेत् ॥ ३२ ॥

Verse 24–32

24-32. If there be malefic planets in the 4th House and also in the 6th House, the 5th Lord in Conjunction with the Ascendant be in highest exaltation and the significator of the 5th House be together with a benefic planet the number of children will be ten; the number will be nine when Jupiter be in his highest exaltation, the 2nd Lord be conjunct with Rahu and the ninth Lord be in the ninth House; in case Jupiter be placed in the 5th or the 9th House, the 5th Lord be endowed with strength and the 2nd Lord be placed in the 10th House, the number will be the number of Vasus (or eight; if there be Saturn in the 5th House from the 5th, the 5th Lord be in the 5th House the number of children will be seven out of which two will be born twins; should the 2nd Lord be 5th from the 2nd House and the 5th Lord be in the 5th House 6 sons are born to the native out of which 3 are subjected to death; when Jupiter has gone in the 5th House from Saturn or Saturn has gone in the 5th House from Jupiter and the 5th House is occupied by malefic planets one son is to be predicted; when the 5th House is occupied by malefic planets and Saturn is placed 5th from Jupiter the native will have 3 wives but he will beget son only through the 2nd and the 3rd, and; if the 5th House is occupied by malefic planets, Saturn is placed 5th from Jupiter, the Ascendant Lord is in the 2nd House and the 5th Lord is together with Mars, the native is longlived but loses his children one after the other as they are born..