7.8. The Period of the Ascendant (lagna-daśā)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Next, the results of the period of the ascendant (lagna-daśā-phala) are described in Varṣatantra [17.44–45]:

The period of the ascendant gives results equal to the result of its ruler: this is another special rule. [The ascendant falling] in a movable [sign, the period is] good, middling, or poor, [respectively]; in a doublebodied sign, the reverse of that is to be inferred; in a fixed sign, [the results are] bad, good, and neutral, [respectively]: in that order did the ancients describe the results by means of the decans. By benefics and its ruler joining or aspecting [the ascendant], there will be good; from malefics aspecting, evil results should be predicted.

And in the Hāyanottama [it is said]:

In the first third-part of a movable sign, [the period] will be good; middling in the second; poor in the third. In a fixed [sign, the period is] bad in the first third-part, good in the second, and neutral in the third. In a double-bodied [sign, the period is] bad in the first third-part; middling in the second; good in the third. [Thus] the learned have explained the period of the ascendant. The results produced by its ruler should be understood through [these] three divisions.

Particular results of the period of the ascendant [are described] in the Hillājatājika:

An excellent period of the ascendant makes gain of gold, pearls and goods, excellent health, and honours from one’s master. A middling period of the ascendant tends to gain of wealth with difficulty, serving an unfriendly [master], and disturbance of mind. An evil period of the ascendant makes travel abroad, misery, destruction of reason, quarrels, ruin and great loss its results. During a malefic period of the ascendant, little happiness, loss of wealth, pain in the body and evils to [the native’s] maternal uncle74 arise; [but] if the ascendant is aspected by its ruler, its friends, and benefics,^[1] [it will produce] middling results.

This concludes the results of the period of the ascendant (lagnadaśā-phala).

On this matter, Tejaḥsiṃha says [in Daivajñālaṃkṛti 29.9] that the result [to be expected] from a planet in its period is like the result [when it is] ruler of the year:

The same results that were ascribed to the planets above in the context of ruling the year should be considered [to apply] to their respective periods. Thus, the results of a planet should first be determined as excellent, middling or poor in accordance with its strength.

This concludes the results of the periods (daśāphala) of the planets (graha).

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

Or ‘by benefics friendly to its ruler’.