Phala Deepika : Astrological Aspects of Human Life

Saturn, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, the Moon and the Sun are in their natural or inherent strength (Nalsarglk Bala). This means Mars is stronger than Saturn, Mercury is stronger than Mars, Jupiter is stronger than Mercury, Venus is stronger than Jupiter; the Moon is stronger than Venus and the Sun is stronger than the Moon. The Sun is the strongest and the Saturn is the weakest in inherent strength or Naisargik Bala

The planet in Pradeepta Avastha gives good effects In full. They will be nil when he is In Vikala Avastha. In the intervening Avasthas the auspicious effects will be decreasing proportionately and the inauspicious effects will correspondingly increase. The Avasthas of the planet will determine the effects according to the names given to them.
The good or bad effects in various Avasthas are approximately as given below: —
Pradeepta — 100 per cent good. Sukhita — 80 per cent good. Swastha — 75 per cent good. Mudita — 60 per cent good. Shanto — 50 per cent good. Shakta — 40 per cent good. Nipidita—40 per cent bad. Khata—50 per cent bad. Sudukhito— 60 per cent bad. Attbheeta—75 per cent bad. Vikala—100 per cent bad.
The planets in good avasthas yield favourable effects in their Dasas and Antardasas. The reverse is the case with planets in adverse avasthas

A planet is called Pradeepta (blazing) when he is in his sign of exaltation. He is Sukhita (happy) when he is in Moolatrikona Rasi. He is called Swastha (healthy) when he is in his own sign. He is Mudita (delighted) in a friendly house. He is Shanta (calm) when he has attained the varga of a benefic planet. He is Shakta (capable) when he shines brightly (not combust by being near the Sun). A planet is Vikala (distressed) when he is combust. He is Nlpidita (troubled-tortured) when he is overcome in the planetary war by another planet. He is Khala (base) when he is in the varga of a malefic. He is Sudukhit (exceedingly unhappy), he is Atibheeta (very afraid) when he is in his sign of debilitation

If we have to assess the comparative strength of a planet, we should find out whether he is in a kendra, trikona, in his own sign, in his moolatrikona sign, in his sign of exaltation or is vargottama. Then we should scrutinize its portion in Dasavarga or Saptavarga. Some make the assessment only from Dasavarga, others assess the strength and auspiciousness of a planet from thirteen vargas

Hora is half of a Rasi. In an odd sign, the halves belong, to the Sun and the Moon and to the Moon and the Sun when the sign is an even one

In an odd Rasi, the planets are said to be in 'infancy, in boyhood, youth, in middle age and in very old age (near death), according to first, second, third, fourth and last six degree portions respectively reached by them in a sign. But in an even sign this is in the reverse order

Notes — The Moon is said to be eclipsed if she is 12° away from the Sun.
Mars is eclipsed when he is 17° away from the Sun. Mercury in direct motion is eclipsed when he is 14° away from the Sun. Retrograde Mercury is eclipsed when he is 12° away form the Sun. Jupiter, Venus and Saturn are said to be eclipsed if they are 11°, 10° and 15° respectively away from the Sun. A retrograde Venus is eclipsed if he is 8° away from the Sun

All planets cast a quarter glance at the 3rd and 10th houses, half a glance at the 5th and 9th houses, three-quarters of a glance at the 4th and 8th houses and full glance at the 7th house. However, the aspects of Saturn on the 3rd and 10th houses from him, of Jupiter on the 5th and 9th houses from him and of Mars on the 4th and 8th houses are also treated as full aspects