Astrology: The Measure of the Ascendant and Ghatikas

Verse 1 (garuda.1.62.1)

॥हरिरुवाच ॥ उदयात्तु समारभ्य राशौ भानुः स्थितो हर ॥ स्वराश्याद्यैर्व्रजेदह्नि षडभिः षटभिस्तथा निशि

.hariruvāca . udayāttu samārabhya rāśau bhānuḥ sthito hara . svarāśyādyairvrajedahni ṣaḍabhiḥ ṣaṭabhistathā niśi

Hari said: O Hara, beginning from sunrise, with the sun situated in a given sign, one proceeds, according to each sign's own measure, six by six ghatikas in the day, and likewise six by six at night.

Verse 2 (garuda.1.62.2)

मीने मेषे च पञ्च स्युश्चतस्त्रो वृष कुम्भयोः ॥ मकरे मिथुने तिस्त्रः पंच चापे च कर्कटे

mīne meṣe ca pañca syuścatastro vṛṣa kumbhayoḥ . makare mithune tistraḥ paṁca cāpe ca karkaṭe

In Pisces and Aries there are five ghatikas each; in Taurus and Aquarius, four each;

Verse 3 (garuda.1.62.3)

सिंहे च वृश्चिके षट् च सप्त कन्यातुले तथा ॥ एता लग्नप्रमाणेन घटिकाः परिकीर्त्तिताः

siṁhe ca vṛścike ṣaṭ ca sapta kanyātule tathā . etā lagnapramāṇena ghaṭikāḥ parikīrttitāḥ

in Capricorn and Gemini, three each; in Sagittarius and Cancer, five each; in Leo and Scorpio, six each; and in Virgo and Libra, seven each. These are declared, by the measure of the ascendant, as the ghatikas [each sign takes to rise].

Verse 4 (garuda.1.62.4)

रसपूर्वावसानेषु रसाब्धिष्वरिसागराः ॥ लङ्कोदया हि तद्वत्त लग्ना मेषादयोऽथ वा

rasapūrvāvasāneṣu rasābdhiṣvarisāgarāḥ . laṅkodayā hi tadvatta lagnā meṣādayo'tha vā

[This verse uses number-code words for a finer ghatika-vighatika measure whose precise value is unclear in the transmitted text — it appears to give the exact rising-measure of the signs at Lanka, the equatorial reference point.] Thus does the rising occur at Lanka; the ascendants, Aries and the rest, follow this same sequence.

Verse 5 (garuda.1.62.5)

मेषलग्ने भवेद्वन्ध्या वृषे भवति कामिनी ॥ मिथुने सुभगा कन्या वेश्या भवति कर्कटे

meṣalagne bhavedvandhyā vṛṣe bhavati kāminī . mithune subhagā kanyā veśyā bhavati karkaṭe

In the Aries ascendant, a woman born is barren; in Taurus, she becomes passionate by nature.

Verse 6 (garuda.1.62.6)

सिंहे चैवाल्पपुत्रा च कन्यायां रूपसंयुता ॥ तुलायां रूपमैश्वर्य्यं वश्चिके कर्कशा भवेत्

siṁhe caivālpaputrā ca kanyāyāṁ rūpasaṁyutā . tulāyāṁ rūpamaiśvaryyaṁ vaścike karkaśā bhavet

In Gemini, a fortunate maiden; in Cancer, she becomes a courtesan. In Leo, she has few children; in Virgo, she is endowed with beauty.

Verse 7 (garuda.1.62.7)

सौभाग्यधनुषि स्याच्च मकरे नीचगामिनी ॥ कुम्भ चैवाल्पपुत्रा स्यान्मीने वैराग्यसंयुता

saubhāgyadhanuṣi syācca makare nīcagāminī . kumbha caivālpaputrā syānmīne vairāgyasaṁyutā

In Libra, beauty and prosperity; in Scorpio, she becomes harsh in nature. In Sagittarius, fortunate; in Capricorn, inclined to lowly conduct.

Verse 8 (garuda.1.62.8)

तुला कर्कटको मेषो मकरश्चैव राशयः ॥ चरकार्य्याणि कुर्य्याच्च स्थिरकार्य्याणि चैव हि

tulā karkaṭako meṣo makaraścaiva rāśayaḥ . carakāryyāṇi kuryyācca sthirakāryyāṇi caiva hi

In Aquarius, she has few children; in Pisces, she is endowed with dispassion. Libra, Cancer, Aries, and Capricorn are the movable signs,

Verse 9 (garuda.1.62.9)

पञ्चाननो वृषः कुम्भा वृश्चिकः स्युः स्थिराणि हि ॥ कन्या धनुश्च मीनश्च मिथुनं द्विस्वभावतः

pañcānano vṛṣaḥ kumbhā vṛścikaḥ syuḥ sthirāṇi hi . kanyā dhanuśca mīnaśca mithunaṁ dvisvabhāvataḥ

and under these one should perform both movable-type and fixed-type undertakings. Leo, Taurus, Aquarius, and Scorpio are the fixed signs.

Verse 10 (garuda.1.62.10)

द्विस्वभावानि कर्माणि कुर्य्यादेषु विचक्षणः ॥ यात्रा चरेण कर्त्तव्या प्रवेष्टव्यं स्थिरेण तु

dvisvabhāvāni karmāṇi kuryyādeṣu vicakṣaṇaḥ . yātrā careṇa karttavyā praveṣṭavyaṁ sthireṇa tu

Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces, and Gemini are the dual-natured signs. Under these, the discerning person should perform dual-natured undertakings.

Verse 11 (garuda.1.62.11)

देवस्थापनवैवाह्यं द्विस्वभावेन कारयेत् ॥ प्रतिपच्चाथ षष्ठी च नन्दा चैकादशी स्मृता

devasthāpanavaivāhyaṁ dvisvabhāvena kārayet . pratipaccātha ṣaṣṭhī ca nandā caikādaśī smṛtā

Travel should be undertaken under movable signs; entering a house, under fixed signs. Installation of a deity and marriage should be performed under dual-natured signs.

Verse 12 (garuda.1.62.12)

द्वितीया सप्तमी भद्रा द्वादशी वृषभध्वज ॥ जयाष्टमी तृतीया च स्मृता रुद्र त्रयोदशी

dvitīyā saptamī bhadrā dvādaśī vṛṣabhadhvaja . jayāṣṭamī tṛtīyā ca smṛtā rudra trayodaśī

The first, sixth, and eleventh are remembered as Nanda tithis. O bull-bannered one, the second, seventh, and twelfth are Bhadra;

Verse 13 (garuda.1.62.13)

चतुर्थो नवमी रिक्ता सा वर्ज्याथ चतुर्दशी ॥ पञ्चमी दशमी पूर्णा पूर्णिमा च शुभाः स्मृताः

caturtho navamī riktā sā varjyātha caturdaśī . pañcamī daśamī pūrṇā pūrṇimā ca śubhāḥ smṛtāḥ

the eighth, third, and, O Rudra, thirteenth are remembered as Jaya. The fourth and ninth are Rikta (void); likewise the fourteenth should also be avoided.

Verse 14 (garuda.1.62.14)

चरः सौम्यो गुरुः क्षिप्रो मृदुः शुक्रो रविर्ध्रुवः ॥ शनिश्च दारुणो ज्ञेयो भौम उग्रः शशी समः

caraḥ saumyo guruḥ kṣipro mṛduḥ śukro ravirdhruvaḥ . śaniśca dāruṇo jñeyo bhauma ugraḥ śaśī samaḥ

The fifth, tenth, and full-moon day are remembered as Purna (full) and auspicious. Mercury is of movable nature, Jupiter is swift, Venus is gentle, the Sun is fixed;

Verse 15 (garuda.1.62.15)

चरक्षिप्रैः प्रयातव्यं प्रवेष्टव्यं मृद्रुध्रुवैः ॥ दारुणोग्रैश्च योद्धव्यं क्षत्त्रियैर्जयकाङ्क्षिभिः

carakṣipraiḥ prayātavyaṁ praveṣṭavyaṁ mṛdrudhruvaiḥ . dāruṇograiśca yoddhavyaṁ kṣattriyairjayakāṅkṣibhiḥ

Saturn is to be known as fierce; Mars is severe; the Moon is neutral. One should set out on journeys under movable and swift days, and settle into a house under gentle and fixed days;

Verse 16 (garuda.1.62.16)

नृपाभिषेकोऽग्निकार्य्यं सोमवारे प्रशस्यते ॥ सोमे तु लेपमानं च कुर्य्याच्चैव गृहादिकम्

nṛpābhiṣeko'gnikāryyaṁ somavāre praśasyate . some tu lepamānaṁ ca kuryyāccaiva gṛhādikam

and under fierce and severe days, kshatriyas desiring victory should go to war. The coronation of a king and fire-rituals are praised on Monday.

Verse 17 (garuda.1.62.17)

सैनापत्यं शौर्ययुद्धं शस्त्राभ्यासः कुजे स्मृतः ॥ सिद्धिकार्य्यं च मन्त्रश्च यात्रा चैव बुधे स्मृता

saināpatyaṁ śauryayuddhaṁ śastrābhyāsaḥ kuje smṛtaḥ . siddhikāryyaṁ ca mantraśca yātrā caiva budhe smṛtā

On the Moon's day (Monday), plastering and the building of houses and the like should be undertaken. Appointing a commander, valorous battle, and weapon-practice are remembered under Mars's day (Tuesday).

Verse 18 (garuda.1.62.18)

पठनं देवपूजा च वस्त्राद्याभरणं गुरौ ॥ कन्यादानं गजारोहः शुक्रे स्यात्समयः स्त्रियाः

paṭhanaṁ devapūjā ca vastrādyābharaṇaṁ gurau . kanyādānaṁ gajārohaḥ śukre syātsamayaḥ striyāḥ

Rites of accomplishment, mantras, and travel are remembered under Mercury's day (Wednesday). Study, worship of the gods, and clothing and ornaments are auspicious under Jupiter's day (Thursday).

Verse 19 (garuda.1.62.19)

स्थाप्यं गृहप्रवेशश्च गजबन्धः शनौ शुभः

sthāpyaṁ gṛhapraveśaśca gajabandhaḥ śanau śubhaḥ

The giving of a maiden in marriage, riding an elephant, and matters concerning women belong to Venus's time (Friday). Installation, house-entry, and the tethering of an elephant are auspicious on Saturday.