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Jataka Alankara · Chapter 5
आयुर्दायाध्यायः
This chapter explains the length of life as the book reads it from planet combinations. It begins by calling life the root for all who are born.
It then gives many rules. Most rest on the lord of the 1st house, Jupiter and the corner houses. It ends by asking the wise to weigh the strength of the planets first.
The English below is our translation from the Sanskrit.
आयुर्दायाध्यायः
आयुर्मूलंजन्मिनांजीवनंचह्याजीवानांनिर्जराणांसुधेव ॥एवंप्राहुःपूर्वमाचार्यवर्यास्तस्मादायुर्दायमेनंप्रवक्ष्ये ॥ १ ॥
Length of life is the root for all who are born. It is their very life, as nectar is life for the ageless gods. So the best teachers of old have said. That is why I will now explain the length of life.
Simple meaning: Length of life matters most for every person, so the author now explains how to judge it.
आयुर्दायाध्यायः
लग्नाधीशोतिवीर्योयदिशुभविहगैरीक्षितःकेंद्रयातैर्द्यादायुःसुदीर्घंगुणगणसहितंश्रीयुतंमानवानाम् ॥सौम्याःकेंद्रालयस्थाजनुषिचरजनीनायकेस्वीयतुंगेवीर्याढ्येलग्ननाथेवपुषिचशरदांषष्टिमायुर्नराणाम् ॥ २ ॥
Suppose the lord of the 1st house is very strong. Good planets in corner houses look at it. Then the person gets a very long life, with many good qualities and wealth. Another rule: good planets are in corner houses at birth. The Moon is in its high sign. The strong lord of the 1st house is in the 1st house. Then life is 60 years.
Simple meaning: A very strong 1st lord seen by good planets in corner houses gives a long, rich life.
आयुर्दायाध्यायः
सौम्याःकेंद्रालयस्थावपुषिसुरगुरौलग्नतोवासुधांशोरायुर्युक्तंनदृष्टंनचगगनगतैःसप्ततिर्वत्सराणाम् ॥यातामूलत्रिकोणेशुभगगनचराःस्वीयतुंगेसुरेज्येलग्नाधीशेतिवीर्येगगनवसुसमास्तुल्यमायुर्नराणाम् ॥ ३ ॥
Good planets are in corner houses. Jupiter is in the 1st house, counted from the rising sign or from the Moon. No planet is in the 8th house, and no planet looks at it. Then life is 70 years. Another rule: good planets are in their mulatrikona (a planet's strong own-sign part). Jupiter is in its high sign. The lord of the 1st house is very strong. Then life is 80 years.
Simple meaning: Good planets in corner houses, Jupiter in the 1st and an empty, unseen 8th house give 70 years.
आयुर्दायाध्यायः
सौम्येकेंद्रेतिवीर्येयदिनिधनपदंखेटहीनंसमाःस्युस्त्रिंशत्सौम्येक्षितश्चेद्गगनहिमकरैःसंयुतोथोस्वभेचेत् ॥स्वत्र्यंशेचामरेज्येमुनिनयनमितंस्वर्क्षगोलग्नगोवाचंद्रेद्यूनेशुभश्चेद्गगनरसमितंकोणगाःसौम्यखेटाः ॥ ४ ॥
A good planet is very strong in a corner house. The 8th house has no planet. Then life is 30 years. If good planets look at that good planet, 10 years are added. Next: Jupiter is in its own sign and its own drekkana (one-third part of a sign). Then life is 27 years. A good planet is in its own sign or in the 1st house. The Moon is in the 7th house. Good planets are in the 5th and 9th houses. Then life is 60 years. (Our text is unclear here: the words for the 10 years may instead mean the Moon in the 10th house.)
Simple meaning: A strong good planet in a corner house with an empty 8th house gives about 30 years.
आयुर्दायाध्यायः
कीटेलग्नेसुरेज्येयदिभवतितदाखाष्टतुल्यंलयेशोधर्मेंगेचांगनाथेनिधनभवनगेक्रूरदृष्टेऽब्धिहस्ताः ॥लग्नाधीशाष्टनाथौलयभवनगतौसप्तविंशद्विलग्नेक्रूरेज्यौचंद्रदृष्टौयदिनिधनगतःकश्चनास्तेद्विपक्षाः ॥ ५ ॥
Jupiter is in the 1st house in Scorpio. Then life is 80 years. The lord of the 8th house is in the 9th house or the 1st. The lord of the 1st house is in the 8th, and bad planets look at it. Then life may be 24 years. The lords of the 1st and 8th houses are both in the 8th house. Then life may be 27 years. Bad planets and Jupiter are in the 1st house, and the Moon looks at them. Some planet is in the 8th house. Then life may be 22 years.
Simple meaning: Jupiter in a Scorpio 1st house gives 80 years. A troubled 1st and 8th lord may give 22 to 27.
आयुर्दायाध्यायः
लग्नेंदूक्रूरहीनौवपुषिसुरगुरौरंध्रभंखेटहीनंकेंद्रेसौम्येखशैलाःसितविबुधगुरूस्याच्छतंकेंद्रगौचेत् ॥वागीशेकर्कलग्नेशतमिहभृगुजेकेंद्रगेथार्कसूनौधर्मांगस्थेसुधांशौव्ययनवमगतेहायनानांशतंस्यात् ॥ ६ ॥
No bad planet is in the 1st house or with the Moon. Jupiter is in the 1st house. The 8th sign has no planet. A good planet is in a corner house. Then life is 70 years. Venus and Jupiter are in corner houses. Then life is 100 years. Jupiter is in the 1st house in Cancer. Then life is 100 years. Venus is in a corner house. Saturn is in the 9th or the 1st house. The Moon is in the 12th or the 9th house. Then life is 100 years.
Simple meaning: Jupiter in the 1st with no bad planets there gives 70 years. Venus and Jupiter in corner houses give 100.
आयुर्दायाध्यायः
धीकेंद्रायुर्नवस्थायदिखलखचरानोगुरोर्भेविलग्नेकेंद्रेकाव्येगुरौवाशुभमपिनिधनंसौम्यदृष्टंशतंस्यात् ॥लग्नादिंदोर्नखेटायदिनिधनगतावीर्यभाजौसितेज्यौपूर्णायुःस्वीयराशौशुभगगनचराःषष्टिरंगोच्चगेऽब्जे ॥ ७ ॥
No bad planets are in the 5th house, the corner houses, the 8th or the 9th. The rising sign belongs to Jupiter. Venus or Jupiter is in a corner house. The 8th house is also good, and good planets look at it. Then life is 100 years. Next: counted from the rising sign and from the Moon, no planet is in the 8th house. Venus and Jupiter are strong in their own signs. Then life is full. Good planets are in the 1st house, and the Moon is in its high sign. Then life is 60 years.
Simple meaning: No bad planets in key houses and Venus or Jupiter in a corner house give 100 years.
आयुर्दायाध्यायः
कोदंडांत्यार्धमंगंयदिसकलखगाःस्वोच्चगाज्ञेजिनांशैर्गोस्थेपूर्णंचकेंद्रेसुरपतिभृगुजौलाभगेब्जेपरायुः ॥शुक्रेमीनेतनुस्थेनिधनगृहगतेसौम्यदृष्टेसुधांशौजीवेकेंद्रेशतंस्यादथतनुगृहपेछिद्रगेपुष्करेब्जे ॥ ८ ॥
The rising sign is the last half of Sagittarius. All planets are in their high signs, and Mercury is in Taurus at 24 degrees. Then life is full. Jupiter and Venus are in corner houses, and the Moon is in the 11th house. Then the person gets the highest length of life. Venus is in Pisces in the 1st house. The Moon is in the 8th house, and good planets look at it. Jupiter is in a corner house. Then life is 100 years. Next: the lord of the 1st house is in the 8th, and the Moon is in the 10th house. [The rule goes on in the next verse.]
Simple meaning: Late Sagittarius rising with planets in high signs gives a full life. Other rules give 100 years.
आयुर्दायाध्यायः
वागीशेवीर्ययुक्तेनवमभवनगाःसर्वखेटाःशतायुःकर्केंगेजीवचंद्रौसहजरिपुभवेसत्कविज्ञौचकेंद्रे ॥केंद्रेसूर्यारमंदागुरुनवलवगावाक्पतौलग्नयातेव्यष्टस्थानेषुशेषाःशरगजतुलितंस्यान्नराणांतदायुः ॥ ९ ॥
Jupiter is strong, and all the planets are in the 9th house. Then life is 100 years. Jupiter and the Moon are in the 1st house in Cancer. Good planets are in the 3rd and 6th houses. Venus and Mercury are in corner houses. Next: the Sun, Mars and Saturn are in corner houses, in Jupiter's navamsha (one-ninth part of a sign). Jupiter is in the 1st house. The other planets are anywhere but the 8th house. Then life is 85 years. (Our text is unclear here: which number of years goes with the Cancer rule.)
Simple meaning: Strong Jupiter with all planets in the 9th gives 100 years. Another rule gives 85 years.
आयुर्दायाध्यायः
क्रूराःसौम्यांशयाताउपचयगृहगाःकातराःकंटकस्थाःसौम्याव्योमार्कसंख्यायदितनुपकुजौरंध्रगौनोपरायुः ॥केंद्रेलग्नेशजीवौनवसुतनिधनेकंटकेनोखलाख्याःसंपूर्णंपापखेटायदिगुरुजलगाजीवभावेचसौम्याः ॥ १० ॥
Bad planets are weak and in good planets' navamsha (one-ninth part of a sign). They sit in the 3rd, 6th, 10th and 11th houses. Good planets are in corner houses. The lord of the 1st house and Mars are not in the 8th house. Then life is the highest, 120 years. The lord of the 1st house and Jupiter are in corner houses. No bad planets are in the 9th, 5th or 8th house, or in a corner house. Then life is full. Next: bad planets are in Jupiter's signs or water signs, and good planets are in Jupiter's sign. [The rule goes on in the next verse.] (Our text is unclear here: the words for where the planets sit in this last rule.)
Simple meaning: Weak bad planets in growth houses and good planets in corner houses give the highest life, 120 years.
आयुर्दायाध्यायः
युग्मर्क्षांशंगतावाव्ययधनगृहगाश्चेच्छुभाःशीतभानुःसंपूर्णोलग्नयायीशतमिहजनितामिंदिरामंदिरंस्यात् ॥लग्नेशेसौम्ययुक्तेवपुषिचलयपेरंध्रगेनान्यदृष्टेविंशत्केंद्रेलयेशेबलवियुजितथालग्नपेत्रिंशदायुः ॥ ११ ॥
[Going on:] or the good planets are in even signs or even-sign navamsha (one-ninth part of a sign). Or they are in the 12th and 2nd houses. The full Moon is in the 1st house. Then life is 100 years, and the person will be very rich. Next: the lord of the 1st house, with a good planet, is in the 8th house. The lord of the 8th house is in the 1st house. No other planet looks at it. Then life may be 20 years. The lord of the 8th house is weak in a corner house. The lord of the 1st house is weak too. Then life may be 30 years.
Simple meaning: Good planets well placed and a full Moon in the 1st house give 100 years and wealth.
आयुर्दायाध्यायः
इंदावापोक्लिमस्थेतदनुतनुपतौनिर्बलेपापदृष्टेदंतैस्तुल्यंततोर्कःखलखगविवरेलग्नगोब्जस्त्रिसंख्यम् ॥रिःफेकेंद्रेसुरेज्येगुरुरिपुसहजेस्यात्सपापेंगनाथेरामाब्दंकर्कलग्नेकुजतुहिनकरौकेंद्ररंध्रंग्रहोनम् ॥ १२ ॥
The Moon is in the 3rd, 6th, 9th or 12th house. The lord of the 1st house is weak, and bad planets look at it. Then life may be 32 years. The Sun is between bad planets, and the Moon is in the 1st house. Then life may be 3 years. Jupiter is in the 12th house or a corner house. An enemy of Jupiter is in the 3rd. The lord of the 1st house is with a bad planet. Then life may be 3 years. Next: the rising sign is Cancer, with Mars and the Moon in it. The [other] corner houses and the 8th house have no planets. [The rule goes on in the next verse.]
Simple meaning: A weak 1st lord seen by bad planets may give 32 years. Some rules warn of a very short life.
आयुर्दायाध्यायः
रामाब्दंस्याल्लयेशेवपुषिचनिधनंसौम्यहीनंखवेदालग्नेशोरंध्रयातोवपुषिनिधनपःस्यान्नृणांबाणसंख्यम् ॥नक्रेतिग्मांशुमंदौसहजरिपुगतौकंटकेरंध्रनाथेपारावाराब्धिसंख्यंतदनुशुभखगाःसल्लवर्क्षेऽत्रखाग्निः ॥ १३ ॥
[This ends the Cancer rule:] then life may be 3 years. The lord of the 8th house is in the 1st house, and the 8th house has no good planet. Then life may be 40 years. The lord of the 1st house is in the 8th, and the lord of the 8th is in the 1st. Then life may be only 5 years. The rising sign is Capricorn. The Sun and Saturn are in the 3rd and 6th houses. The lord of the 8th house is in a corner house. Then life may be 44 years. After that, good planets in good signs and good navamsha (one-ninth part of a sign) give 30 years here. (Our text is unclear here: whether the 30 years stand alone or are added to the 44.)
Simple meaning: The 1st and 8th lords swapping places may give a very short life. Other rules give 40 or 44.
आयुर्दायाध्यायः
क्रूरैर्दृष्टेंगनाथेयदिशुभविहगावीर्यवंतःसुधांशौसंस्थेसौम्येगणेचेद्गुणमुनितुलितंरंध्रगैर्मध्यमायुः ॥स्याच्चंद्रादह्निपापैरथतपनसुतेद्व्यंगलग्नेहियातेरिःफेशेरंध्रनाथेयदिबलरहितेकंकपत्राक्षिसंख्यम् ॥ १४ ॥
Bad planets look at the lord of the 1st house. Good planets are strong. The Moon sits among good planets. Then life is 73 years. If bad planets are in the 8th from the Moon in a day birth, life is of middle length. Next: Saturn is in the 1st house in a dual sign (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius or Pisces). The lords of the 12th and 8th houses are weak. Then life may be 25 years.
Simple meaning: A seen 1st lord with strong good planets gives 73 years. Saturn rising in a dual sign may give 25.
आयुर्दायाध्यायः
कर्केंगेसप्तसप्तौखलविहगयुतेपुष्करस्थेद्विजेशेकेंद्रेयातेसुरेज्येशरविशिखमितंपुष्करेनीरगेवा ॥सौम्येपीयूषभानौव्ययनिधनगतेदेहगेवाकवीज्यावेकर्क्षेव्योमबाणैर्व्ययरिपुनिधनेलग्ननाथाढ्यचंद्रे ॥ १५ ॥
The Sun is in the 1st house in Cancer, with a bad planet. The Moon is in the 10th house, or in a water sign. Jupiter is in a corner house. Then life is 55 years. A good Moon is in the 12th, 8th or 1st house. Venus and Jupiter are in one sign. Then life is 50 years. Next: the Moon is with the lord of the 1st house in the 12th, 6th or 8th house. [The rule goes on in the next verse.]
Simple meaning: The Sun in a Cancer 1st house with Jupiter in a corner house gives 55 years.
आयुर्दायाध्यायः
शन्यंशेलग्ननाथेभुजगशरमितंस्यादथोसौम्यखेटारंध्रोनादेहनाथोव्ययरिपुनिधनेपापयुक्षष्टिरायुः ॥राशीशोलग्ननाथोदिनमणिसहितोमृत्युगोवाक्पतिश्चेन्नोकेंद्रेषष्टिरायुर्वपुषिदिनपतिःशत्रुभौमान्वितश्चेत् ॥ १६ ॥
[Going on:] and the lord of the 1st house is in Saturn's navamsha (one-ninth part of a sign). Then life may be 58 years. No good planet is in the 8th house. The lord of the 1st house is in the 12th, 6th or 8th house with a bad planet. Then life may be 60 years. The lord of the Moon's sign, or of the 1st house, is with the Sun in the 8th house. Jupiter is not in a corner house. Then life may be 60 years. Next: the Sun is in the 1st house with an enemy and Mars. [The rule goes on in the next verse.]
Simple meaning: The 1st lord in Saturn's navamsha may give 58 years. Several weak placements may give 60.
आयुर्दायाध्यायः
वागीशेहीनवीर्येव्ययतनुजगतेयामिनीशेखशैलाधर्मेसर्वैःपरायुःखगखललवगैःकेंद्रयातैरशीतिः ॥क्रूरैःक्रूरर्क्षयातैःशुभभवनगतैःसौम्यखेटैःसवीर्यैर्लग्नेशेस्यात्परायुःसुतभवनगतैःषष्टिरायुर्नराणाम् ॥ १७ ॥
[Going on:] Jupiter is weak, and the Moon is in the 12th or 5th house. Then life is 70 years. All planets are in the 9th house. Then life is the highest. Planets in corner houses sit in bad planets' navamsha (one-ninth part of a sign). Then life is 80 years. Bad planets are in bad planets' signs. Good planets are strong in good planets' signs. The lord of the 1st house is strong. Then life is the highest. If [those good planets] are in the 5th house, life is 60 years.
Simple meaning: All planets in the 9th give the highest life. A weak Jupiter with the Moon badly placed gives 70.
आयुर्दायाध्यायः
सारंगस्यांत्यभागेयदिवपुषिगतेचाद्यभागेचकेंद्रेसौम्यैःखेटैःशतंस्याद्वसुसहजसुखेस्याच्चिरायुःसमस्तैः ॥लग्नात्प्रालेयभानोर्निधनसदनपेरिःफकेंद्रेष्टविंशत्केंद्रेसौम्यग्रहोनेयदिमृतिभवनेकश्चिदास्तेखरामाः ॥ १८ ॥
The rising point is in the last part of Capricorn, or in its first part. Good planets are in corner houses. Then life is 100 years. All planets are in the 8th, 3rd and 4th houses. Then life is long. Count from the rising sign or the Moon. The lord of the 8th house is in the 12th or a corner house. Then life may be 28 years. No good planet is in a corner house, and some planet is in the 8th house. Then life may be 30 years.
Simple meaning: Good planets in corner houses with Capricorn rising give 100 years. A badly placed 8th lord may give 28.
आयुर्दायाध्यायः
क्षीणेप्रालेयभानौयदिखलखचरोमृत्युगोमृत्युनाथःकेंद्रस्थोलग्ननाथोनिजबलरहितःखाश्वितुल्यंतदायुः ॥सौम्यैरापोक्लिमस्थैर्दिनमणिजविधूवैरिरंध्रालयस्थौतुल्यंकामांकुशैःस्यादथधनमृतिगौरिःफगौपापखेटौ ॥ १९ ॥
The Moon is waning. A bad planet is in the 8th house. The lord of the 8th house is in a corner house. The lord of the 1st house has no strength of its own. Then life may be 20 years. Good planets are in the 3rd, 6th, 9th and 12th houses. Saturn and the Moon are in the 6th and 8th houses. Then life may be 20 years. Next: two bad planets are in the 2nd and 8th houses, or in the 12th. [The rule goes on in the next verse.]
Simple meaning: A waning Moon, a bad planet in the 8th and a weak 1st lord may give 20 years.
आयुर्दायाध्यायः
हीनौस्वर्भानुनावायदिहिममहसाव्योमनेत्रप्रमाणंकेंद्रस्थौसूर्यमंदौयदिवपुषिकुजःपुष्पबाणांकुशंस्यात् ॥शुक्रेज्यावंगयातौतनयभवनगौभौमपापावनायुर्जन्मेशःसार्कलग्नेखलशुभसहितश्चेक्षितःस्यादनायुः ॥ २० ॥
[Going on:] they are weak, or with Rahu or the Moon. Then life may be 20 years. The Sun and Saturn are in corner houses, and Mars is in the 1st house. Then life may be 20 years. Venus and Jupiter are in the 1st house. Mars and a bad planet are in the 5th house. Then there is a risk of a very short life. The lord of the birth sign is with the Sun in the 1st house. Good and bad planets join it and look at it. Then too there is a risk of a very short life. (Our text is unclear here: who is 'weak, or with Rahu or the Moon' in the first rule.)
Simple meaning: Some rules here give 20 years. Others warn of a risk of a very short life.
आयुर्दायाध्यायः
यत्संप्रोक्तंयोगजंपूर्वमायुर्होरापारावारपारंगमज्ञैः ॥तस्मादायुःसारभूतंयदेतत्पुण्याचारश्लोकभाजांनराणाम् ॥ २१ ॥
Wise men who crossed the ocean of astrology told, long ago, the length of life that comes from planet combinations. What is given here is the essence of it. It holds for people of good conduct and good name.
Simple meaning: This is the essence of the old teaching on length of life, for people of good conduct.
आयुर्दायाध्यायः
बलाबलविवेकेनपुष्करालयशालिनाम् ॥सुमनोभिरिदंदेश्यमायुर्धर्मादिशालिनाम् ॥ २२ ॥
The wise should first weigh the strength and weakness of the planets in the sky. Then they should tell this length of life. It is for people who follow dharma (right living) and other good ways.
Simple meaning: First judge which planets are strong or weak, then tell the length of life.
आयुर्दायाध्यायः
हृद्यैःपद्यैर्गुंफितेसूरितोषेऽलंकाराख्येजातकेमंजुलेऽस्मिन् ॥आयुर्दायःश्रीगणेशेनवर्यैर्वृत्तैर्युक्तोबाहुपक्षैःप्रणीतः ॥ २३ ॥
This lovely jataka (birth chart reading) book is called Alankara. It is woven of pleasing verses for the joy of the learned. In it, Ganesha wrote this chapter on length of life in 22 fine verses.
Simple meaning: Here ends the chapter on length of life, written by Ganesha in 22 fine verses.
Verse 5.1 calls it the root for all who are born. It is their very life, as nectar is life for the gods.
Verse 5.2 names a very strong lord of the 1st house with good planets in corner houses looking at it.
Verse 5.22 says the wise should first weigh the strength and weakness of the planets, then tell the length of life.