ĀTMAKĀRAKA DEFINED: Among the planets from the Sun etc. whichever has traversed maximum number of degrees in a particular sign is called Ātmakāraka. If the degrees are identical, then the one with more minutes of arc and if the minutes are also identical then the one with higher seconds of arc will have to be considered. In that case, these three are called Anthya-kāraka, Madhya-kāraka and Upakheta. In the case of Rāhu, deduct his longitude in that particular sign from 30. The kārakas will have to be decided as above and as per further rules given below. Out of these kārakas, Ātmakāraka is the most important and has a prime say on the native just as the king is the most famous among the men of his country and is the head of all affairs and is entitled to arrest and release men.

आत्मकारक की महत्ता: सब कारकों में आत्मकारक प्रधान है। वही वास्तव में जातक का स्वामी है। उसकी अनुकूलता व प्रतिकूलता से ही बन्धन या मोक्ष — अर्थात्‌ सारे शुभाशुभ फल व्यक्ति को मिलते हैं। जिस प्रकार पृथ्वी पर राजा सर्वाधिकार-सम्पन्न होता है तथा उसी की आज्ञा से अन्य अमात्य (मन्त्री) आदि अपना काम कर पाते हैं — उसी तरह आत्मकारक की अनुकूलता व उसके स्वभाव, बलाबलानुसार ही शेष कारक भी फल देते हैं।