Chapter 3: Nishekakala — Time of Conception

If, at the time of birth, the malefic planets (<5) be powerful, the benefic planets weak, and one of the hermaphrodite planets either be in one of the Kendras (angles) (/) or aspect the Lagna (ascendant) ; the creature CH. III.] Brihat Jdtakd. 25 born will be that indicated by the particular Dwadasamsa which the Moon might then occupy.

If the malefic planets occupy their Navamsas and be powerful, if the benefic planets be not in their own Navamsas and be weak and if (at the same time) the Lagna (rising sign) be other than human, the birth will be that of a lower animal as before (6).

In the case of quadrupeds, Aries is the head ; Taurus, the face and neck ; Gemini, the forelegs and shoul- ders ; Cancer, the back ; L,eo, the breast ; Virgo, the sides ; Libra, the belly ; Scorpio, the anus ; Sagittari, the hind legs ; Capricorn, the penis or testicle ; Aquarius, the but- tocks and Pisces, the tail.

If there be any planet in the rising sign, the color of the creature will be that of the planet itself; if not, the color will be that of the planet aspecting the rising sign ; and if no planets aspect the rising sign the color will be that of the rising Navamsa. The number and variety of colors will be that of the planets occupying or aspecting the rising sign. The number of stripes on the back of the creature will be that of the planets occupying the seventh house.

If a Pakshidrekkana or a Charanavamsa (&) or a Navamsa of Mercury should rise and be occu- pied by powerful planets, the creature born would be a land bird if the rising Drekkana or Navamsa, be either occupied or aspected by Saturn ; and a water bird if it be pccupied or aspected by the Moon, CH. III.] Brihat Jdtakd. 27 NOTES- These are the second Drekkana or degrees from 11 to 20 of Gemini, the first Drekkana or degrees from 1 to 10 of Leo, the second Drekkana of Libra and the first Drekkana of Aquarius. (6) Chara or movable Navarnsas go by the same names as the Chara or movable signs. The Navarnsas of Mercury are those of Gemini and Virgo.-

If the rising sign, the Moon, Jupiter and the Sun should be weak, they indicate the birth of a tree ; such tree will be either a land tree or a water tree according as the rising Navamsa is one of land or of water («). The number of trees will be the number of signs by which the lord of the ascendant Navamsa has receded from the rising sign (6).

If the lord of the ascendent Navamsa be the Sun, the tree will be one strong within ; if Saturn, the tree will be an ugly one ; if the Moon, it will be a milky tree ; if Mars, a thorny tree ; if Jupiter, a fruit tree ; if Mercury, a fruitless tree ; if Venus, a flower tree ; if the Moon again, an oily tree ; and if Mars, a tree of sour taste.

If the lord of the ascendant Navamsa be a beue- fic planet occupying a malefic sign, the tree will be a superior one growing on a bad ground ; if otherwise, the reverse will be the case (fe) ; the number of trees is also tile number of Navamsas by which the lord of the ascendant Navamsa has receded from his Navamsa.