The Essence of Astrology and the Eightfold Division of Horoscopy

The middle life-span Madhyayu-pinda: the raw numerical value representing a person's lifespan before specific astronomical corrections are applied total is 827. This should be subtracted from the cycle original: "mandala"; likely referring to a specific numerical cycle or orbital revolution used in these calculations. If it exceeds the cycle, it should be multiplied by five 4 The numeral 4 appears here in the manuscript, possibly a scribal shorthand or correction and then fifty-four, eighty-one 81, or one hundred and eight 108 should be subtracted. By doing this, the cycle-purified middle life-span total is obtained. This concludes the third operation. 3

Now, the division by half Ardha-harana: the reduction of a lifespan value by 50% and division by one-third Tribhaga-harana: the reduction of a lifespan value by 33% must be performed on the cycle-purified middle life-span total. Specifically, if the planet whose cycle-purified middle life-span is being calculated is joined with another planet, that middle life-span total must be halved. Alternatively, even if it is not joined with another planet, if it stands alone but is in its sign of debilitation original: "neechago"; the point where a planet is at its weakest or is combust original: "astangato"; hidden by the glare of the Sun, then the halving must be performed. This is the fourth operation, the process of halving. 4

Now, the division by one-third. If a planet is joined with another planet Note or stands alone but is in an enemy's sign or is "defeated in battle" original: "rane parajito"; a technical term for planetary war or Graha Yuddha, where two planets are in close conjunction, then one-third of the cycle-purified middle life-span total must be subtracted. If great results are indicated at the time of birth, one-third of the middle life-span total at sunrise should be subtracted. In cases where both the halving and the one-third reduction apply simultaneously, only the halving should be performed, not the one-third reduction. This is the fifth operation. 5 Thus, the refinement through reductions is completed.