The Royal Expedition of Varahamihira with Utpala's Commentary

...is also one who acts wickedly. 22. By whatever omens the destruction of the agent or the country is predicted, the people speak of those stories without hesitation. Or, whatever country the destroyer the malefic influence points out, he leaves and goes there; that country also, being occupied by people of wicked character, falls into delusion and fear. 23. Now, the King in his own kingdom attains great virtues, and it is said that well-being occurs in all kingdoms. Just as a physician, through medical applications, makes a body healthy that was overcome by disease or afflicted by poison, so also through pacification rituals Shanti... 23. A body filled with disease or even afflicted by poison, when provided with medicine, though facing death, is restored to health by a physician (a healer of the body) through the use of medicinal herbs; in the same way, a King makes his good kingdom firm through pacification rituals against the afflictions caused by the planets. 24.

Thus ends the Third Chapter in the Commentary on the Illustrious Yoga-Yatra. 3.

Now, the Chapter on Yoga (Planetary Combinations) is explained; and first, for the purpose of determining the nature of the houses starting from the Ascendant, it is said:

The body, the treasury (wealth), the army, the counsel, the enemy, the path (journey), life-span, the mind, action (career), and the attainment of wealth—these are the houses to be considered. 1.

Starting from the Ascendant Lagna: the zodiac sign rising on the eastern horizon at a specific moment, those houses and their natures such as the body must be considered. For instance: in the first house (Lagna), the physical body is to be considered; in the second, the treasury or wealth; in the third, the warriors (army); in the fourth, the vehicles, servants, and secrets; in the fifth house, counsel (mantra); in the sixth, the enemy; in the seventh, the path or journey; in the eighth, the life-span or longevity; in the ninth, the mind (disposition); in the tenth, action or work; in the eleventh, the attainment of the fruits of action; and in the twelfth, the ministers. Thus says Badarayana An ancient authority on astrology often cited in commentaries: The body, wealth, strength, vehicles, counsel, journey, life, dharma, success, and ministers are to be considered in the houses starting from the Ascendant. 1. Now, he describes the results of those houses:

The Sun, Saturn, and Mars destroy [the houses]; but the Sun and Mars do not destroy the house of action (10th). The benefics nourish them, except for the house of enemies (6th). Venus and the Moon [nourish] even the Ascendant. 2.

The Sun, Saturn, and Mars original: "Ravi-Saura-Bhauma"...

...destroy the nature of whichever house they are situated in; they cause loss. Do they destroy all houses? He says: they nourish the third and eleventh houses. In the third house, they cause an increase in the success of the journey; in the eleventh, they increase the attainment of the fruits of action. "The Sun and Mars do not [destroy] in the house of action"—this means in the tenth house, the Sun and Mars (the son of Earth) do not cause harm; rather, they cause growth in action. Saturn situated there causes loss of action. If the Sun, Mars, and Saturn are in the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 7th, 9th, or 12th, they are inauspicious. In the 3rd, 6th, and 11th, they are auspicious. In the 10th, Saturn is not auspicious, but the Sun and Mars are auspicious. Because when the Sun, Mars, and Saturn go to the Ascendant, they cause harm to the body; in the 2nd, loss of wealth; in the 3rd, loss of warriors though the previous line suggests 3rd is auspicious for journey, here it notes specific losses; in the 4th, loss of vehicles; in the 5th, loss of counsel; in the 6th, loss of enemies which is positive; in the 7th, loss of the path; in the 8th, decay of life; in the 9th, affliction of the mind; in the 10th, Saturn causes decay of action while the Sun and Mars cause growth; in the 11th, all cause growth of the fruits of action; in the 12th, loss of ministers.

"The benefics nourish, except for the house of enemies"—the benefics are Mercury, Jupiter, and Venus. Excluding the 6th house, they nourish. Venus Bhrigu nourishes, and the Moon Indu nourishes the Ascendant, not excluding any place. Therefore, [the malefics] situated in the Ascendant cause bodily pain, but [the benefics] in the 2nd cause increase of wealth; in the 3rd, increase of success; in the 4th, increase of vehicles; in the 5th, increase of counsel; in the 6th, increase of sins or enemies—Venus causes loss there. Mercury, Jupiter, and Venus in the 8th cause increase of life; in the 9th, increase of the mind; in the 11th, increase of gain; in the 12th, increase of ministers. The Moon in the dark fortnight is equal to a malefic, but in the bright fortnight, the Moon in the 8th causes decay of life. As it is said: "The Moon in the Ascendant is death." And thus says Badarayana: Benefics are desired... Venus... except for the enemy... not the Moon in the 8th... Malefics... not in the third...