Ornament of Nativity

Page 20

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Now, one might ask: "How many years of delay will there be?" To this, the author says: If a malefic planet Pāpa-graha: Planets like Mars or Saturn that are thought to cause challenges or Jupiter original: Jīva is situated in the fourth house the house of the home and happiness, and the Moon original: Candra is in the fifth or eighth house, then there is a total obstruction of thirty years, or a duration equal to the planet's own qualities. This refers to the duration of the delay in offspring original: santati. Specifically, a "great obstruction" original: prabandha is formed. Furthermore, however many malefic planets are located in the fifth house and are not aspected original: viyukta, meaning not "seen" or influenced by by benefic planets Śubha-graha: "Auspicious" planets like Venus or Mercury, the delay will last for that many years. This is determined by the strength of the planets—their position, direction, and so on—as previously described. This means that such a duration of delay for offspring will certainly occur. ॥ 15 ॥

Next, the author describes the means to obtain offspring by destroying these obstacles. Obtaining them—the attainment of children—is rooted in righteousness original: dharma-mūlā. This "righteousness" refers to the actions prescribed in the Revealed and Remembered Scriptures Śruti and Smṛti: The foundational Vedas and the subsequent legal and ethical texts of Hindu tradition.

> If a malefic or Jupiter is in the house of happiness (4th), and the Moon is in the fifth or eighth house, the delay for offspring will be equal to the planet's own qualities. However many malefic planets occupy the house of sons (5th) without being seen by benefics, for that many years will there certainly be a delay in childbearing here. ॥ 15 ॥ Their attainment is rooted in religious merit; then, if Mercury or Venus are the cause, through the ritual bathing of Lord Shiva; if it is the Moon, similarly; if it is Jupiter, through the success of mantras, sacred diagrams, and medicines. If Saturn, Mars, or the Sun—or if the Tail and the Head of the Dragon (Ketu and Rahu)—are there, then worship of the ancestors and the lineage must be performed according to the traditional teachings. Through Mercury and Jupiter, success is achieved quickly here. ॥ 16 ॥

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The meaning is that this "root of righteousness" includes the vow of the Sun’s Seventh Day original: Āditya Saptamī vrata, the worship of Lord Shiva original: Śaṅkarārādhana, the recitation of the Mantra for the Child-Protector Krishna original: Santāna Gopāla Mantra, and listening to the History of the Lineage of Hari original: Harivaṃśa, a text often recited to bless a couple with children.

There is a specific detail here: if Mercury original: Budha or Venus original: Kavi are the planets causing the delay, then attainment comes from the ritual anointing of Lord Shiva Abhiṣeka: A devotional practice of pouring sacred liquids over a deity's image while reciting the mantras prescribed in the study of the Vedas. If it is the Moon, the same should be understood. If it is Jupiter, then it is through the success of sacred diagrams and medicines original: yantra-auṣadhīnāṃ siddhyā. The word "success" original: siddhi applies to each: the success of the sacred diagrams yantras like the Santana Gopala or the Conqueror of Death (Mrityunjaya) and the success of medicinal herbs such as Lakṣmaṇā as prescribed in the texts.