Knowledge and Compendium of Horary Questions

Question 6

The Determination of Minerals and Metals

In the case of Mars Bhauma, the material is copper; for Saturn Shani, it is iron; and for Rahu the North Node of the Moon, silver is declared. Under the influence of Ketu the South Node of the Moon, there is the occurrence of camphor original: karpūra-pātaḥ; likely referring to fragrant resins or volatile plant substances categorized as minerals due to their processed state. This concludes the determination of Minerals Pāta; here used as a category for inorganic materials. || This is the section on Minerals. ||

The Determination of Plants and Roots

When the Moon Chandra or Venus Shukra is the ruling planet, the inquiry concerns bushes, creepers, vines, and trees. For Mercury Budha, the focus is on the leaf; for Jupiter Guru, it is the fruit; for the Sun Surya, it is the root; and for Saturn Ravija; literally "Son of the Sun", it is the bark. || This is the section on Plants. ||

The Determination of Living Beings

Venus Bhargava and Jupiter Guru represent bipeds two-legged beings, primarily humans. Mars Bhumija and Saturn/Ketu? The manuscript is slightly obscured here, but context suggests the malefic planets signify quadrupeds four-legged animals, such as cattle and other livestock. The Moon and the Sun are the lords of the body original: sharīra-pau; referring to the physical constitution or the person of the seeker. || This is the section on Living Beings. ||

On the Knowledge of Lost Objects

Now, regarding the knowledge of lost objects naṣṭa-vastu-jñāna:

• If the Moon and Sun are the indicators, the direction is East; implied by the sequence of the other cardinal points.
• If Jupiter Jīva and Venus Shukra are active, the object is in the West.
• The North is indicated by Mars Bhauma and Mercury Saumya.
• Saturn and Rahu indicate the South.

Divination by Phonetic Groups

Now begins the knowledge concerning the groups varga; categories of the Sanskrit alphabet of the seeker's thoughts.

• In the A-group vowels: a, ā, i, ī, etc., the concern is about oneself ātman.
• In the Ka-group consonants: ka, kha, ga, gha, ṅa, the concern is about others.
• Similarly, one should know the concerns through the various groups; in the Ṭa-group consonants: ṭa, ṭha, ḍa, ḍha, ṇa, the concern relates to violence or injury original: hatyā.