My Interpretation of Tricky JP Verse (Vilagna..)

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Om Gurubhyo Namah

Namaste friends,

 

I have been away from the sohamsa for a few days and read the

archives just today. I want to offer my interpretation of this tricky verse

from Jataka Parijatam.

 

I hope the SJC conference in California is going well. My heart is there and I

wish I could attend, especially given that Zoran is also there from Serbia this

year. Hopefully, I will be able to go there next year.

 

Those who want to benefit the Jyotish community by interpreting Jyotish classics

should try to get formal training in Sanskrita and try to read classics in

non-Jyotish Sanskrita literature first to get an understanding of the standard

grammar practices and standard practices with respect to figures of speech and

general usage and expression. Sanskrita is a very complex language to interpret

and it is easy to make mistakes. The paradigms of expression are so different in

Sanskrita and many modern languages. No dictionary can help there. If more and

more Jyotish scholars are well-trained in Sanskrita, it will be very beneficial

to the community. I know that both Visti and SanjayP are trying to learn

Sanskrita and I wish them the very best.

 

In this particular verse, the word "aste" has no relevance whatsoever. First of

all, vilagnAt + aste would've been "vilagnAdaste" after sandhi (i.e. voiceless

"t" becomes voiced "d" when voiced vowel "a" comes after it and joins with it).

Second of all, it is not "vilagnAtaste". It is "vilagnataste". It's a short "a".

So the suggested break-up (vilagnat + aste) is totally wrong.

 

The break-up is "vilagnataste = vilagnataH + te". When dental "t" comes after

visarga (H), visarga becomes "s".

 

The word "vilagnataH" means basically the same thing as "vilagnAt". It means

"with respect to vilagna". The word "te" means "they". So there is no reference

to "asta" (setting) here.

 

Now, regarding what vilagna means, it could mean several things. It could mean a

special lagna. The prefix "vi" is one of the most common prefixes and has

several meanings. Sometimes, it can imply something particular/specific/special

(which will be either clarified specifically or can be inferred from the

context). It could sometimes alter the meaning of the word to an opposite (e.g.

kraya means buying, vikraya means selling). It could sometimes be used for just

stressing something, i.e. it may not have a particular meaning and vi may not

alter the meaning and may merely stress the existing meaning. Definitely

"vilagna" can just mean the normal lagna, as Subramanya Sastri translated in

his translation. But it can also mean a special lagna such as hora lagna or

ghati lagna or vighati lagna. I don't agree with the view expressed by Visti

below that vilagna has a specific connotation/philosphy and cannot refer to

hora lagna, ghati lagna etc because they do not "follow this philosophy" and

are "merely circular". The very fact that Parasara referred to hora lagna as

hora vilagna is enough to show that hora lagna can be referred to as a vilagna

(BTW, the fact that he referred to it in a different place without "vi" does

not mean a thing). I must resepctfully, but firmly, reject such notions of a

philosophy behind the use of "vi".

 

Also, lagna does not specifically mean ascendant or the rising sign. The point

rising on the eastern horizon is only one meaning of lagna. Lagna simply means

some temporarily fixed or identifiable point. It simply means a focus point. It

is some point that can be taken as a reference point. Vilagna can mean "this

particular/special reference point", i.e. some specific reference/focus point

that can be inferred from the context. Think if there is a specific reference

point that can be inferred from the context in this verse!!!

 

Note that the houses where various planets become ineffective are given for all

planets, EXCEPT Sun. Why was Sun left out? Why???

 

For Moon, no house is mentioned from "vilagna". He was mentioned to be

ineffective when WITH Sun. Why was being with Sun mentioned for Moon, while

houses from vilagna are mentioned for other planets? Why???

 

I am a "Sanskrita Bhasha Kovida" and "Sanskrita Bhasha Visarada" and read

several Sanskrita kaavyas (I am not saying it out of pride, but to establish

my credentials before I offer an interpretation that may seem crazy to some).

IMHO, based on the kaavya maryaadaa and standard usage/expression practices in

Sanskrita poetic writing that I am familiar with, it is possible that vilagna

here refers to Surya lagna. After mentioning that Moon becomes ineffective when

with Sun, if the poet mentions the houses where other planets become ineffective

with respect to "this particular reference point", it can certainly imply Sun.

It does not have to be ascendant or hora lagna or ghati lagna or vighati lagna

as people may tend to think.

 

In verse 70, a reference was made to planets in the six houses after Sun and in

the six houses before Sun. So the previous context just before verse 72 also

supports the idea that verse 72 may be talking about planetary placements

w.r.t. Sun.

 

After a careful study of the verse and meditation over it, my conclusion is that

the verse implies that the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th houses are the houses

where Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn become ineffective with

respect to SUN taken as a reference point (i.e. Surya lagna). Of course, the

ineffective houses from SUN are being mentioned for all planets and that is why

Sun himself was left out of the list!

 

So Jupiter in the 5th from lagna does not become ineffective as the translation

of Subramanya Sastri may make one think. It is Jupiter in the 5th house from

Sun (where he is malefic as per ashtakavarga too).

 

Other scholars may disagree as mine is quite an unconventional interpretation of

this verse from "Jaataka Paarijaatam". But I have no interest in arguing about

the interpretation I have given. I shared my understanding only to help anybody

who cares for my views. You can take it or leave it!

 

May Jupiter's light shine on us,

Narasimha

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> ||Hare Rama Krsna||> > Dear Sanjay P, Namaskar> > Btw i didn’t mention,

as you know in the past i was assuming that vilagna referred to ‘vighatika

lagna’.> > > > Then later when reading Parasara’s chapter on

longevity, i saw the term; ‘hora-vi-lagna’ used. Hence i began

believing that this was a term to differentiate all vishesha lagnas. But when

you look closer at this is says; “lagnahoraavilagnaabhya.mâ€Â. This

could also mean ‘lagnahora’ and ‘vilagna’. > > Later

in the chapter on Rajya yoga, Parasara makes no use of the word

‘vi’ when referring to the bhava, hora and ghatika lagna.> > > >

With time i realized, when cross-checking dictums across classics, that i would

run into the word; vilagna vs lagna for the same dictum. Here Guruji came to the

rescue;> > He once showed me a small paragraph he wrote about vi-lagna in

particular. Here he mentioned that the word; ‘vi’ refers to an

object moving towards a target, like an arrow, or like the Sun moving towards

Sunset. So any lagna which does not follow this philosophy and is merely

circular and just repeats itself, is not considered as vi-lagna.> > Based on

this i consider the word ‘vilagna’ as a reference to lagna,

lagnapada and atmakaraka, or any lagna point which is used as reference

depending on the subject. This however also excludes the vishesha lagnas.> > >

> I’m sure Guruji would like to keep on to this for a future release, but

i thought it was relevant.> > Best wishes,> > ***> > Visti Larsen> > For

services and articles visit: > > <http://srigaruda.com> http://srigaruda.com

or <http://astrovisti.com> http://astrovisti.com> > ***> > _____ > >

sohamsa [sohamsa] On Behalf Of Visti

Larsen> 20 August 2005 15:17> sohamsa> RE:

question regarding dictum> > > > ||Hare Rama Krsna||> > Dear Sanjay

P, Namaskar> > I’m far from being the best in this area, but

isn’t something missing in the translation of the word;

“vilagnat-aste�> > Vilagnat means we should refer from the

vilagna, whilst aste (danta ‘s’) , is asta or setting/seventh

house. > > If this is some grammar or sandhi rule that i’m missing, then

please excuse me.> > Best wishes,> > ***> > Visti Larsen> > For services and

articles visit: > > <http://srigaruda.com> http://srigaruda.com or

<http://astrovisti.com> http://astrovisti.com> > ***> > _____ > >

sohamsa [sohamsa] On Behalf Of Sanjay

Prabhakaran> 19 August 2005 20:50> sohamsa> Subject:

Re: question regarding dictum> > > > || Om Gurave Namah ||> Namaste

Jyotishas,> Vaidyanatha Dixitar in Jataka parijata Chapter 1 says this> >

sabhAnurindhuH shashijashcaturthe guruH sute bhUmisutaH kutumbe |> bhR^iguH

sapatne ravijaH kalatre vilagnataste viphalA bhavanti || 72||> >

सभानà¥Âरिनà¥Âधà¥Âः

शशिजशà¥Âचतà¥Âरà¥Âथे

गà¥Âरà¥Âः सà¥Âते

भूमिसà¥Âतः

कà¥Âतà¥Âमà¥Âबे।>

भृगà¥Âः सपतà¥Âने

रविजः कलतà¥Âरे

विलगà¥Âनतसà¥Âते

विफला भवनà¥Âति॥

७२॥> > sabhÄÂnurindhuḥ Å›aÅ›ijaÅ›caturthe

guruḥ sute bhūmisutaḥ kutumbe |> bhṛguḥ sapatne

ravijaḥ kalatre vilagnataste viphalĠbhavanti || 72||> > Mercury in

4th, Jupiter in 5th, Mars in 2nd, Venus in 7th, Saturn in 7th > Becomes

Viphala.> Here it's interesting to note that Only Benefics in their Kaaraka

Bhava becomes Viphala (Fruitless)> > Another Point to note is word 'Vilagna' is

used, Narasimhaji once in a conversation said that ViLagna can mean all special

lagnas, As the prefic Vi is to indicate speciality.So, this will give another

important clue about using special lagna.> > Warm Regards> Sanjay P