The endless chain: Karma

Someone in one of my group asked me a question, what was the source of the Karma in our first birth, many astrologers will discard this question, will not answer it, but because the answer is thought-provoking and rational, I decided to answer it, but alas! I myself was not very sure of an answer, so I asked it to Chiraan Ji’s group, where he gave me an answer and a little more of study on the same topic, gave me the desired answer. My answer which is written below is a mixture of Shri Madhvacharya’s and Shri Raghavendra Tirtha’s Dvaita Philosophy and Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s Achintya Bheda Abheda Philosophy mixed with my own intelligence and understanding of the subject which makes liable for all the philosophical flaws present in the article.
The second astrological part of the article is completely my understanding, which is half taken by an understanding of classics and half of my own knowledge and view of the subject.

Source of the First Karma

Bhagavan Shri Mahavishnu is endowed with three kinds of Shakti’s known as Antaranga Shakti (internal/inner strength), Bahiranga Shakti (External/outer strength) and Tatastha Shakti (Neutral strength). [Jeeva Gosvami in his “Parmatma Sandarbha”]. Jeeva (we) are a part of Bhagavan’s Tatastha Shakti.

Bhagavan divides himself into three different swaroopa (forms), known as Karnodakshayi Vishnu (aggregate material nature), Garbhodakshayi Vishnu (individual universe) and Kshirodakshayi Vishnu (individual Jeeva). At the time of total annihilation (Samasti Pralaya), Jeeva goes to Karnodakshayi Vishnu, which enters into Samkarshana (who is in Chaturvyuh Paravoma), with the totality of Prakriti (nature) and Jeeva (beings) (Samasti Bahiranga and Tatastha Shakti), at the time of manifestation, Karnodakshayi Vishnu, manifest from Samkarshana along with complete material nature and Jeeva (beings).

To know more about Samkarshana, please refer my article on Chapter one and two of Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra, here.

Jeeva (being) has four types of bodies, Swaroopa Deha which is without any beginning or end. Linga Deha which have no beginning but end. Aniruddha Deha which have one beginning but multiple ends and Sthool Deha which have multiple beginning and multiple ends. (more description on these different Deha’s in a separate article).

Linga Deha has Moola Prakriti (basic instinct/nature), which stores Anadi Karma (Anadi means without beginning, Hence Karma is without beginning, it is a bit difficult to understand, but will try to make it understandable). this Anadi Karma is in Linga Deha but not in the above Swaroopa Deha. Jeeva (being) comes in this Shristi (Creation/world) with Anadi Karma. Like Pandava’s going to exile is not their Past Life Karma but Anadi Karma.

I will here give you my understanding of Anadi Karma, the first thing to be remembered is that there have been multiple lifetimes, a creation starts souls come, do their Karma, go to heaven or hell or get their rewards or punishment then come back to earth to repay their Karma, and the chain goes on. In the end at the time of annihilation, all Atma’s go-to Kshirodakshayi Vishnu, who in turns enters into Samkarshana, there all souls lives inside Shri Mahavishnu, together with their separate identities, then new creation occurs and then souls are again left in this world to participate in the chain and repay their Karma. Vishnu manifests his Tatastha Shakti at the dawn and dusk of each creation to take souls with him or to leave souls into this world.

Shri B. V. Tripurari says – The world cycle, its souls and the Karma that binds them together are all Anadi. There is no first world cycle. The infinite number of individual souls under the influence of Karma remain within Mahavishnu in Shushupti or deep-sleep with their countless experience. At this time, their Karma from the previous world cycle, which materially distinguishes them from one another is still present but in a dormant condition.

Now leaving this aside, we go on to discuss on Karma and first birth once again.
First birth have Karma embedded in Jeeva’s Linga Deha like the skin is on Banana, this Samsara (world), Janma (birth), Mrityu (Death) is all about peeling the skin off to enjoy Swaroop Sukha (the eternal enjoyment of the soul). Lord is merciful, he puts us in this grind of birth and death to peel off the Linga Deha, which have Karma in it. The chain of events is due to Anadi Karma, in response to that what a Jeeva does owing to his nature becomes Sanchita Karma. (remember this, my further understanding is based on this).

Jeeva is not independent, it is utterly dependent on Paramatma (Shri Mahavishnu), Jeeva cannot say I will not participate if Parmatma decides to participate Jeeva have to. Status of Jeeva before Shrtisti (creation) is Ashrayuja Avastha (Deep Slumber, explained earlier).

Each soul has his Swaroopa as Bird, Snake, Plant or Human. According to Swaroopa Jeeva takes his first birth and then gradually birth by birth advances to human life where he has much free-will (as compared to animals and trees), where he participates in Karma which decides his path for next births.

Anadi is beginningless, nobody created this, it exists as the skin on the soul. Sattva/Rajas/Tamas lying naturally as the skin on Jeevaswaroopa in the form of Linga Deha, so whichever portion Hari decides to peel those Sattvarajastamas combination and its anti is created in Aniruddha Deha and this forms first birth and Karma. All Deha’s are made of Sattva, Rajas and Tamas Guna in Moola Prakriti (basic nature), the Sthoola Deha (last one in the hierarchy) is Pancha Bhoota Maya (made of/consisting of five elements).

Aniruddha Deha determines the extent to which the soul will do Sadhana (Spiritual penance) in one Kalpa (a time division, reference later). For example, Narada Muni was a Shudra (low born) in previous Kalpa, doing service to Saptarishi (Seven divine sages of Hinduism, which changes for every Kalpa) of that Kalpa, in the next Kalpa he becomes Brahmana Narada, who is greater than Saptarishi, those Saptarishi were of Saptarishi eligibility in that Kalpa due to their Aniruddha Deha, later they were given better role (because their Karma have to be good as Saptarishi’s) as per their Swaroopa Yogyata.

Now concluding the topic, as per my understanding, former five Paragraph’s were Shri Chiraan Ji’s answer to my query.
I understand it as – Atma is a part of Paramatma, Paramatma Shri Mahavishnu is endowed with all three Guna’s (Sattva, Rajas and Tamas), he although having three Guna’s in himself associates himself with these different Guna’s to make different things or execute different things. But he is not affected by these three Gunas.
Jeeva, when he comes into this world, as a choice of his free-will, interacts with this world with one of the Guna, as he is Jeeva and not Parmatma, he interacts with this world having a Guna and gets stuck with the Guna not able to differentiate himself from outcome/results of those Guna’s having limited powers. That first interaction, make a chain of Karma that then becomes never-ending, but if one sincerely remembers the supreme godhead, he gets a glimpse of his Shakti (have the power to detach himself from Guna) and gets a chance to go above this endless chain of Karma (but that doesn’t happen in one birth but in a series of many births).

Rijya (before creation) and Srijya (after creation). Before Jeeva is brought into the body, there cannot be any physical action. One the other hand the mental action or the Swaroopa Kriya (deciding to interact with world leaving the company or god – Rajasic Karma), [Birth happens because of Rajas, a very important tool in rectification] has to be there since the Swaroopa is there. This is not same as the action done by the mind after it is brought to creation.

quoting some paragraphs from Shrila B. R. Shridhara Maharaj before I conclude this portion of the article.
Free will is the first act of coming to this land of exploitation, it is by free choice Svabhava (nature), it is already there in Jeeva, some want to dominate (Rajas), that is added to their freewill. The origin is the vulnerability of free thinker because it is very meagre, limiter freedom/free-will.
Maya is the outcome of the Freewill, No misuse of Freewill, no world. Consciousness means endowed with freedom, but Jeeva is only a particle of consciousness, so his freedom is also a particle (As it happens with intoxication, first you try it out of fun then it becomes a habit).
The first awakening of freedom (free-will) is from the non-specified position when the Jeeva is all jumbled together
न कर्तत्वं न कर्माणि लोकस्य सृजति प्रभुः! न कर्मफलसंयोगं स्वभावस्तु प्रवर्तते!! (श्रीमद्भगवदगीता 5.14)
The internal potency is already going on smoothly, eternally in Swaroopshakti, Vaikuntha and Goloka (heavens related to Shri Krishna), and the marginal potency is the mother of so many Jeeva that come here by the wrong exercise of their freedom.
The participation of the soul in this material world has been called Anadi because it affects before he enters the factor of time and space, but one can see that is limited, however long it may seem to the victim of Maya, still, it is a limited thing (these chain of live’s)
The Jeeva’s connection with this Maayika (full of Maya/Created to Maya) world is called Anadi, because after he enters into this phenomenal world, then he comes within the factor of time and space. The time calculation of the world only begins when we enter the Maayika (created by Maya) ego and we come within the form of thought (time, space, person) these are forms of thought which come from ego.

वैषम्यनैधृन्ये न, सापेक्षत्वात्, तथा हि दर्शयति (ब्रह्मसूत्र 2.1.34)
Partiality and cruelty cannot (be attributed to Brahman/Parmatma) on account of its taking into consideration (other reasons in the matter), because (the scripture) declares (it to be) so.
न कर्मविभागादिति चेत्, न अनादित्वात (ब्रह्मसूत्र 2.1.35)
If it is said (that is) not (possible) for want of any distinction in work (before creation), (we say) no, because of (the world) being without a beginning.
उपपध्यते चाप्युपलभ्यते च (ब्रह्मसूत्र 2.1.36)
And (that the world is without a beginning) is reasonable and is also seen (from the scriptures).
सर्वधर्मोपपत्तेश्च् (ब्रह्मसूत्र 2.1.37)
And because of all attributes (required for the creation of the world) are possible (only in Brahman, it is the cause of the world).

I think, I have been clear enough in quoting and writing my views on the topic of Karma and birth, if not, please feel free to comment. Having known all this, we as astrologers should have some major questions now related to Guna, Karma, Panchamahabhoota (five elements) and time span and how we can see that in a chart, now I wish to deal with the same.

Firstly, I should explain the simplest of them all, a word was used earlier “Kalpa” what is a Kalpa? I am just explaining it in short, to explain Vedic time measure a separate article is needed.
1 Second = 2.5 Vipala; 1 Minute = 2.5 Pala; 1 Hour = 2.5 Ghati
1 Pala = 24 Second; 1 Ghati = 24 Minutes/60 Pala; 1 Pala = 60 Vipala.
1 Human hour = 10 Second of Gods; 6 Human Hours = 1 Minute of Gods; 1 Human Day = 4 Minutes of Gods; 1 Human fortnight (15 days and nights) = 1 Hour of Gods; 1 Human year = 1 Day and Night of Gods; 360 Days and nights of Gods/360 Human Years = 1 Year of Gods (one-third is Vimshottari Dasha, the maximum human span); 12,000 Years of Gods = One Chaturyuga (In Hinduism there are four Yuga’s for Satya Yuga – 17,28,000 Years, Treta Yuga – 12,96,000 Years, Dwapara Yuga – 8,64,000 Years and Kali Yuga – 4,32,000 Years, we are currently in Kaliyuga, some people differ and opine that we are now passed Kaliyuga and in Satyayuga).
71 Chaturyugas = 1 Manvantara (lifespan of one Manu); 14 Manvantara = 1 Kalpa (1 Day of Brahma);

Types of Karma: Astrological

स्वर्गाद्यनुभवक्षीणशिष्टप्राचीनकर्मणाम! भोगाय जननं नृणां मोहभाजां मुहुर्मुहुः!! 1.33 (प्रश्नमार्ग)
A man is born into this world to enjoy or suffer the consequence of his deeds from his past birth. A portion of this he reaps in heaven or hell but for the remnant, he has to take new birth.
अत्र तु द्विविधं कर्म प्रक्कर्म निजयत्नतः! अन्यलस्यानुभवोमुत्र भुक्त्वेहाद्यस्य संक्षयः!! 1.34 (प्रश्नमार्ग)
There are two kinds of Karma, Sanchita and Prarabdha. The effects of Sanchita will be exhausted in heaven or hell. The result of the Prarabdha Karma will be lessened only by experiencing them (I have a difference of opinion here, see my comments below the Shloka’s).
स्वकर्म भोक्तुं जायन्ते प्रायेनैव हि जन्तवः! क्षीणे कर्मणि चान्यत्र पुनर्गच्छन्ति देहिनः!! 1.35 (प्रश्नमार्ग)
The soul takes fresh births for reaping the fruits of previous lives. This cycle of birth goes on until the attainment of Moksha.
यदुपचितमन्यजन्मनि शुभाशुभं तस्य कर्मणः पन्क्तिं! व्यञ्जयति शस्त्रमेतत्तमसि द्रव्याणि दीप इव!! 1.36 (प्रश्नमार्ग)
पूर्वजन्मार्जितं कर्म शुभं वा यादि वाशुभम्! तस्य पन्क्तिं ग्रहाः सर्वे सूच्यन्तिः जन्मनि!! 1.37 (प्रश्नमार्ग)
Just as a lamp illuminates objects in darkness, astrology reveals to us the effects of our previous Karma, good or bad. All the planets indicate clearly whether we are enjoying or suffering now as a result of our actions in our previous birth.
प्राग्जन्माजिर्तपुण्याधप्राबल्योद्रेकहेतुतः! प्रारब्धसंज्ञि मनुष्यजातौ जातकचिन्तनम्!! 1.39 (प्रश्नमार्ग)
The balance of good or bad Katma brought forward from previous birth is Prarabdha, and it is the reading of this that goes under the name of Jataka or Natal Astrology
कस्य पन्क्तिरिति ज्ञातुमिदानीं पूर्वकर्मणाम! इहार्जितं च विज्ञातुं कर्म प्रश्नो विधीयते!! 1.41 (प्रश्नमार्ग)
Prashna (Horary Astrology) reveals to us whether a man reaps the fruits of his deeds in his previous births or the fruits of his actions in this birth.

As per my understanding, Karma is of three types – Sanchita, Prarabdha and Kriyamaan Karma which is further divided into three categories of Dridha Karma, Adridha Karma and Dridha-Adridha Karma.
Sanchita Karma is all our Karma done birth over birth in different lifetimes, which is kept under record. Prarabdha Karma is that set of Sanchita Karma which we are destined to face/reap in this lifetime (you cannot expect to face all your Karma’s done over multiple births in a single lifetime as human lifespan is limited). Kriyamaan Karma is those Karma which we did in this life, as a result of our meagre free-will and whose result will either be faced in this lifetime itself or will be kept under Sanchita Karma to be faced/repaid in another lifetime.
I am also of the opinion, that in heaven or hell we don’t reap results of our Karma, we just get punishment or reward for that Karma, to reap the results we have to come to the world again. For example, If someone beats someone, then he going to jail is only punishment (going to hell) not his reaping or Karma, to reap the Karma he has to come out of jail and get beaten by someone else (this is coming to life again to repay Karma).
There is no way to know about our Sanchita Karma, but we can know if a Karma (the result being faced) is Prarabdha or Kriyamaan (which can be both good as well as bad), how can we know that, is told in these Shlokas of Prashna Marga –

प्राग्जन्मानि कृतानां च कृतानां चेह कर्मणाम! विभागोपि कथं ज्ञेयं इति चेत्सोपि कथ्यते!! 1.42
How can we distinguish whether it is the result of our previous Karma or present Karma that is yielding its result now?
यदा जातकतः प्रश्नो गुणदोषैविर्भिद्यते! तदा शुभाशुभं विद्यात् कर्मभेदौरिहाजिर्तेः!! 1.43
If the horoscope has beneficial planetary patterns and the Prashna chart malefic ones, then it is to be understood that the native is experiencing the fruits of evil Karma done in this birth. If vice-versa, then also the native is experiencing the effects of good Karma done in this birth.
यदानुसरति प्रश्नो जातकं ग्रहभादिभिः! तदा प्राक्कर्मपाकः स्यादित्याध्यूह्यं हि धीमता इति!! 1.44
If the planetary patterns in the horoscope as well as in the Prashna chart are similar, then a cleaver astrologer should divine that the native is experiencing the fruits of his past Karma only.

Having known about Sanchita, Prarabdha and Kriyamana Karma, now we shall learn about intensity of Karma which is again divided into three types, which are Dridha Karma (fixed Karma), Adridha Karma (non-fixed Karma) and Dridha-Adridha Karma (mixed Karma).
Dridha Karma which is fixed in nature, cannot be altered and have to be suffered, there is no escape for that type of Karma. Adridha Karma is not fixed, it is a light natured Karma whose results can be easily changed (both good and bad results can be changed for good or bad) through mental conditioning, for example, someone felling happy since morning can be turned into a sad person if he is given a company of a sadist. Dridha-Adridha Karma is between these two extremities of Karma, it is not so hard that it cannot be changed but neither that easy that it can be changed easily, this is the place where astrological remedies are needed and work most fantastically.
Having said this, I will give here a Shloka from Phaladeepika (which according to my understanding of my Parampara should answer) on how to find Dridha Karma from a horoscope.

भवाधीशे च भावे सति बलरहिते च ग्रहे कारकाख्ये पापान्तःस्थे च पापैररिभिरपि समेतेक्षिते नान्यखेटैः!
पापैस्तदबन्धुमृत्युव्ययभवनगतैस्तत्रिकोन्स्थितैर्वा वाच्या तद्भावहानि स्फुटमिह भवति द्वित्रिसंवादभावात!! (फलदीपिका, पञ्चदश अध्याय – भावचिन्ता, षष्ठ श्लोकः)
A Bhava suffers annihilation when the Bhava itself, its lord and its Karaka are devoid of strength and are hemmed in between malefics, or are associated with or aspected by malefic and inimical planets and not by others; of if the 4th, 8th and the 12th houses or the 5th and 9th houses from them is occupied by malefics. This will be all the more clear and evident when any two or three of these conditions specified above is synchronised.

According to my understanding of this Shloka (as taught to me in Parampara), if same houses from two or three factors (say Moon and Lagna or Moon and Sun or Sun and Lagna or from all three of them) are afflicted in the (almost) same way then it is a Dridha Karma if only one reference (house from only one of the reference point) is heavily afflicted then it is Dridha-Adridha Karma otherwise it is Adridha Karma and can be easily remedied.

Gunatrayavibhaga: Three types of Guna’s

मम योनिमहद्ब्रह्म तस्मिन्गर्भ दधाम्यहम्! संभवः सर्वभूतानां ततो भवति भारत!! 14.3 (गीता)
Oh, Arjuna, this infinite Prakriti (nature/Maya) is the womb in which I sow the seed of creation, and from this impregnation, all beings are born.
सर्वयोनिषु कौन्तेय मूर्तयः संभवन्ति याः! तासां ब्रह्म महध्योनिरहं बीजप्रदः पिता!! 14.4 (गीता)
Oh, Arjuna, Gods, Pitru’s (ancestors), humans etc. beings, for all of them this Prakriti is like a mother to all of them, and I am their impregnating father.
सत्त्वं रजस्तम इति गुणाः प्रकृतिसंभवाः! निबध्नन्ति महाबाहो देहे देहिनमव्ययं!! 14.5 (गीता)
Oh, Arjuna, Sattva, Raja and Tama these three Guna’s gets their birth from Prakriti and they bind the soul.
तत्र सत्त्वं निर्मलत्वात्प्रकाशकमनामयम! सुखसङ्गेन बध्नाति ज्ञानसङ्गेन चानघ्!! 14.6 (गीता)
Oh, sinless Arjuna, being pure and clean in all those Guna’s, Sattvaguna binds soul in happiness and love of knowledge.
रजो रागात्मकं विद्धि तृष्णासङ्ग्समुद्भवं! तन्निबध्नाति कौन्तेय कर्मसङ्गेन देहिनम्!! 14.7 (गीता)
Rajoguna is born of affection, craving and attachment, it binds the soul through the attachment in Karma (that I can do this to change my condition etc.).
तमस्त्वज्ञानजं विद्धि मोहनं सर्वदेहिनाम! प्रमादालस्यनिद्राभिस्तन्निबद्धनाति भारत!! 14.8 (गीता)
Tamoguna is born of ignorance and causes confusion to every being, know this, it binds the soul through Pleasure, laziness and sleep.

Although complete chapter 14 of Shrimad Bhagwad Geeta explains three types of Karma, I have only selected a few verses keeping in mind the size of the article, readers are advised to carefully read this chapter from Shrimad Bhagwad Geeta.
To just give a glimpse of how this Guna division is to be used in Jyotisha/Astrology, I am giving below a translation (with added commentary where needed) of Chapter 78 of Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra (Sitaram Jha edition).

अथो गुणवशेनाहं कथयामि फलं द्विज! सत्त्वग्रहोदये जातो भवेत् सत्त्वाधिकः सुधीः!! 78.1
Now, oh twice-born (Brahmana), I am going to tell you results according to Gunas. If Sattva Planets rise (in Lagna/at birth-time) then the person has more Sattva Guna.
रजःखेटोदये विज्ञो रजोगुनसमन्वितः! तमःखेटोदये मूर्खो भवेज्जातस्त्मोअधिकः!! 78.2
If Rajas planets rise then the person has Rajas Guna if Tamas planets then the person is an idiot having much of Tamo Guna (in his nature)
गुणसाम्ययुतो जातो गुणसाम्यखगोदये! एवं चतुर्विधा विप्र जायन्ते जन्तवो भुवि!! 78.3
Gunas are mixed if planets rising are of mixed Guna (in that too take the strongest planet as giving the most dominant Guna), in this world oh, Brahmana there are these four kinds of people (Sattva Guni, Rajas Guni, Tamo Guni and Mixed Guni/Guna).
उत्तमो मध्यमो नीच उदासीन इति क्रमात्! तेषां गुनानहं वक्ष्ये नारदादि प्रभाषितान!! 78.4
Best, middling, lowest and indifferent these three kinds of people (are there continuing from the previous Shloka), I am telling their Gunas (qualities) as told by sages such as Narada.

Before we go further, I am quoting 7th Shloka from 2nd Chapter of Brihat Jataka to clarify Guna of planets and their Caste (which have a secondary influence over their Gunas).
विप्रादितः शुक्रगुरु कुजार्कौ शशि बुधस्चेत्यसितोंअत्यजानाम्! चन्द्रार्कजीवा ज्ञसितौ कुजार्की यथाक्रमं सत्त्वरजस्तमांसि!! (बृहज्जातकं, द्वितियोध्याये -ग्रहभेदाध्यायो, सप्तम श्लोकः)
Venus and Jupiter are the lords of Brahmana’s, Mars and Sun are the lords of Kshatriya’s, The Moon of the Vaishyas and Mercury of the Sudra’s. Saturn is the lowest cast person (Chandala, Magadha’s and Nisadas).
The Sun, the Moon and Jupiter represent the Sattva, Mercury and Venus represent Rajas, Mars and Saturn represent Tamas.
Now mixing the two lists, it should come to our mind that Sun represents Sattva Guna and is Kshatriya hence his Sattva is mixed is Rajas (Rajas of protection), whereas Moon also being Sattva is also Vaishya (businessmen), hence his Sattva is mixed with Rajas also but that of desire to have more and more of anything. Mars being of Tamas Guna is a Kshatriya hence his nature is of ignorance and he can kill anyone at the order of the king, which is not with Sun, if it is not right to kill, Sun will refrain from killing having Sattva Guna in himself. Mercury being a Shudra and of Rajas, guna tells us that his Rajas is of exploitation, as farmer exploits lands for food (desired grains). Jupiter having Sattva and being Brahmana have pure Sattva with only attachment and desire of knowledge and sometimes of ego (of knowledge as well. Venus being a Brahmana having Rajas Guna indicates a Brahmana who is very keen on having knowledge, also wants to earn from that knowledge and have the desire for more and more knowledge for which he can also steal books or hide them. Saturn being an outcast and a Tamas planet indicates that the Tamas of Saturn is of ignorance (which sometimes is a virtue).
This is the depth of Brihat Jataka, you see how cleverly Varahamihira clubs two different attributes of planets together in a Shloka because that is to be understood together, this depth is found in someone only when they have learnt Brihat Jataka from tradition.
The strongest planet influencing Lagna and Moon or either Rashi or Navansha should decide a person’s Guna (my opinion, Brihat Parashara only takes the planet rising, which means the planet in Lagna).
I am also of the opinion that Uttama, Madhyama, Adhama and Udasina (best, middling, lowest and indifferent) person can be in any Guna and to decide that one should resort to exaltation (Uttama), friendly sign (Madhyama), debilitation (Neecha) and exalted in Rashi and debilitated in Navansha etc (Udasina). However, for this article let me not write more about my opinion, maybe in some other article.

शमो दमस्तपः शौचं क्षान्तिरार्जवमेव च! अलोभः सत्यवादित्वं जने सत्त्वाधिके गुणाः!! 78.5
Control over senses and mind, austerities, doing his fundamental duties such as worship etc. forgiveness, simplicity, truthfulness and lack of greed (satisfaction with what one have) are the Guna’s of Uttama (best) kind of people, born of Sattva Guna.
सौर्यं तेजो धृतिदार्क्ष्यं युद्धे चाप्यपालयानम! साधूनां रक्षणं चेति गुणा ज्ञेया रजोअधिके!! 78.6
Valour, majesty, patience, cleverness, and strength to not to take a back step in war and to save good men (who are either unable to save them), are the qualities of middling (Madhayama) people, born of Rajas Guna
लोभस्चसत्यवादित्वं जाड्यमालस्यमेव च! सेवाकर्मपटुतवस्च गुणा एते तमोअधिके!! 78.7
Greed, telling lies, foolishness, laziness and ingenuity in serving others are the qualities of lowest (Adhama people), born of Tamas Guna.
कृषिकर्मणि वाणिज्ये पटुत्वं पशुपालने! सत्यासत्यप्रभाषित्वं गुणसाम्ये गुणा इमे!! 78.8
Farming related work, business, ingenuity in saving/caring of animals, and speaking truth and lies (I disagree here) are the qualities of indifferent (Udasina) people, born of a mixture of Gunas.

एतैश्च लक्षणैलक्ष्य उत्तमो मध्यमोअधमः! उदसीनस्च विप्रेन्द्र तं तत्कर्मणि योजयेत!! 78.9
Oh, lord of Brahmins, according to symptoms of a person, one should find his Lakshana of Best, Middling, Lowest or Indifferent kind, (in astrology it is based on Dasha, as per Dasha one gets his Lakshana’s – this is how you guess one’s Dasha without even looking at his chart), and according to his Lakshana (qualities) works should to attributed to men.
द्वाभ्यामेकोअधिको यश्च तस्याधिक्यं निगध्यते! अन्यथा गुणसाम्यं च विज्ञेयं द्विजसत्तम!! 78.10
In Sattva, Rajas and Tamas Gunas any Guna which is more powerful (dominant) than other’s, his influence should be understood, otherwise one should know someone of mixed Guna (very unstable life, very much based on Dasha, Gunasamya – mixed guna, not good to have, at-least astrologically).

सेव्य-सेवकयोरेवं कन्यका-वरयोरपि! गुणैः सदृश्ययोरेव प्रीतिर्भवति निश्चला!! 78.11
If between employee and employer, or between husband and wife if the same Gunas are dominant then love/affection is pure (important for match-making).
उदासीनोअधमस्यैव-मुदासीनस्य मध्यमः! मध्यमस्योत्त्मो विप्र प्रभवत्याश्रयो मुदे!! 78.12
Oh, Brahmana, if in the above four types, Adhama (lowest) is matched to Udasina (indifferent), Udasina (indifferent) to Madhyama (middling), or Madhyama (middling) is matched to Uttama (best), then also there is mutual love and happiness.
अतोअवरा वरात कन्या सेव्यतः सेवकोअवरः! गुणैस्ततः सुखोत्पत्तिरन्यथा हानिरेव हि!! 78.13
For this reason, if the husband is of higher Guna and wife of lower Guna or employer is of higher Guna and employee is of low Guna, in that scenario, there are mutual love and happiness, otherwise, there is always loss.

वीर्यं क्षेत्रं प्रसूतेश्च समयः सङ्ग्तिस्तथा! उत्तमादिगुणे हेतुबलवानुत्तरोत्तरं!! 78.14
Sperm and womb, birth-time and association with people give birth to Uttama etc. Gunas, in all these (influences) fortune/god’s will (known from horoscope, birth-time) is the strongest.
अतः प्रसूतिकालस्य सदृष्यो जातके गुणः! जायते तं परीक्ष्यैव फलं वाच्यं विचक्षणैः!! 78.15
For this reason, the Gunas strong at birth, the same Gunas are seen in person, hence, predictions are to be done according to analysis of birth-time (horoscope).

कालः सृजति भूतानि पात्यथो संहरत्यपि! ईश्वरः सर्वलोकानामव्ययो भगवान विभुः!! 78.16
Time creates elements and destroys it, God presides over every Loka (world) and he does it (creates and destroys elements).
तत्च्छक्तिः प्रकृतिः प्रोक्ता मुनिभिस्त्रिगुणात्मिका! तथा विभक्तोअव्यक्तोअपि व्यक्तो भवति देहिनाम्!! 78.17
From his strength only, these three Gunas come into Prakriti (nature), and from the division (segregation) of those (Gunas) god who is otherwise not known come to be known (God can’t be seen, but his nature can be identified through these Gunas – especially in meditation).
चतुर्धाअवयवास्तस्य स्वगुणैश्च चतुर्विधः! जायन्ते ह्युत्तमो मध्य उदासीनोअधमः क्रमात्!! 78.18
His (Gods) body parts are also divided into four (for these Gunas), and these Gunas also go (after death/submerges) into best, the middling, indifferent and lowest order of his body parts (best in upper part, middling in upper middle part, indifferent in lower-middle part and lowest in lower body parts).
उत्तमे तुत्तमो जन्तुर्मध्ये च मध्यमः! उदासीने ह्युदासीनो जायते चाधमेअधमः!! 78.19
In (from the) best part of God, best Jantu (beings) are born, from middle parts, middle natured beings are born, from indifferent organs beings of indifferent nature are born and from lowest organs beings of lowest nature are born.
उत्तमाङ्गं सिरस्तस्य मध्यमाङ्ग्मुरःस्थलं! जङ्घाद्वयंमुदासीनमधमं पदमुच्यते!! 78.20
God’s best part is his head, middle parts are both of his hands with chest, indifferent parts are both of his thighs and lowest part are his both legs. (This gives us an interesting astrological clue, you remember what I told earlier about Uttama, Madhyama and Adhama planets based on exaltation etc. Taking the body parts astrology, we can divide the zodiac into four parts from Lagna to 3rd house, 4th to 6th house, 7th to 9th house and 10th to 12th house and we can then make a distinction about where which planets, of which nature gives good influence or where they make most of their impact on Guna of the person).
एवं गुणवशादेव कालभेदः प्रजायते! जातिभेदस्तु तद्भेदाज्जायतेअत्र चराचरे!! 78.21
Like this, according to the difference in time and Guna comes a difference in beings.
एवं भगवता सृष्टं विभुना स्वगुणैः समम! चतुर्विधेन कालेन जगदेतच्चतुर्विधं!! 78.22
Like this, God endowed with four differences (according to his Gunas) have made this world with four differentiation (of four kinds of Gunas).

Panchamahabhootaphala: Results of five elements

Following Shloka’s are from Brahma Sutra’s which teaches us about the origin of Pancha Maha Bhoota’s

न वियत्, अश्रुते!! 2.3.1
Akasa (is) not (created), (as it is) not so stated by the Sruti.
एतेन मातरिश्वा व्याख्यातः!! 2.3.8
By this (the foregoing explanation about) Akasa (the fact of) air (also being an effect) is explained.
तेजोअतः तथा ह्याह्!! 2.3.10
Fire (is produced) from this (air), so verily says (the Sruti)
आपः!! 2.3.11
Water (is produced from fire)
पृथ्वी, अधिकाररूपशब्दान्तरेभ्यः!! 2.3.12
Earth (is meant by the word “Anna”) because of the subject matter, colour and other Sruti texts.
तदभिध्यानादेव तु तल्लिङ्गात सः!! 2.3.13
But because of his reflecting only (are the subsequent elements created from the previous element in the order of creation, so) he (the supreme lord is the creator of air etc.). (We know this) from his indicatory marks.
विपर्येन तु क्रमोअतः उपपद्यते च!! 2.3.14
(At Pralaya the elements are) indeed (withdrawn into Brahman) in the reverse order from that (of creation), and this is reasonable.

This is very important knowledge, there is something in astrology known as Tattva-rectification, which is used to rectify birth time, it reasons that men can only be born in Vayu (air) tattva because it is the air that pushes the child. As we will learn further, we will get to know that Venus and Mercury are Rajasic planets which is important for birth (remember my comment earlier). Time is a cycle inside the cycle, so, we can make a list of Tattva’s that rise per day and can judge/rectify birth-time accordingly. Maybe in some other article, I will deal with this topic.

Produced below is chapter 77 of Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra, Sitaram Jha edition which deals about Pancha Maha Bhoota and it’s results.

अथ पञ्चमहाभूतच्छायाज्ञानं वदामि ते! ज्ञायते येन खेटानां वर्तमानदशा बुधैः!! 77.1
Now I am going to tell you results of the shadow of Pancha Mahabhoota (five elements), knowledge of which tells about current Dasha of the person (it is like Dasha rectification, I have used it multiple times to rectify/decide which Dasha to use).
शिखीभूखाम्बुवातानामधिपा मङ्गलादयः! तत्तद्वलवशाज ज्ञेयं तत्तदभूतभवं फलम!! 77.2
Agni (fire), Bhoomi (earth), Akash (ether), Jala (water) and Vayu (are) are lorded by Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn respectively. Whichever planet is strong, the result of his Bhoota (element) is to be understood.

सबले मङ्गले वह्निस्वभावो जायेत नरः! बुधे महिस्वभावः स्यादाकाशप्रकृतिगुरौ!! 77.3
If Mars is strong (at birth-time), then a person is of nature of fire, if Mercury (is strong at birth) then of the nature of earth, Jupiter gives the nature of ether. (Here the strongest planet in the chart is to be used, irrespective of his influence over ascendant, to decide element of which planet is prominent in the chart).
शुक्रे जलस्वभावश्च मारुतप्रकृति शनौ! मिश्रैमिश्रस्वभावश्च विज्ञेयो द्विजसत्तम!! 77.4
Venus is of nature of water and Saturn is of nature of air. If many planets of different nature are strong (equally) at the birth time then the person is also of mixed nature.
सूर्ये वह्निस्वभावस्च जलप्रकृतिको विधौ! स्वदशायां ग्रहाच्छयां व्यञ्जयन्ती स्वभूतजाम्!! 77.5
Sun is also of the nature of fire and Moon of the nature of water. Every planet in his Dasha produces effects related to his Bhoota (element) and shadow of his element.

क्षुदातपस्चपलः शूरः कृशः प्राज्ञोअतिभक्षणः! तीक्ष्णो गौरतनुर्मानि वह्निप्रकृतिको नरः!! 77.6
Hungry, agile, valourous, of slim figure, learned, voracious eater, sharp, white in complexion and egoistic is a man under the influence (Prakriti) of Agni (Fire) element.
कर्पूरोत्पलगान्धाढ्यो भोगी स्थिरसुखी बली! क्षमावान सिंहनादश्च महिप्रकृतिको नरः!! 77.7
Smelling like camphor and lotus, voluptuous, endowed with fixed happiness (a constant source of happiness), powerful, forgiving and words like a lion (authoritative) is a man under the influence of Earth element.
शब्दार्थवित सुनीतिज्ञो प्रगल्भो ज्ञानसंयुतः! विवृतास्योअतिदीर्घश्च व्योमप्रकृतिसंभवः!! 77.8
One who knows the meaning of words (who knows hidden agenda behind any statement), well versed in policy (related to anything), talented, learned, with uncovered (large) face and a tall physique is a man of ether element.
कान्तिमान भारवाहि च प्रियवाक् पृथ्वीपति! बहुमित्रो मृदुविद्वान् जलप्रकृतिसंभवः!! 78.9
Full of facial glow, able to carry our heavy loads (responsibilities), well-spoken, kind, having many friends and learned is a man under influence of water element.
वायुतत्त्वाधिको दाता क्रोधी गौरोअटनप्रियः! भूपतिस्च दुराधर्षः कृशाङ्गो जायते जनः!! 78.10
Donor, angry, fair-complexioned, travelling from one place to another, win over his enemies, king with thin body is a man under influence of air element.
I am of the opinion that these results are for planets of respective elements being strong at birth-time.

स्वर्णदीप्तिः शुभा दृष्टिः सर्वकार्यर्थसिद्धिता! विजयो धनलाभश्च वह्निभार्यां प्रजायते!! 78.11
Glowing like gold, happiness (beneficence) in gaze (sight), the accomplishment of every undertaking, win over enemies and gain of wealth is a result of the shadow of fire.
इष्टगन्धः शरीरे स्यात् सुस्निग्धनखदन्तता! धर्मार्थशुखलाभश्च भुमिच्छाया यदा भवेत्!! 78.12
Natural fragrance in body, clear (white) nails and teeth, and gain of Dharma (righteous deed), wealth and happiness is a result of the shadow of the earth.
स्वच्छा गगनजा छाया वाक्पटुत्वप्रदा भवेत्! सुशब्दश्रवणोद्भूतं सुखं तत्र प्रजायते!! 78.13
Cleaver in speech, and happiness from hearing of good-words (which others speak of him) and songs (affluent in life, hence enjoys) is a result of the shadow of ether.
मृदुता स्वस्थता देहे जलच्छाया यदा भवेत्! तदाअभिस्टरसस्वादसुखं भवति देहिनः!! 78.14
Tenderness in the body, the gain of health and gain of happiness from tasty food (affluence) is a result of the shadow of water.
मालिन्यं मूढता दैन्यं रोगाश्च पवनोद्भवाः! तदा च शोकसंतापौ वायुच्छाया यदा भवेत्!! 78.15
Dirtiness in the body, foolishness, penury, diseases related to airy troubles and mourning and anger are the results of the shadow of the airy element.

एवं फलं बुधैर्ग्येयं सबलेषु कुजादिषु! निर्बलेषु तथा तेषु व्यक्तव्यं व्यत्ययाद द्विज!! 78.16
Oh, Dvija, these results of elements are only to be told when planets (giving those elements) are strong, if they are weak then results are also weakened accordingly (like Mars being weak in his Dasha only a few works gets accomplished, not all, in this way this becomes also an important principle for Dasha).
नीचशत्रुभगैश्चापि विपरीतं फलं वदेत्! फलाप्तिरबलैः खेटैः स्वप्नचिन्तासु जायते!! 78.17
If planets are debilitated, enemy sign or in malefic houses then the opposite result is to be understood (Mars in 8th house, debilitated, no work is accomplished in his Dasha), and result of those planets who are weak there results comes in dreams only, (again important Dasha principle).
तद्दुस्टफलशान्त्यर्थमपि चाज्ञातजन्मनाम! फलपकन्त्या दशा ज्ञेया वर्तमाना नभःसदाम्!! 78.18
For those whose birth-time is unknown, using the above results, one should understand (about) their Dasha and then should advise donation etc. accordingly to mitigate evil effects.

In this article, my aim was to answer about the source of the first Karma, but while doing so, I also wanted to make the concept very clear in mind of readers and for that reason, I have taken multiple references to justify/explain my answer, because the answer contains reference to multiple other things such as Karma, Guna and Bhoota’s, it was my idea to explain all these factors in the article itself so that it does not only serve as a philosophical article but also serves as an astrological article. I did that with the best of my capability, but many things are left to be written, which primarily is an example of how we can use five elements to rectify a birth time, how we can use Gunas to decide nature of an individual and most importantly how can we predict using these Gunas about how will a person react in a certain circumstances which help us in predictions, I always tell my students, once you catch how a person will behave in a certain circumstances it is very easy to predict what he will do which also helps in watching someone’s life like a film (as it happens in astrology, always), other than this I also wish to have some examples on past-life and how it can be analysed through horoscopes, maybe for some other day in some other article.

Shri Ramakrishna Arpanamastu