Shadbala Six Sources of Planetary Strength
Share this post
How strong is a planet in your chart? Exalted, own sign and debilitated are only the first answers. Maharishi Parashara gave a complete method that measures strength from six independent sources and adds them into one number. It is called Shadbala (shad = six, bala = strength), and it remains the most thorough strength test in Vedic astrology.
The unit: rupas and virupas
Shadbala is measured in virupas (also called shashtiamsas). 60 virupas make 1 rupa. Each part of Shadbala has a maximum, often 60 virupas, and the total is compared with a minimum required for each planet.
The six sources
1. Sthana Bala - positional strength
Strength from the planet's position in the zodiac. It has five parts:
- Uchcha Bala (exaltation): 60 virupas at the exact exaltation degree, 0 at the exact debilitation degree, in proportion between (distance from the debilitation point divided by 3).
- Saptavargaja Bala: the planet's dignity in seven divisional charts, from 45 for moolatrikona and 30 for own sign down to small values for enemy signs.
- Ojayugma Bala: 15 virupas each for being in the right kind of sign in the rasi and navamsa. The Moon and Venus prefer even (feminine) signs; the others prefer odd (masculine) signs.
- Kendradi Bala: 60 in a kendra (1, 4, 7, 10), 30 in a panaphara (2, 5, 8, 11), 15 in an apoklima (3, 6, 9, 12).
- Drekkana Bala: 15 for male planets (Sun, Mars, Jupiter) in the first decanate of a sign, for neuter planets (Mercury, Saturn) in the second, and for female planets (Moon, Venus) in the third.
2. Dig Bala - directional strength
Mercury and Jupiter are strongest in the 1st house, the Moon and Venus in the 4th, Saturn in the 7th, and the Sun and Mars in the 10th. The value runs from 0 to 60 virupas according to the distance from the opposite point. Full details and examples are in Dig Bala Directional Strength of Planets.
3. Kala Bala - temporal strength
Strength from the time of birth. It is the most detailed part:
- Nathonnata Bala: day-strong planets (Sun, Jupiter, Venus) gain at noon, night-strong planets (Moon, Mars, Saturn) at midnight; Mercury is always strong.
- Paksha Bala: benefics gain in the waxing half of the Moon, malefics in the waning half.
- Tribhaga Bala: strength to the planet that rules the third of the day or night in which the birth falls (Jupiter always gains).
- Abda, Masa, Vara and Hora Bala: strength to the lords of the year, month, weekday and planetary hour of birth.
- Ayana Bala: strength from the planet's declination north or south of the celestial equator.
- Yuddha Bala: the winner of a planetary war gains what the loser loses.
4. Cheshta Bala - motional strength
Strength from the planet's motion. A retrograde planet, closest to the Earth and brightest, gets the highest Cheshta Bala; a planet moving slowly or turning stationary also scores well. For the Sun and Moon, which never go retrograde, other measures are used.
5. Naisargika Bala - natural strength
A fixed value based on each planet's natural brightness:
| Planet | Naisargika Bala (virupas) |
|---|---|
| Sun | 60.00 |
| Moon | 51.43 |
| Venus | 42.86 |
| Jupiter | 34.29 |
| Mercury | 25.71 |
| Mars | 17.14 |
| Saturn | 8.57 |
It is the same in every chart and works mainly as a tie-breaker.
6. Drik Bala - aspectual strength
Benefic aspects on a planet add strength; malefic aspects subtract it. This is the only part that can be negative. (How planets aspect is explained in Planetary Aspects in Vedic Astrology.)
The minimum each planet needs
| Planet | Required (rupas) | Required (virupas) |
|---|---|---|
| Sun | 6.5 | 390 |
| Moon | 6.0 | 360 |
| Mars | 5.0 | 300 |
| Mercury | 7.0 | 420 |
| Jupiter | 6.5 | 390 |
| Venus | 5.5 | 330 |
| Saturn | 5.0 | 300 |
Dividing a planet's total by its requirement gives a ratio. Above 1 the planet is strong enough to give its results fully; below 1 it delivers with more effort. The ratio, not the raw total, is the fair way to compare planets.
How to use Shadbala in a reading
- Rank the planets by ratio. The strongest planet often dominates the personality and the life story.
- Check the Lagna lord. A strong Lagna lord by Shadbala supports health, confidence and direction; see how to know if your Lagna lord is strong.
- Check the dasa lord. A strong dasa lord gives a productive period; a weak one gives a period that asks for patience.
- Combine with house rulership. A strong planet that rules good houses for the Lagna is the best combination; a strong planet ruling a difficult house gives that house's matters strongly too.
Shadbala does not include every weakening factor in the same way; for example, combustion is still worth checking separately. Other classical strength schemes, such as those in Jathakamritha, are compared in Jathakamritha Bala Vimarsam for the nine grahas.
Summary
Shadbala adds six kinds of strength: positional (Sthana), directional (Dig), temporal (Kala), motional (Cheshta), natural (Naisargika) and aspectual (Drik). The total, in rupas, is compared with each planet's minimum (Sun 6.5, Moon 6, Mars 5, Mercury 7, Jupiter 6.5, Venus 5.5, Saturn 5). The ratio shows which planets can deliver their promise most easily, and it is most useful when read together with the houses each planet rules.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is Shadbala?
Shadbala means six-fold strength. It is Parashara's method of measuring how strong each of the seven planets from the Sun to Saturn is, by adding six kinds of strength: positional, directional, temporal, motional, natural and aspectual.
How much Shadbala does a planet need?
The classical minimums are Sun 6.5 rupas, Moon 6, Mars 5, Mercury 7, Jupiter 6.5, Venus 5.5 and Saturn 5 (one rupa is 60 virupas). A planet at or above its minimum is considered strong enough to deliver its results.
Do Rahu and Ketu have Shadbala?
No. Classical Shadbala covers only the seven visible planets. Rahu and Ketu are judged by their sign, house, dispositor and the planets they join.
Is a planet with low Shadbala bad?
It is weaker at producing its own results, so the matters it rules may need more effort. It is not a sign of misfortune by itself, and a planet can be low in Shadbala but well placed by sign and house.
Comments