Sanskrit verses with English translation from Maharishi Parasara. Read the full classical treatise on AstroFusion Learning.
यस्य ग्रहस्याधिको भागः स स्यात्परमकारकः । आत्मनः फलदो ज्ञेयो महापातकनाशनः ॥
yasya grahasyādhiko bhāgaḥ sa syāt paramakārakaḥ | ātmanaḥ phalado jñeyo mahāpātakanāśanaḥ ||
That planet which has advanced the greatest number of degrees becomes the supreme significator (Atmakaraka); it yields the fruits of the self and destroys great sins.
अथाऽहं सम्प्रवक्ष्यामि ग्रहानात्मादिकारकान् । सप्तरव्यादिशन्यन्तान् राह्वन्तान् वाऽष्टसंख्यकान् ॥ १॥
athā 'haṃ sampravakṣyāmi grahān ātmādikārakān | saptaravyādiśanyantān rāhvantān vā 'ṣṭasaṃkhyakān || 1||
Now I declare the Chara Karakas beginning with Atmakaraka — seven, from Surya to Shani; or eight, ending with Rahu.
अंशैः समौ ग्रहौ द्वौ चेद्राह्वन्तौ चिन्तयेत् तदा । सप्तैव कारकानेवं केचिदष्टौ प्रचक्षणे ॥ २॥
aṃśaiḥ samau grahau dvau ced rāhvantau cintayet tadā | saptaiva kārakānevaṃ keciḍ aṣṭau pracakṣate || 2||
When two planets are equal in degrees and both end with Rahu's inclusion in question, then some reckon seven karakas only, others eight.
अत्मा सूर्यादिखेटानां मध्ये ह्यंशाधिको ग्रहः । अंशसाम्ये कलाधिक्यात् तत्साम्ये विकलाधिकः ॥ ३॥
ātmā sūryādikheṭānāṃ madhye hy aṃśādhiko grahaḥ | aṃśasāmye kalādhikyāt tatsāmye vikalādhikaḥ || 3||
Among the planets from Surya onward, the one with the highest degrees is Atma (the self); if degrees are equal, the higher kalas decide; if still equal, the higher vikalas.
बुधौ राशिकलाधिक्यत् ग्राह्वो नैवात्मकारकः । अंशाधिकः कारकः स्यादल्पभागोऽन्त्यकारकः ॥ ४॥
budhau rāśikalādhikyat grāhvo naivātmakārakaḥ | aṃśādhikaḥ kārakaḥ syād alpabhāgo 'ntyakārakaḥ || 4||
By excess of sign-and-degree Mercury is not taken as Atmakaraka; the planet with more amshas becomes the karaka while the lowest becomes the last (Dara) karaka.