Sanskrit verses with English translation from Maharishi Jaimini. Read the full classical treatise on AstroFusion Learning.
Chapter audio (Sanskrit)
Verse 1 — Chara Karaka — The Movable Significators
राश्यंशयोर्ग्रहा ये स्युः सर्वे चारकारकाः ॥
rāśyaṃśayor grahā ye syuḥ sarve cāra-kārakāḥ
In the Rasi (birth chart) and the Navamsa, all planets become the Chara (movable) Karakas. The planet occupying the highest degree is the Atmakaraka, and the seven or eight planets, ranked by degree, assume the roles of self, counsel, siblings, mother, father, children, relatives, and spouse — shifting with each chart rather than being fixed by natural rulership.
Verse 2 — Atmakaraka — The Planet of Highest Degrees
आत्मा स्वतन्त्रः सर्वाधिकांशवान् ग्रहः ॥
ātmā svatantraḥ sarvādhikāṃśavān grahaḥ
The Atmakaraka is that planet which holds the highest longitude within its sign among all the grahas. Being freest and foremost, he represents the individual soul (jivatma), his desires shaping the very course of the incarnation. Whatever sign he occupies, and whatever befalls him there, colours the destiny of the native more than any other single factor.
In descending order of degrees the planets become: Atmakaraka (self/soul), Amatyakaraka (minister/career), Bhratrikaraka (siblings/guru/preceptor), Matrikaraka (mother/education), Pitrikaraka (father/power), Putrakaraka (children/followers/creativity), Gnatikaraka (relatives/obstacles/disease), Darakaraka (spouse/partnership). Each karaka carries these significations wherever he sits, in whatever house or sign.
Verse 4 — Seven or Eight Karakas — Inclusion of Rahu
अष्टमं राहुः स्वीकरणीयः कारकत्वेन ॥
aṣṭamaṃ rāhuḥ svīkaraṇīyaḥ kārakatvena
Rahu may be accepted as the eighth chara karaka. When Rahu is included, all eight karaka slots are filled by eight grahas; when only seven are used, the Bhratrikaraka slot is merged as per the school followed. Including Rahu completes the scheme and allows him to signify the soul's deepest karmic hunger when he attains high degrees.
Verse 5 — Rahu's Degrees Counted in Reverse
विपरीतं राहोरंशाः त्रिंशद्भिर्हीनाः ॥
viparītaṃ rāhor aṃśāḥ triṃśadbhir hīnāḥ
Rahu's degrees are counted in reverse: they are obtained by subtracting his longitude in a sign from thirty degrees. Thus a Rahu at 25° holds effectively 5° of advancement, and one at 2° becomes nearly supreme. This inversion lets the shadowy node compete honestly for karakahood, especially for Atmakarakahood signalling liberation-seeking souls.
vṛścika-kumbhayor dvau īśvarau kuja-ketvoḥ śanir āhvoś ca
Scorpio has two lords — Mars and Ketu — and Aquarius has two — Saturn and Rahu. When such a dual-ruled sign stands as the Atmakaraka's sign, or when counting houses from it, the stronger of the two co-lords acts; Ketu and Rahu being nodes, Mars and Saturn respectively share their rulership. Strength is judged by conjunction, aspects and degrees.
Verse 7 — Ketu — The Moksha Karaka
केतुर्मोक्षकारकः सर्वेषाम् ॥
ketur mokṣakārakaḥ sarveṣām
Ketu is the significator of final liberation for all beings. Beyond his role as co-lord or karaka-by-degree, Ketu signifies severance, spirituality and the dissolution of attachments; his placement shows where the soul has already gained mastery in past lives and where it must now let go rather than acquire.
Verse 8 — Amatyakaraka — Minister of the Soul
अमात्यः कार्यसिद्धिकर्ता आत्मनोऽनुचरः ॥
amātyaḥ kāryasiddhikartā ātmano 'nucaraḥ
The Amatyakaraka, second in degree, is the minister who executes the Atmakaraka's intent. He governs career, profession and the means by which the soul's agenda is carried out in society. A strong AmK dignifies work and brings able advisors; an afflicted one shows obstacles through colleagues and misdirected effort.
Verse 9 — Darakaraka — Significator of Spouse
दारकारकः कलत्रसुखदुःखे च ॥
dārakārakaḥ kalatra-sukha-duḥkhe ca
The Darakaraka, lowest in degree among the karakas, signifies the spouse and the joys and sorrows of partnership. His sign, navamsa and associations describe the partner's nature, the quality of married life, and even business alliances; benefic influences grant a noble companion while afflictions promise friction in union.
Verse 10 — Gnatikaraka — Relatives, Disease and Obstacles
ज्ञातिकारको विघ्नरोगज्ञातीनां द्योतकः ॥
jñātikārako vighna-roga-jñātīnāṃ dyotakaḥ
The Gnatikaraka signifies cousins and extended kin, but equally the enemies, diseases and obstructions that shadow a life. His placement warns where opposition arises — which body part falls ill, which rival strikes, which court case drags. Remedial attention to GK's dispositor softens many recurring troubles.
Verse 11 — Tie-Breaking by Minutes and Seconds
तुल्यांशे विकला विचारणीयाः कलाविकलाभ्याम् ॥
tulyāṃśe vikalā vicāraṇīyāḥ kalā-vikalābhyām
When two planets hold identical whole degrees, the karaka order is decided by minutes, then seconds of arc. Precision of ephemeris thus becomes spiritually consequential — a difference of arc-minutes can shift the entire soul-signification from one graha to another, changing the reading of destiny itself.
Verse 12 — The King Among Grahas
आत्मकारको राजा जातकस्य सर्वथा ॥
ātmakārako rājā jātakasya sarvathā
The Atmakaraka is in every way the king of the horoscope. All other grahas serve him as ministers and officers serve a sovereign; houses flourish or suffer according to how they receive him. Honouring the AK — through the ethics of his natural lordship and the worship of his deity — aligns the native with the soul's own decree.