Sanskrit verses with English translation from Kalidasa. Read the full classical treatise on AstroFusion Learning.
द्वितीयसप्तमौ भावौ मारकस्थानमुच्यते। तद्गताधिपती मारकौ प्रोक्तौ सर्वज्ञकैः॥
dvitīyasaptamau bhāvau mārakasthānamucyate | tadgatādhipatī mārakau proktau sarvajñakaiḥ ||
The 2nd and 7th houses are declared the maraka (death-inflicting) places; their lords who occupy or rule them are proclaimed the marakas by those who know the scriptures.
मारकेषु बलिष्ठः स्यान्मृत्युहेतुरुच्यते। दशाकाले तस्यैव मरणं जायते धruवम्॥
mārakeṣu baliṣṭhaḥ syān mṛtyuhetur ucyate | daśākāle tasyaiva maraṇaṃ jāyate dhruvam ||
Among all marakas the strongest one is declared the cause of death; in his period death surely comes.
पापग्रहाः स्थिता ये तु मारकस्थानयोर्बलाः। ते मारकबलं वर्धयन्ति मरणं शीघ्रमानयन्॥
pāpagrahāḥ sthitā ye tu mārakasthānayor balāḥ | te mārakabalaṃ vardhayanti maraṇaṃ śīghram ānayan ||
Strong malefics situated in the maraka houses intensify the killing power and hasten death when their periods arrive.
शुभग्रहैस्तत्रैव तु मृत्युबीजं प्रदूषितम्। आयुषो रक्षणं जातं मृत्युर्विलम्बते तदा॥
śubhagrahaistatraiva tu mṛtyubījaṃ pradūṣitam | āyuṣo rakṣaṇaṃ jātaṃ mṛtyurvilambate tadā ||
When benefics stand in those very houses the seed of death is spoiled; protection of longevity arises and death is delayed.
मारकस्य दशाकाले मरणं स्याद्धि जन्तोः। स्वामिदशा तदन्तर्या तथैवान्तर्दशासु च॥
mārakasya daśākāle maraṇaṃ syād dhi jantoḥ | svāmidaśā tadantaryā tathaivāntardaśāsu ca ||
In the period of a maraka death may come to the being; likewise within the dispositor's dasha whose antardasha belongs to the maraka.
बलिना लग्ननाथेन रक्षितोऽयं जनो भवेत्। मारकाः शक्तिहीनाः स्युरायुर्वृद्धिः प्रजायते॥
balinā lagnanāthena rakṣito'yaṃ jano bhavet | mārakāḥ śaktihīnāḥ syur āyurvṛddhiḥ prajāyate ||
Protected by a powerful lagna lord, a person remains safe; the marakas become powerless and longevity increases.
आयुष्कारक आख्यातः शनिर्दण्डधरः प्रभुः। स्थितिरायुः प्रदातव्यं तस्य दृष्ट्या फलं विदुः॥
āyuṣkāraka ākhyātaḥ śanir daṇḍadharaḥ prabhuḥ | sthitir āyuḥ pradātavyaṃ tasya dṛṣṭyā phalaṃ viduḥ ||
Saturn, called the karaka of lifespan and wielder of the rod, grants endurance of life; his aspects determine the fruit of longevity.