जन्मसमये नुक्तं शुभाशुभं दिव्यदृधिराचार्यैः ।
पृच्छाकालेऽपि नृणां तदेव भवतीति विज्ञेयम् ॥ (बादरायण)
Therefore, one should keep those fundamentals in the heart when learning the basic things about the natal chart. The person who strives to learn and practice Prashna(horary) without learning the fundamentals of natal horoscopes is like someone trying to contain water in a vessel with a hole in its bottom.
Word-by-Word Breakdown
śubha-aśubham — auspicious or inauspicious results.
divya-dṛḍhi-ācāryaiḥ — by teachers endowed with divine vision and firm insight.
pṛcchā-kāle api nṛṇām — even at the time when people ask questions (i.e., during praśna jyotiṣa or horary astrology).
tadeva bhavati iti vijñeyam — the same results occur; this is to be understood.
Detailed Interpretation
1. Unity of Birth and Question
The verse establishes a fundamental principle of Jyotiṣa:
The planetary configuration at birth encodes the destiny of the individual.
When a question is asked later in life, the planetary positions at that moment (praśna-kāla) mirror the same destiny.
Thus, the question chart is not independent—it is a re-manifestation of the birth chart’s truths.
2. Role of the Ācārya
The verse emphasises divya-dṛḍhi—the “divine firmness” or “clear vision” of the teacher.
It is not merely mechanical calculation; the astrologer’s insight, rooted in tradition and spiritual clarity, is essential.
The astrologer acts as a mirror, revealing what is already inscribed in the cosmic order.
3. Philosophical Implication
Time as a continuum: Every moment reflects the whole. The birth moment and the question moment are two windows into the same destiny.
Determinism and revelation: Jyotiṣa do not create fate; it reveals it. The chart is a symbolic language of what already exists.
Microcosm and macrocosm: The human life (microcosm) is synchronised with cosmic rhythms (macrocosm). Asking a question at a particular time is itself part of destiny.
4. Practical Application in Astrology
Birth Chart (Janma-kuṇḍalī): The foundational map of life.
Question Chart (Praśna-kuṇḍalī): A situational map that echoes the same destiny.
If the birth chart is unavailable, the question chart can still reveal the truth, because both are aligned.
This principle validates the practice of praśna jyotiṣa as equally authentic.
That’s a beautifully apt metaphor, and it captures the essence of the teaching perfectly. Let me expand on it in detail:
Interpretation of the Statement
Fundamentals as the Foundation
The natal chart (janma-kuṇḍalī) is the root framework of Jyotiṣa.
Without mastering its principles—planetary significations, houses, yogas, and dashās—any attempt to practice praśna (horary astrology) will lack depth and accuracy.
Just as a vessel must be intact to hold water, the astrologer’s knowledge must be whole and grounded in fundamentals to hold truth.
2. Praśna as a Reflection
Praśna jyotiṣa is not an independent branch; it is a mirror of the natal chart.
If one skips the natal foundation, the interpretations in praśna become superficial, like water leaking through a broken vessel.
The question chart is a situational snapshot, but its meaning is always tethered to the natal destiny.
3. Philosophical Depth
The metaphor of the vessel with a hole emphasises futility: effort without foundation leads to wasted energy.
It also conveys continuity: water (truth) exists, but the vessel (knowledge system) must be sound to contain and deliver it.
In spiritual terms, it reminds us that inquiry (praśna) must be rooted in the original karmic imprint (janma).
“Praśna without Janma is like a shadow without substance.”
“The natal chart is the seed; the question chart is the sprout. Without the seed, the sprout cannot exist.”
“A vessel with a hole cannot hold water; an astrologer without fundamentals cannot hold truth.”
Practical Lesson for Students
Begin with natal chart basics: houses, grahas, yogas, dashās.
Only after internalising these should one approach praśna jyotiṣa.
This ensures that interpretations are not mechanical but deeply connected to the cosmic order.
