अतीतमन्तिमादेष्यं वित्तभात्प्रविलोकयेत् ।
राहोरतीतं रवितो भावि साम्प्रतमिन्दुतः॥
A simplified reading of the principle:
- 12th
from the bhāva → indicates the past or what has already gone.
- The
bhāva itself → indicates the present, the current state and
experience.
- 2nd
from the bhāva → indicates the future, what is yet to come.
The verse further gives a planetary correspondence:
- Rāhu
→ the past
- Sun
→ the future
- Moon
→ the present
Thus, the principle is not merely about three houses; it
provides a temporal framework for reading the evolution of a particular
bhāva.
बाल्य – यौवन – वृद्धावस्था
This same principle can be applied to the three stages of
life concerning any bhāva:
12th from the bhāva → बाल्य (childhood)
It represents the beginning or what lies behind the present. Its condition
shows how that particular area of life was experienced in the formative period.
The bhāva itself → यौवन (youth/maturity)
It represents the present manifestation of the bhāva and therefore shows how
its significations develop during the active period of life.
2nd from the bhāva → वृद्धावस्था (later
life)
It represents what follows the bhāva and therefore indicates the eventual
development, accumulation or outcome of that area in later life.
For example, when judging profession from the 10th house:
- 9th
house → past/background of professional development.
- 10th
house → active profession and present karma.
- 11th
house → future gains and eventual fulfilment arising from profession.
Strength and the Three Phases
The condition of each of these houses modifies the
corresponding phase:
- A weak
12th from the bhāva can indicate difficulty in the early or preceding
phase.
- A strong
bhāva itself supports the manifestation of its significations during
the present/active phase.
- A strong
2nd from the bhāva supports the future development and eventual gains
of that bhāva.
However, the bhāva itself remains fundamental. Its
strength, its lord, occupants, aspects and overall condition provide the
foundation upon which all three periods operate. A strong bhāva can sustain and
improve its results across the three stages, whereas a severely afflicted bhāva
can colour the entire sequence.
Therefore, the verse gives us a useful principle:
12th = what has passed → Bhāva = what is being
experienced → 2nd = what is yet to come.
And at the planetary level:
Rāhu = past → Moon = present → Sun = future.
The real value of the principle is that it allows the
astrologer to read a bhāva as a continuing process rather than as a static
promise—from its background and past, through its present manifestation,
toward its eventual outcome.
