Shadbalas

Six fold of strength and weakness of planets

According to Astrological principles, each planet derives a certain amount of strength when it
occupies a particular position. This amount of strength can be measured by certain units
called Rupas. There are six kinds of planetary strength taken into account in making an
assessment of strengths and weaknesses of planets for making predictions.
They are as follows:
Digbala: Some planets get this directional strength when they are placed in certain Houses in
a horoscope.
Jupiter and Mercury get Digbala when they are in the East -1st House or Lagna.
Sun and Mars get Digbala when they are in the North represented by the 10th House.
Saturn gains Digbala in the West or in the 7th House.
Venus and Moon get Digbala in South or in the 4th House.
Chestabala: (Motional strength)
Sun and Moon get Chestabala in the signs or Rashis of Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces,
Aries, Taurus and Gemini that constitute the Uttarayana or Suns Northerly course.
Mars, mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn in retrogression or in conjunction with the Full
Moon get Chestabala.
If Jupiter, Venus, Mercury and Saturn are with Mars, they are considered defeated in the
Graha-Yuddha (planetary war) and thereby get Chestabala.
Kalabala: (Temporal strength)

Moon, Mars and Saturn are powerful during the night.
Sun, Jupiter and Venus are powerful during the day.
Mercury is powerful both in the day and in the night.
Malefics are powerful during the dark half of the lunar month and benefics are
powerful during the bright half of the lunar month.
Mercury is powerful at sunrise, Sun at noon, Saturn in the evening, and Moon during
the first part of the night, Venus at midnight and Mars during the last part of the
night.
Jupiter is always powerful.
Planets in their weekdays, months, and years are considered powerful.

Drugbala: (Strength of Aspect)

This is reckoned from the strength of the aspect one planet cast over another planet.

Naisargikabala: This means the intrinsic natural strength of the planets irrespective of their
positions. Sun, Moon, Venus, Mercury, Mars and Saturn possess measures of permanent
strength declining in their descending order, with Sun commanding the most and Saturn the
least.