Muhurta (Muhūrta) — choosing the moment

नासत्यांतकवह्निधातृशशभृद्रुद्रादितीज्योरगा ऋक्षेशाः पितरो भगोऽर्यमरवित्वष्ट्राशुगाश्च क्रमात् । शक्राग्नी खलु मित्रशक्रनिर्ऋतिक्षीराणि विश्वे विधि- र्गोविंदो वसुतोयपाजचरणाहिर्बुध्न्यपूषाभिधाः ॥ १ ॥

Doctrine recordThe lords of the asterisms are, in order: the Nasatyas (Asvini), Antaka/Yama (Bharani), Agni (Krttika), Dhatr/Brahma (Rohini), the Moon (Mrgasira), Rudra (Ardra), Aditi (Punarvasu), Jiva/Brhaspati (Pusya), the serpent (Aslesa), the Fathers (Magha), Bhaga (P.Phalguni), Aryaman (U.Phalguni), the Sun (Hasta), Tvastr (Citra), Vayu (Svati), Indra-and-Agni (Visakha), Mitra (Anuradha), Indra (Jyestha), Nirrti (Mula), the Waters (P.Asadha), the Visvedevas (U.Asadha), Vidhi/Brahma (Abhijit), Govinda/Visnu (Sravana), the Vasus (Dhanistha), the Water-lord/Varuna (Satabhisa), Ajaikapada (P.Bhadrapada), Ahirbudhnya (U.Bhadrapada) and Pusan (Revati).

उत्तरात्रयरोहिण्यो भास्करश्च ध्रुवं स्थिरम् । तत्र स्थिरं बीजगेहशांत्यागमादि सिद्धये ॥ २ ॥

Doctrine recordThe three Uttarās and Rohiṇī, and Bhāskara (the Sun — that is, Sunday), are dhruva, that is sthira (fixed). In them fixed acts — sowing of seed, house-building, propitiation, arrival [v.l. the laying out of a grove] and the like — succeed.

स्वात्यादित्यं श्रुतेस्त्रीणि चंद्रश्चापि चरं चलम् । तस्मिन्गजादिकारोहो वाटिकागमनादिकम् ॥ ३ ॥

Doctrine recordSvātī, the asterism of Āditya (Punarvasu), the three [beginning] from Śruti (Śravaṇa, Dhaniṣṭhā, Śatabhiṣā) — and the Moon (that is, Monday) as well — are cara, that is cala (movable). In it the mounting of an elephant and the like, going to a pleasure-garden, [travel] and so forth [succeed].

पूर्वात्रयं याम्यमघे उग्रं क्रूरं कुजस्तथा । तस्मिन्घाताग्निशाठ्यानि विषशस्त्रादि सिध्यति ॥ ४ ॥

Doctrine recordThe three Pūrvās, Yama's asterism (Bharaṇī) and Maghā — and likewise Kuja (Mars, that is Tuesday) — are ugra, that is krūra (fierce, cruel). In it killing, arson, treachery, poison, weapons and the like succeed.

विशाखाग्नेयभे सौम्यो मिश्रं साधारणं स्मृतम् । तत्राग्निकार्यं मिश्रं च वृषोत्सर्गादि सिद्धये ॥ ५ ॥

Doctrine recordViśākhā, the asterism of Agni (Kṛttikā), and Saumya (Mercury, that is Wednesday) are held to be miśra, that is sādhāraṇa (mixed, common). In them the fire-rite, mixed [acts], the release of a bull and the like succeed.

हस्ताश्विपुष्याभिजितः क्षिप्रं लघु गुरुस्तथा । तस्मिन्पण्यरतिज्ञानभूषाशिल्पकलादिकम् ॥ ६ ॥

Doctrine recordHasta, Aśvinī, Puṣya and Abhijit — and likewise Guru (Jupiter, that is Thursday) — are kṣipra, that is laghu (swift, light). In it goods for sale, love, learning, ornament, craft, the [sixty-four] arts and the like [succeed].

मृगांत्यचित्रामित्रर्क्षं मृदु मैत्रं भृगुस्तथा । तत्र गीतांबरक्रीडामित्रकार्यविभूषणम् ॥ ७ ॥

Doctrine recordMṛgaśira, the last asterism (Revatī), Citrā and Mitra's asterism (Anurādhā) — and likewise Bhṛgu (Venus, that is Friday) — are mṛdu, that is maitra (soft, friendly). In them song, garments, play, a friend's business and adornment [succeed].

मूलेंद्रार्द्राहिभं सौरिस्तीक्ष्णं दारुणसंज्ञकम् । तत्राभिचारघातोग्रभेदाः पशुदमादिकम् ॥ ८ ॥

Doctrine recordMūla, Indra's asterism (Jyeṣṭhā), Ārdrā and the serpent's asterism (Āśleṣā) — and Sauri (Saturn, that is Saturday) — are tīkṣṇa, called dāruṇa (sharp, dreadful). In it acts of sorcery, killing, terror, the sowing of division, the taming of beasts and the like [succeed].

जन्मर्क्षाद्दिननक्षत्रं यावद् गणयेत् त्रिरावृत्त्या । नवभिस्तु हृते शेषं तारा ज्ञेया विचक्षणैः ॥

Doctrine recordCount the nakṣatras from the birth-star up to the day's star (through the three cycles of nine); divide by nine — the remainder gives the tārā (1 = Janma … 9 = Ati-maitra).

जन्माख्यसम्पद्विपदः क्षेमप्रत्यरिसाधकाः । वधमैत्रातिमैत्राः स्युस्तारा नामसदृक्फलाः ॥ १२ ॥

Doctrine recordThe nine tārās, counted from the birth-star to the day-star, are Janma, Sampat, Vipat, Kṣema, Pratyari, Sādhaka, Vadha, Maitra and Ati-maitra; each gives results according to its name (Sampat/Kṣema/Sādhaka/Maitra/Ati-maitra favourable, Vipat/Pratyari/Vadha inauspicious, Janma a caution).

विवाहगर्भसंस्कारयोः स्त्रीणां विधोर्बलम् उशन्ति, इतरकर्मसु भर्तुर्जन्मराशेर्विधोर्बलम् ॥ ९ ॥

Doctrine recordChandra-bala (the Moon's strength) is reckoned from the birth-rāśi — a woman's own in marriage and pregnancy rites, otherwise the doer's — the Moon being strong when it transits the 1st, 3rd, 6th, 7th, 10th or 11th from the birth-Moon, weak in the 4th, 8th, 12th.

वारादेर्घटिका द्विघ्नाः स्वाक्षहृच्छेषवर्जिताः । सैकास्तष्टा नगैः कालहोरेशा दिनपात् क्रमात् ॥ ५५ ॥

Doctrine recordThe kāla-horā (planetary hour) lords are found by counting from the lord of the weekday; the first horā of the day belongs to the day-lord, the rest following the fixed order (Sun, Venus, Mercury, Moon, Saturn, Jupiter, Mars).

वारे प्रोक्तं कालहोरासु तस्य धिष्ण्ये प्रोक्तं स्वामितिथ्यंशकेऽस्य । कुर्याद् दिक्शूलादि चिन्त्यं क्षणेषु नैवोल्लङ्घ्यः परिघश्चापि दण्डः ॥ ५६ ॥

Doctrine recordA work enjoined for a particular weekday may, when needed, be performed within that lord's kāla-horā (planetary hour) — so each hour suits the works of its ruling graha; still weigh dik-śūla and never transgress the parigha.