Shadbala: The Six Sources of Planetary Strength

Every reading eventually asks how strong a planet is. A well-placed planet that is weak may promise much and give little; a planet in an ordinary place that is strong may outperform expectations. Shadbala, “six-fold strength”, is Parashara’s method for measuring this numerically.

The six strengths

• Sthana Bala (positional): exaltation, own or friendly signs, and dignity across the divisional charts.
• Dig Bala (directional): Jupiter and Mercury are strongest in the 1st house, the Sun and Mars in the 10th, Saturn in the 7th, the Moon and Venus in the 4th.
• Kala Bala (temporal): day or night birth, the lunar fortnight, the lords of the year, month, day and hour, and similar time-based factors.
• Cheshta Bala (motional): based on the planet’s motion; retrograde planets, close to the Earth and bright, gain strength here.
• Naisargika Bala (natural): a fixed value, highest for the Sun and lowest for Saturn.
• Drik Bala (aspectual): benefic aspects add strength, malefic aspects reduce it.

Rupas and minimums

Shadbala is measured in virupas, with 60 virupas making one rupa. Each planet has a minimum it needs to be considered strong: 6.5 rupas for the Sun, 6 for the Moon, 5 for Mars, 7 for Mercury, 6.5 for Jupiter, 5.5 for Venus and 5 for Saturn. The ratio of a planet’s total to its minimum is the clearest single measure; above 1 the planet can give its results, well below 1 it struggles.

Ishta and Kashta

From the Shadbala components two further figures are derived: Ishta Phala, the capacity to give good results, and Kashta Phala, the capacity to give difficult ones. A planet with high Ishta tends to bring its significations pleasantly during its Dasha; high Kashta suggests its results come with effort or strain.

Bhava Bala

The same idea is applied to houses. Bhava Bala combines the strength of the house lord, the directional strength of the house and the aspects it receives, and ranks the twelve houses. A strong 10th house in Bhava Bala supports career, a strong 4th supports home and property.

Using it sensibly

Shadbala does not replace reading the chart. It tells you how much a planet can deliver; the houses it rules and occupies still tell you what. Use it to decide between competing indications — which of two yogas will dominate, whether a Dasha lord can give what it promises, whether a gemstone is needed at all.

Our Shadbala figures were cross-checked against a professional report for the same birth data. The Strength tables in your dashboard list each planet’s six components, its ratio to the minimum, Ishta and Kashta, and Bhava Bala.