Mercury in 1st house in Vedic astrology: mind and voice

अर्ककुजात्सुखं जीवाज्ज्ञाच्चास्तं लग्नमर्कितः मध्यलग्रं भृगोश्चन्द्राद्धित्वा षड्भाधिके सति। चक्राद्विशोध्य रामाप्तं भागीकृत्य च तद्बलम्।।१३।।

Subtract the 4th house from the Sun and Mars, the 7th from Jupiter and Mercury, the lagna from Saturn, and the 10th (midheaven) from Venus and the Moon; if the remainder exceeds 6 signs, subtract from 12, convert to degrees, and divide by 3 — this gives the dig-bala (directional strength).

तनोरूपं च ज्ञानं च वर्णं चैव बलाबलम् । शीलं वै प्रकृतिं चैव तनुस्थानाद्विचारयेत् ॥१॥

From the 1st house one should examine the body, its form, knowledge, caste/class, strength and weakness, character, and constitution.

कालात्मा च दिवानाथो मनः कुमुदबान्धवः । सत्त्वं कुजो विजानीयाद्बुधो वाणीप्रदायकः ॥१॥

The Sun is of the nature of Time; the Moon governs the mind; know that Mars governs courage and vitality; Mercury bestows speech.

वपुःश्रेष्ठो श्लिष्टवाक्य ह्यतिहास्यरुचिर्बुधः । पित्तवान्कफवान्विप्र मारुतप्रकृतिकस्तथा ॥१५॥

Mercury has an excellent body, is eloquent and precise of speech, very fond of humor, and of a constitution combining pitta, kapha, and vata.

राजानौ भानुहिमगू नेता ज्ञेयो धरात्मजः । बुधो राजकुमारश्च सचिवौ गुरुभार्गवौ ॥३॥

The Sun and Moon are like kings; Mars is to be known as the commander; Mercury is the prince; Jupiter and Venus are the two ministers.

क्रोधः पराक्रमो भौमो बुधो बालत्वधीमतः । शनिर्दुःखप्रदो ज्ञेयो राहुरैश्वर्यदायकः ॥१८॥

Mars [is karaka] of anger and valor; Mercury, of intelligence in a child; Saturn should be known as the giver of sorrow; Rahu is the bestower of dominion/opulence.

बुधेन बुद्धिः सदनर्क्षसंस्थां गतेन भावेशयुतेन वा स्यात् । केन्द्रत्रिकोणेषु गतेषु तत्र प्रपश्यता वापि स्वतुङ्गगेन ॥६३॥

The matter of intellect should be judged from Mercury; when these karakas are in their respective houses joined with the house-lords, or have gone to kendras/trikonas, or are seen by [a graha] in its own exaltation, the corresponding significations increase.

भ्रातृसत्त्वं गुणं भूमिं भौमेन च विचारयेत्। वाणिज्यकर्मवृत्तिं च बुधेन तु विचिन्तयेत्।।२।।

Mars governs brothers, courage, virtue, and land; Mercury governs trade and livelihood.

बुधेज्यौ बलिनौ पूर्वे रविभौमौ च दक्षिणे । वारुणे सूर्यपुत्रश्च सितचन्द्रौ तथोत्तरे ॥२४॥

Mercury and Jupiter are strong in the east; the Sun and Mars in the south; Saturn in the west; and Venus and the Moon in the north — the directional strengths of the grahas.

निशायां बलिनश्चन्द्रकुजसौरा भवन्ति हि । सर्वदा ज्ञो बली ज्ञेयो दिनशेषा द्विजोत्तम ॥२५॥

The Moon, Mars, and Saturn are strong at night; Mercury is always strong; and the rest — the Sun, Jupiter, Venus — are strong by day.

सूर्यो गुरुः कुजः सोमो गुरुर्भौमः सितः शनिः । गुरुश्चन्द्रसुतो जीवो मन्दश्च भावकारकः ॥३७॥

Sun, Jupiter, Mars, Moon, Jupiter, Mars, Venus, Saturn, Jupiter, Mercury, Jupiter and Saturn — these are the bhava-karakas [of the twelve houses in order].

अधुना सम्प्रवक्ष्यामि विशेषं भावकारकम् । जन्मलग्नं च विद्याद्वै आत्मकारकमेव च ॥३४॥

Now I shall further declare specially the bhava-karaka. Know that the birth-lagna itself is the atma-karaka [of the 1st house].

अन्येषां त्रिदशे पादं द्विपादं च त्रिकोणगे । चतुरस्रे त्रिपादं च पूर्णं पश्यति सप्तमे ॥२२॥

Of the others, quarter at the tridasha, and half at the trikona; three-quarter at the chaturasra; full it sees at the seventh.

सुते सुतं विजानीयाद्दारा सप्तमभावतः । सुतस्थाने ग्रहस्तिष्ठेत्सोऽपि कारक उच्यते ॥३६॥

In the putra[5th], know the son; the wife is known from the 7th house. If a graha stands in the son's place [5th], that too is called its karaka.

स्वोच्चे शुभं बलं पूर्णं त्रिकोणे पादवर्जितम् । स्वर्क्षे दलं मित्रगेहे पादमात्रं प्रकीर्तितम् ॥५१॥

In its own exaltation, a graha's auspicious strength is full; in its moolatrikona, it is full less a quarter; in its own sign it is half; in a friend's sign it is declared to be only a quarter.

पादार्धं समभे प्रोक्तं व्यर्थं नीचास्तशत्रुभे । तद्वद्दुष्टबलं ब्रूयाद् व्यत्ययेन विचक्षणः ॥५२॥

In a neutral's sign it is declared to be an eighth; it is void in debilitation, combustion, or an enemy's sign. Likewise the wise should state malefic/inauspicious strength in the reverse order.

अजो वृषो मृगः कन्या कुलीरझषतौलिकाः । सूर्यादीनां क्रमादेतास्तुङ्गसंज्ञाः प्रकीर्तिताः ॥३८॥

Aries, Taurus, Capricorn, Virgo, Cancer, Pisces, and Libra are declared, in order, to be the signs of exaltation (uchcha) of the Sun and the other grahas.

दिग्गुणाष्टयमा भागा तिथिभूतर्क्षनखासमा । स्वोच्चात्सप्तमभं नीचं पूर्वोक्तांशैः प्रकीर्तितम् ॥३९॥

The precise degree of exaltation for each graha is given by a series of word-numerals; the sign of debilitation (nicha) is the seventh from the exaltation sign, at the same degree already stated (the exact numeric values encoded by the word-numerals in this verse are not fully certain without further cross-reference).

समौ सितार्की शशिजश्च शत्रुर्मित्राणि शेषाः पृथिवीसुतस्य । शत्रुः शशी सूर्यसितौ च मित्रे समापरे स्युः शशिनन्दनस्य ॥४५॥

To Mars: Venus and Saturn are neutral, Mercury is an enemy, and the rest are friends. To Mercury: the Moon is an enemy, the Sun and Venus are friends, and the rest are neutral.

द्वादशभागा मेषे त्रिकोणमपरे स्वभं तु भौमस्य । उच्चफलं च कन्यायां बुधस्य तिथ्यंशकैः सदा भवेत् ॥४१॥

Mars's moolatrikona is the first twelve degrees of Aries, the rest being its own sign; Mercury's exaltation effect in Virgo extends to fifteen degrees.

ततस्त्रिकोणजाते पंचभिरंशैः स्वराशिजं परतः । दशभिर्भागैर्जीवस्य त्रिकोणफलं स्वयं परं चापे ॥४२॥

Mercury's moolatrikona extends for a further five degrees beyond its exaltation zone, its own sign following after; Jupiter's moolatrikona extends to ten degrees of Sagittarius, its own sign thereafter.

कुजजीवेन्दवः पापा एक एव भृगुः शुभः । भार्गवेन्दुसुतावेव भवेतां योगकारकौ ॥२४॥

For Kanya (Virgo) lagna: Mars, Jupiter, and the Moon are malefic; Venus (भृगु) alone is benefic. Venus and Mercury together become the Yoga-karakas.

ससस्यदहना वैश्या चित्रवर्णा प्रभञ्जिनी । कुमारी तमसायुक्ता बालभावा बुधाधिपः ॥१४॥

Associated with grain and fire, of the vaishya class, of variegated color, windy (restless) in nature; a maiden, joined with tamas, of youthful disposition, and ruled by Mercury.

शीर्षोदयी नृमिथुनं सगदं च सवीणकम् । प्रत्यक्स्वामी द्विपाद्रात्रिबली ग्राम्याग्रगोऽनिली ॥९॥

Rising by its head, depicted as a pair of humans — one bearing a mace, the other a vina — ruled by Mercury (whose direction is west), biped, strong by night, foremost among domesticated creatures, and of airy nature — this is Gemini.

भौमजीवारुणः पापा एक एव कविः शुभः । शनैश्चरेण जीवस्य योगो मेषभवो यथा ॥१८॥

For Mithuna (Gemini) lagna: Mars, Jupiter, and the Sun are malefic; Venus alone is benefic. The combination of Saturn and Jupiter [here] gives results the same way as [described] for one born in Mesha lagna.

जीवादयो ग्रहाः पापाः सन्ति मारकलक्षणाः । बुधः स्वल्पफलान्येवं ज्ञेयानि वृषजन्मनः ॥१७॥

Jupiter and the other [aforesaid malefic] grahas carry the character of marakas; Mercury gives only slight results — such should be known for one born in Vrishabha lagna.

बुधशुक्रार्कजाः पापाः भौमेज्यार्काः शुभप्रदाः । प्रभवेद्योगमात्रेण न शुभं गुरुशुक्रयोः ॥२२॥

For Simha (Leo) lagna: Mercury, Venus, and Saturn (अर्कज, "son of the Sun") are malefic; Mars, Jupiter, and the Sun give auspicious results. The mere combination of Jupiter and Venus does not by itself produce an auspicious result.

जीवार्कमहीजाः पापाः शनैश्चरबुधौ शुभौ । भवेतां राजयोगस्य कारकौ चन्द्रतत्सुतौ ॥२६॥

For Tula (Libra) lagna: Jupiter, the Sun, and Mars are malefic; Saturn and Mercury are benefic. The Moon and its "son" (Mercury) become the karakas of Raja-yoga.

मन्दसौम्यसिताः पापाः शुभौ गुरुदिवाकरौ । न शुभं योगमात्रेण प्रभवेच्छनिजीवयोः ॥१३॥

For Mesha (Aries) lagna: Saturn, Mercury, and Venus are malefic; Jupiter and the Sun are benefic. The mere combination of Saturn and Jupiter does not by itself produce an auspicious result.

सौम्यभौमसिताः पापाः शुभौ गुरुनिशाकरौ । सूर्यचन्द्रमसावेव भवेतां योगकारकौ ॥२८॥

For Vrishchika (Scorpio) lagna: Mercury, Mars, and Venus are malefic; Jupiter and the Moon are benefic. The Sun and the Moon together become the Yoga-karakas.

एक एव कविः पापः शुभौ सौम्यदिवाकरौ । योगो भास्करसौम्याभ्यां निहन्ता भास्करःसुतः ॥३०॥

For Dhanu (Sagittarius) lagna: Venus alone is malefic; Mercury and the Sun are benefic. Their combination (Sun and Mercury) is a Raja-yoga; the maraka is Saturn (भास्करसुत, "son of the Sun").

कुजजीवेन्दवः पापाः शुभौ भार्गवचन्द्रजौ । स्वयं चैव निहन्ता स्यान्मन्दो भौमादयः परे ॥३२॥

For Makara (Capricorn) lagna: Mars, Jupiter, and the Moon are malefic; Venus and Mercury (चन्द्रज, "son of the Moon") are benefic. Saturn is itself the maraka; Mars and the other [aforesaid malefics act as marakas] through association.

जीवचन्द्रकुजाः पापा एको दैत्यगुरुः शुभः । राजयोगकरः शुक्रो भौमश्चैव बृहस्पतिः ॥३४॥

For Kumbha (Aquarius) lagna: Jupiter, the Moon, and Mars are malefic; Venus (दैत्यगुरु, "teacher of the demons") alone is benefic. Venus is the Raja-yoga-karaka, together with Mars and Jupiter.

भार्गवेन्दुसुतौ पापौ भौमेज्यशशिनः शुभाः । एकग्रहस्तु भवेत्साक्षान्महीसुतो योगकारकः ॥२०॥

For Karka (Cancer) lagna: Venus and Mercury are malefic; Mars, Jupiter, and the Moon are benefic. Mars (महीसुत, "son of the earth") alone becomes the Raja-yoga-karaka, directly.

मन्दशुक्रांशुमद्पापाः सौम्यो भौमविधू शुभौ । महीसुतगुरुश्चैव भवेतां योगकारकौ ॥३६॥

For Meena (Pisces) lagna: Saturn, Venus, and the Sun are malefic; Mercury, Mars, and the Moon are benefic. Mars (महीसुत) and Jupiter together become the Yoga-karakas.

शनिर्भौमश्च विज्ञेया प्रबला ह्युत्तरोत्तराः । लग्नाम्बुधून्यकर्माणि प्रबलान्युत्तराणि हि ॥६॥

Saturn and Mars should be known as malefics, each stronger than the last in that order; the lagna, 4th, 7th, and 10th houses are each progressively stronger [as kendras] in that order.

शुक्रो बुधोऽथवा जीवो लग्ने चन्द्रसमन्वितः । लग्नात्केन्द्रगतो वापि राजलक्षणसंयुतः ॥२८॥

If Venus, Mercury, or Jupiter is joined with the Moon in the lagna, or has gone to a kendra from the lagna, [the native] is endowed with royal marks.

विद्याधिपौ जीवबुधावविद्यामरित्रयस्थौ कुरुतोऽथ तौ चेत् । केन्द्रत्रिकोणस्थगृहोच्चसंस्थौ प्रयच्छतां द्रागनवद्यविद्याम् ॥३५॥

Jupiter and Mercury, the lords of learning, situated in the 6th, 8th, or 12th, produce ignorance; but if they are instead in a kendra or trikona, in their own house or exaltation, they swiftly bestow flawless learning.

बुधक्षेत्रगते लग्ने तस्मिन् सौम्ययुते यदि। शनिशुक्रयुते दृष्टे जातो यस्तु धनी नरः।।११।।

If the lagna falls in Mercury's own sign and is joined by Mercury, joined with or aspected by Saturn and Venus, that person is born wealthy.

बन्धुस्थानेश्वरे सौम्ये शुभग्रहनिरीक्षिते । शशिजे लग्नसंयुक्ते बन्धुपूज्यो भवेन्नरः ॥६६॥

If the lord of the 4th house (bandhu-sthana) is a benefic and is aspected by a benefic, and Mercury (shashija) is joined in the lagna, the man is honored by his kinsmen.

यदा सौम्यग्रहैर्दृष्टो भावो भावेशसौम्ययुक् । युवा प्रबुद्धराजस्थः कुमारो वापि तद्भवेत् ॥१५॥

When a house is aspected by benefic grahas, and is joined with its own lord as a benefic, [and] the lord is youthful, awake, and princely, [that house's significations flourish].

ईशेक्षणवशात्तत्र भावसौख्यं वदेद्बुधः । एवं हि सर्वभावेषु ज्ञेयो साधारणो नयः ॥१६॥

By virtue of the lord's aspect upon it, the wise should declare the happiness of that house to increase. This general principle should thus be understood as applying to all houses alike.

यो यो भावपतिर्नष्टस्त्रिकेशाद्यैश्च संयुतः ।

Whichever lord of a house is combust ("lost"), or is joined with the lords of the trik houses (6th/8th/12th) and the like —

भावं न वीक्षते सम्यग्ग्रहो वापि मृतो यदा । स्थविरो वा भवेत्खेटः सुप्तो वापि प्रपीडितः । तदा तद्भावजं सौख्यं नष्टं ब्रूयाद्विशङ्कितः ॥१४॥

— or does not properly aspect its own house, or is in a "dead" state, or is an aged graha, or asleep, or afflicted — then the happiness born of that house should be declared destroyed, its fruit doubtful.

सूर्येन्दुक्ष्माजतमसो वाक्पतिर्मन्दचन्द्रजा। केतुशुक्रौ क्रमादेते विज्ञेयाश्च दशाधिपाः।।१४।।

The Sun, Moon, Mars, Rahu (tamas), Jupiter (vakpati), Saturn, Mercury (manda-chandra-ja), Ketu, and Venus — these, in order, should be known as the dasha-lords.

रसाशामुनिधृत्यब्दा भूपविधृतिवत्सराः। सप्तेन्दवो नगा व्योमबाहवो क्रमतो मताः।।१५।।

[Their dasha periods, encoded as number-words, are, in order:] six, ten, seven, eighteen, sixteen, nineteen, seventeen, seven, and twenty years, respectively held [as the dasha-years for Sun, Moon, Mars, Rahu, Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury, Ketu, and Venus].

अथ बुधदशाफलम्। स्वोच्चे स्वक्षेत्रसंयुक्ते केन्द्रलाभत्रिकोणगे। मित्रक्षेत्रसमायुक्ते सौम्यदाये महत्सुखम्।।५३।।

Now the results of Mercury's dasha: when Mercury is in its own exaltation or own sign, situated in a kendra, the 11th, or a trikona, or joined with a friend's sign — in the dasha of this benefic (saumya), great happiness [results].

धनधान्यादिलाभश्च सत्कीर्तिधनसम्पदाम्। ज्ञानाधिक्यं नृपप्रीति सत्कर्मगुणवर्धनम्।।५४।।

Gain of wealth, grain, and the like, good fame, and increase of wealth and prosperity; abundance of knowledge, the king's favor, and growth in virtuous deeds and qualities [occur].

पुत्रदारादिसौख्यंच देहारोग्यं महत्सुखम्। क्षीरेण भोजनं सौख्यं व्यापारेण धनागमम्।।५५।।

Happiness through children and wife, bodily health, and great happiness [occur]; food with milk, comfort, and gain of wealth through trade [result].

शुभदृष्टियुते सौम्ये भाग्ये कर्माधिपे यदा। आधिपत्ये बलवती सम्पूर्ण फलदायिका।।५६।।

When Mercury (saumya) is aspected by and conjoined with benefics, in the 9th house, [or] the lord of the 10th, and strong in its own lordship — [the dasha] fully bestows all these results.

पापग्रहयुतेदृष्टे राजद्वेषं मनोरुजम्। वन्धुजन विरोधं च विदेशगमनं तथा।।५७।।

When [Mercury is] conjoined with and aspected by malefics — hostility from the king, mental illness, conflict with kin, and travel abroad likewise [occur].

परप्रेष्यं च कलहं मूत्रकृच्छ्रान्महद्भयम्। षष्ठाष्टमव्यये सौम्ये लाभभोगविनाशनम्।।५८।।

Servitude to others, quarrels, and great fear from painful urination [occur]; when Mercury is in the 6th, 8th, or 12th house, destruction of gains and enjoyment [results].

सूर्यस्यान्तर्गते सौम्ये स्वोच्चे वा स्वक्षगेऽपि वा। केन्द्रत्रिकोणलाभस्थे बुधे वर्गबलैर्युते।।६५।।

When Mercury, in Sun's mahadasha, is in its own exaltation or own sign, or situated in a kendra, trikona, or the 11th, endowed with varga-strength —

राज्यलाभं महोत्साहं दारपुत्रादिसौख्यकृत्। महाराजप्रसादेन वाहनाम्बरभूषणम्।।६६।।

— there is gain of kingdom, great enthusiasm, and happiness of wife and sons; through the great king's favor, vehicles, garments, and ornaments.

कुजस्यान्तर्गते सौम्ये लग्नात्केन्द्रत्रिकोणगे। सत्कथाश्चाजपाजादानं धर्मबुद्धिर्महद्यशः।।१८९।।

In Mars's mahadasha, Mercury's antardasha: when Mercury is in a kendra or trikona from the lagna, there is engagement with good discourse and ajapa-japa, righteous inclination, and great fame.

नीतिमार्गप्रसङ्गश्च नित्यं मिष्टान्नभोजनम्। वाहनाम्बरपश्वादिराजकर्मं सुखानि च।।१९०।।

There is adherence to the path of good conduct, daily enjoyment of sweet food, gain of vehicles, garments, and livestock, engagement in royal service, and comforts.

मन्दस्यान्तर्गते सौम्ये त्रिकोणे केन्द्रगेऽपि वा। सन्मानं च यशः कीर्तिर्विद्यालाभं धनागमम्।।७।।

In Saturn's mahadasha, Mercury's antardasha: when Mercury is in a trikona or a kendra, there is honor, fame, renown, gain of learning, and the arrival of wealth.

स्वदेशे सुखमाप्नोति वाहनादिफलैर्युतम्। यज्ञादिकर्मसिद्धिश्च राजयोगादिसम्भवम्।।८।।

One attains happiness in one's own country, endowed with the fruits of vehicles and the like; there is success in sacrifices and similar rites, and the possibility of a rajayoga.

केतोरन्तर्गते सौम्ये केन्द्रलाभत्रिकोणगे। स्वोच्चे स्वक्षेत्रसंयुक्ते राज्यलाभो महत्सुखम्।।६६।।

In Ketu's mahadasha, Mercury's antardasha: when Mercury is in a kendra, the 11th, or a trikona, or joined with its own exaltation or own sign, there is gain of a kingdom and great happiness.

सत्कथाश्रवणं दानं धर्मसिद्धिः सुखावहा। भूलाभः पुत्रलाभश्च शुभगोष्ठी धनागमः।।६७।।

There is listening to virtuous discourse, charity, the accomplishment of righteousness bringing happiness, gain of land, gain of a son, auspicious company, and the arrival of wealth.

शुक्रस्यान्तर्गते सौम्ये केन्द्रे लाभत्रिकोणगे। स्वोच्चे वा स्वक्षेत्रगे वापि राजप्रीतिकरं शुभम्।।५७।।

In Venus's mahadasha, Mercury's antardasha: when Mercury is in a kendra, the 11th, or a trikona, or in its own exaltation or own sign, it auspiciously brings royal favor.

सौभाग्यं पुत्रलाभं च सन्मार्गे धनलाभकृत्। पुराणधर्मश्रवणं शृंगारिजनसंगमम्।।५८।।

There is good fortune, gain of a son, and gain of wealth through righteous means; listening to the Puranas and religious discourse, and association with elegant people.

मुक्ताविद्रुमलाभश्च ज्ञानकर्मसुखादिकम्। विद्यामहत्वं कीर्तिश्च नूतनप्रभुदर्शनम्।।१।।

In Mercury's mahadasha, Mercury's own antardasha: there is gain of pearls and coral, knowledge, good deeds, and happiness; eminence in learning, fame, and audience with a new lord.

विभवं दारपुत्रादिपितृमातृसुखावहम्। नीचोग्रखेटसंयुक्ते षष्ठाष्टव्ययराशिगे।।२।।

There is prosperity, and happiness through wife, sons, and parents. But if Mercury is joined with a debilitated or fierce planet, or in the 6th, 8th, or 12th sign —

पापयुक्तेऽथवा दृष्टे धनधान्यपशुक्षयम्। आत्मबन्धुविरोधं च शूलरोगादिसम्भवम्।।३।।

— or joined with or aspected by malefics, there is loss of wealth, grain, and cattle, conflict with one's own kinsmen, and the possibility of colic and similar disease.

षष्टिर्वक्रगतेर्वीर्यमनुवक्रगतेर्दलम्। पादो विकलभुक्तेः स्याद्बलमेव समागमे।।२६।।

Retrograde motion gives 60 [gati-bala]; anuvakra (post-retrograde slowing) gives half (30); a stationary graha (samagama, near-zero daily motion) gets a quarter (15) — [these being components tallied under chesta-bala].