House 10 of 12 · Karma Bhava
The 10th House in Vedic Astrology (Karma Bhava)
The 10th house, Karma Bhava, governs career, status and action. Below: what it covers, which planet rules it for each ascendant, and what the reading says when its lord sits in each of the twelve houses.
- Sanskrit name
- Karma Bhava
- Also called
- house of career
- Natural sign
- Capricorn, ruled by Saturn
- Significator (karaka)
- Sun, Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn
- Body (Kalapurusha)
- the knees
- Type
- Kendra, Upachaya
- Directional strength
- Sun, Mars
What the 10th house covers
The 10th house is what you do in the world: your career, your reputation, authority, and the actions you are remembered for. It sits at the top of the chart, the point of greatest visibility.
It is both a kendra, the strongest of them, and an upachaya, so career tends to grow with age. For detail, astrologers read it alongside the D10 (dasamsa) chart.
Kendra. The 1st, 4th, 7th, 10th houses are the angular houses, the pillars of the chart. Planets here are strong and visible in your life.
Upachaya. The 3rd, 6th, 10th, 11th houses are the houses of growth. Results here improve with time and effort, and the hard planets do well in them.
Its natural significator, or karaka, is the Sun and Mercury and Jupiter and Saturn: whatever the house's own lord says, these planets carry the 10th house's matters in every chart. The Sun and Mars gain directional strength (dig bala) here, their strongest position by direction.
Who rules your 10th house
The lord of the 10th house is the planet that rules the sign on it, and that depends on your ascendant. Houses here are counted by whole signs, the 10th sign from the ascendant being the 10th house.
| Ascendant | 10th house sign | 10th lord | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aries | Capricorn | Saturn | |
| Taurus | Aquarius | Saturn | yogakaraka for this ascendant |
| Gemini | Pisces | Jupiter | |
| Cancer | Aries | Mars | yogakaraka for this ascendant |
| Leo | Taurus | Venus | |
| Virgo | Gemini | Mercury | also the lagna lord |
| Libra | Cancer | Moon | |
| Scorpio | Leo | Sun | |
| Sagittarius | Virgo | Mercury | |
| Capricorn | Libra | Venus | yogakaraka for this ascendant |
| Aquarius | Scorpio | Mars | |
| Pisces | Sagittarius | Jupiter | also the lagna lord |
The 10th lord in each house
Where the 10th lord sits shows where the 10th house's matters play out. These are the texts your own reading uses. In a real chart they are then adjusted: the lord's dignity, whether it is combust, and the planets aspecting it all strengthen or soften the result.
10th lord in the 1st house (lagna)
A self-made career: your personality and initiative drive professional success, and you are known for your work.
From a kendra or trikona, the lord protects the affairs of the 10th.
10th lord in the 2nd house
A family business, or a career in finance, speech or food; your profession builds wealth.
10th lord in the 3rd house
A career in media, communication, sport or skilled trades; initiative moves you forward.
10th lord in the 4th house
A career in property, education, agriculture, vehicles or from home; work and home life are intertwined.
From a kendra or trikona, the lord protects the affairs of the 10th.
10th lord in the 5th house
Advisory, creative, teaching or political work; your intelligence shapes your career.
From a kendra or trikona, the lord protects the affairs of the 10th.
10th lord in the 6th house
A career in service, law, medicine or competitive fields; you excel under pressure.
From a difficult house, the lord strains the affairs of the 10th: they take more effort to secure.
10th lord in the 7th house
Business partnerships or public-facing work; your career grows through collaboration.
From a kendra or trikona, the lord protects the affairs of the 10th.
10th lord in the 8th house
Sudden changes of career are likely; research, investigation or transformative work suits you.
From a difficult house, the lord strains the affairs of the 10th: they take more effort to secure.
10th lord in the 9th house
An eminent career guided by principle; mentors, teaching, law or religion may be involved.
From a kendra or trikona, the lord protects the affairs of the 10th.
10th lord in the 10th house
Authority and status come naturally; your career is strong and visible.
From a kendra or trikona, the lord protects the affairs of the 10th.
10th lord in the 11th house
Large gains from your career; professional networks and ambition bring rewards.
10th lord in the 12th house
A career in a foreign country or an institution such as a hospital, research centre or retreat.
From a difficult house, the lord strains the affairs of the 10th: they take more effort to secure.
Where is your 10th lord?
Cast your chart to see which planet rules your 10th house, where it sits, and everything that strengthens or weakens it.
Cast your kundli