Sixth House (Ari Bhava) in Astrology: षष्ठ भाव

Ari / अरि = enemy, opponent; also service, daily work, health challenges, and service-oriented duties.

The Sixth House governs enemies, illnesses, debts, legal matters, service, and routine work. It shows where we face opposition and where we can build strength by disciplined effort.

Keywords & Concepts

• Enemies / Opponents – शत्रु – śatru
• Health / Illness – स्वास्थ्य / रोग – svasthya / roga
• Service / Jobs – सेवा / कार्य – seva / kārya
• Debts & Liabilities – ऋण – ṛṇa
• Litigation & Legal – न्याय, मुक़दमे – nyāya
• Daily Routine – दिनचर्या – dinacaryā
• Overcoming Obstacles – बाधा/विजय – bādhā/vijaya
• Enemies of the ego – अहंकार के विरोधी

Practical Notes

The Sixth House (Ari Bhava) governs enemies, competition, debt, illness, and the daily service or work environment. Uniquely, this is a dusthāna where malefic planets such as Mars, Saturn, Rahu, or Ketu often perform well. Their aggressive and resilient nature helps the native fight enemies, overcome litigation, manage debt, and resist disease, making them effective conquerors of challenges. In contrast, strong benefic planets like Jupiter or the Moon may struggle here, sometimes increasing sensitivity to illness or making it harder to overcome opposition unless they are very well placed or strongly aspected. Venus, however, is often considered a functional benefic exception in the 6th house—especially when unafflicted—supporting harmony at work, recovery, and service without weakening competitive strength.

Lord Rama’s Sixth House Example

In Lord Rama’s chart, the 6th house placements show how he faced opponents and overcame obstacles through discipline and duty. The house also reflects service and challenges that shaped his capacity for endurance and righteousness.

Lord Rama’s 6th bhava ruler is Jupiter, which also rules his 9th house of higher learning. On one hand, as 9th lord Jupiter grants higher knowledge, status, and learned teachers: his father King Dasharatha, and gurus Vashishtha (family priest and educator), Vishvamitra (who taught advanced martial arts and divine weaponry), Agastya (who provided celestial weapons), Bharadwaj (who offered sanctuary and guidance during exile), and Valmiki (who later taught his sons Lava and Kusha and recorded the Ramayana). This role links Jupiter to kingship, respect from brahmins and sages, and the transmission of Vedic wisdom.

On the other hand, as exalted 6th lord Jupiter brings strong enemies and obstacles: powerful adversaries such as Ravana, Kumbhakarna, Indrajit, Khara, Dushana, Tataka, and Maricha; and major trials like Kaikeyi’s fourteen‑year exile, Sita’s abduction, the ocean barrier, and the boons protecting his foes. Jupiter’s dual role (9th and exalted 6th lord in lagna) explains why he both attracts learned allies and faces formidable enemies, and why higher learning and dharma ultimately help overcome those challenges. Jupiter’s drishti to the 7th house also supports brahmacharya tendencies, especially when Mangal occupies the 7th.

🛠️ Sixth House + Health, Debt & Service

Planets in Ripu Bhava (the Sixth House) shape experiences related to illness, debt, enemies, service, and daily routines. Malefic planets often perform well here, helping one confront enemies, overcome debt and legal issues, and build resilience against disease. Strong benefic planets may sometimes struggle in this house, potentially increasing sensitivity to illness or difficulty overcoming opposition, unless very well placed or supported by aspects.

Essence

👉 The 6th house does not break you—it trains you.
👉 यह भाव गिराता नहीं, गिराने की शक्ति देता है。

Ari (अरि)

A + Ri
A = against
Ri = rise / movement
👉 Ari = one who rises against → enemy, rival, opposition

Śatru (शत्रु)

Śa + Tru
Śa = harm
Tru = restrain / bind
👉 Śatru = one who harms but can be restrained → controllable enemy

Ripu (रिपु)

Ri + Pu
Ri = deceive / corrupt
Pu = spoil / weaken
👉 Ripu = corrupting enemy → inner vices, hidden opposition

Zatru / Śatru (जत्रु / शत्रु)

Za / Śa = strike / harm
Tru = restrain
👉 Zatru / Śatru = harmful opponent → destroyer of stability

Roga (रोग)

Ro + Ga
Ro = blockage
Ga = flow / movement
👉 Roga = blocked flow → illness, disease

Vyādhi (व्याधि)

Vi + Ādhi
Vi = spread
Ādhi = affliction
👉 Vyādhi = spreading affliction → chronic disease

Kṣata (क्षत)

Kṣa + Ta
Kṣa = damage
Ta = state / condition
👉 Kṣata = damaged state → wound, injury, trauma

Girāna (गिराना)

Gi + Rā + Na
Gi = fall
Rā = force
Na = act
👉 Girāna = act of causing a fall → defeat, subdue

Ṛṇa (ऋण)

Ṛ + Ṇa
Ṛ = duty
Ṇa = bond
👉 Ṛṇa = bonded duty → debt, karmic obligation

Sevā (सेवा)

Se + Vā
Se = dedication
Vā = action
👉 Sevā = dedicated action → service, daily work

Yuddha (युद्ध)

Yu + Dha
Yu = join / engage
Dha = hold firm
👉 Yuddha = engaged struggle → battle, competition, litigation

Ṣaṭkoṇa (षट्कोण)

Ṣaṭ + Koṇa
Ṣaṭ = six
Koṇa = angle
👉 Ṣaṭkoṇa = sixth angle → house of conflict and correction

Śatrur-gṛha (शत्रुर्गृह)

Śatru + Gṛha
Śatru = enemy
Gṛha = house
👉 Śatrur-gṛha = house of enemies → Sixth House

Protective Power of the 6th House

👉 The 6th house protects against enemy, sickness, sorrow, and debt by giving resilience, discipline, and fighting spirit.
👉 यह भाव कष्ट से रक्षा करना सिखाता है।

Career & Work Significance

👉 The 6th house is very good for jobs and service, because it is 9th from the 10th Bhāva (fortune of career).
👉 इसलिए यह भाव नौकरी, सेवा, और मेहनत से सफलता देता है।

Essence

👉 The 6th house does not break you—it trains you.
👉 यह भाव गिराता नहीं, गिराने की शक्ति देता है。

🌟 Example of Strong Sixth House

Person with a strong 6th house: Highly disciplined, excels in their job or service, successfully manages debts or overcomes legal opposition, and is often dedicated to a health regimen or helping the marginalized. They have the power to conquer their enemies (internal or external).

✨ In simple words — 6th House (षष्ठ भाव)

The 6th House (Ari Bhava / Ripu Bhava) governs enemies, debts, illness, daily work, and service.

Positive effects: Resilience, discipline, problem‑solving, ability to overcome struggles, and success in competitive or service‑oriented fields (healers, lawyers, soldiers, athletes, etc.).

Negative effects: Chronic illness, stress, debts, legal or workplace conflicts, and ongoing struggles with rivals; poorly placed benefics may reduce natural strength in these areas.

Note: Malefics (Mars, Saturn, Rahu, Ketu) often perform well here, helping the native “conquer” difficulties. Benefics may struggle unless well‑placed.