7th House in Prashna: Representing Quesited

In the detective’s toolkit of Prashna Vedic Astrology, the 7th House stands as a primary house of inquiry. While the 1st House represents the Querent (the person asking), the 7th House, positioned directly opposite, represents the Quesited—the object, person, or adversary of the question. It is the other half of the cosmic equation. Understanding the 7th House in Prashna chart is vital for any horary chart reading, as it describes the energy, strength, and ultimate fate of the subject matter itself.

This house is the focal point when the question revolves around anything involving a clear “other”: a spouse, a business partner, an open enemy in litigation, a missing person, a treaty, or a contractual agreement. The condition of the 7th House and its ruling planet instantly reveals the truth about the question subject prashna.

The 7th House: The Mirror of the Querent

The relationship between the 1st House (Self) and the 7th House (Other) is one of reflection and opposition. In the Prashna chart analysis, the 7th House dictates the conditions the Querent must meet to achieve their goal.

A. The Querent’s Counterpart (Quesited Horary)

The 7th House acts as the designated area for the question subject in several key areas:

Partnerships and Unions: The most common application. It represents the potential spouse, current partner, business collaborator, or anyone with whom the Querent seeks a formal bond.
Open Enemies and Lawsuits: The opponent in a court case, the known adversary, or the competitor in a contract negotiation.
Missing Persons and Items: In specific rules, the missing person or item becomes the Quesited, often ruled by the 7th or its lord’s dispositor, depending on the context (though lost objects may also be the 2nd or 4th).
Agreements and Transactions: The fulfillment or failure of contracts, negotiations, or public dealings.

B. The Strength of the Quesited (Opinion)

Opinion: The intrinsic strength of the 7th House Lord in a 7th house Prashna determines the viability and value of the subject matter to the Querent.

Reason: If the 7th Lord is powerfully placed (exalted or in its own sign), the Quesited is strong—be it a valuable business deal, a formidable enemy, or a high-quality spouse. If the 7th Lord is weak, debilitated, or severely afflicted, the subject matter is flawed, unreliable, or ultimately not worth the effort.

Example: The Business Partnership:

Strong 7th Lord: If the question is about a partnership, a strong 7th Lord indicates the partner is wealthy, competent, and honest—a worthwhile venture.
Weak 7th Lord: A weak or combust 7th Lord suggests the potential partner is unreliable, struggling financially, or acting with poor intention.

Opinion/Restatement: Therefore, before assessing the outcome, the astrologer must first evaluate the inherent quality of the quesited house, judging its potential to deliver the desired result.

Planetary Placements: Defining the Nature of the Subject

Planets occupying or aspecting the 7th House immediately color the conditions surrounding the question subject. This is fundamental to horary chart reading.

A. Benefics (Jupiter and Venus) in the 7th House

Jupiter (The Great Benefic): Placed in the 7th, Jupiter offers immense protection, righteousness, and grace to the subject. In a marriage chart, it promises a virtuous, financially sound partner and a long-lasting union. In a legal battle, it suggests the opponent’s claims lack legal grounding, favoring the Querent.
Venus (Karaka of Relationships): Venus in the 7th House enhances harmony, material comfort, and ease in the transaction. In a property purchase (where the 7th can represent the seller), it promises a smooth, aesthetically pleasing deal.

B. Malefics (Mars and Saturn) in the 7th House

Malefics are almost always negative signals for the 7th House in a Prashna Chart, especially for questions of union or peace.

Saturn (The Great Malefic): Saturn in the 7th imposes delay, separation, fear, or chronic obstacles. In a marriage Prashna, it guarantees a long engagement, a partner who is older or distant, or a relationship weighed down by responsibility. In litigation, it means a long, exhausting, and costly battle.
Mars (The Planet of Conflict): Mars brings quarrel, aggression, impatience, and potential severance. In a business query, it signals immediate competition or conflict with the partner. In a relationship chart, it often leads to volatile disputes or a swift, fiery breakup.
Rahu and Ketu (The Nodes):
- Rahu: Introduces confusion, deceit, obsession, or foreign elements. The Quesited may be a mystery or involve a hidden agenda.
- Ketu: Signals detachment, abandonment, or final separation. For a missing person, Ketu in the 7th can be a grave indicator of permanent loss or withdrawal.

C. The Sun in the 7th House

The Sun signifies authority, power, and ego. Its placement here can be a double-edged sword:

Positive: The subject (e.g., the potential job offer, the partnership) is prestigious, high-status, or backed by government authority.
Negative: The subject or partner is domineering, ego-driven, and likely to burn or overpower the Querent’s interests (the querent representation in the 1st House).

The Final Verdict: Connection to the Querent

The ultimate answer in a 7th house Prashna is not merely the strength of the 7th Lord, but its relationship to the 1st Lord. This is the core of prashna interpretation.

A. The Yogas of Conjunction (Yes)

For a positive outcome, the two planets (Lagna Lord and 7th Lord) must be converging.

Applying Aspect (Ithasala Yoga): If the faster-moving planet of the pair is moving toward a conjunction or friendly aspect with the slower planet, it promises a successful union or agreement. This is the most decisive “Yes” in Prashna.
Mutual Reception/Exchange: If the 1st Lord is in the 7th Lord’s sign, and the 7th Lord is in the 1st Lord’s sign (Parivartana Yoga), it suggests the Querent and the Quesited are destined to be intertwined. This is a powerful signature for an enduring partnership or the fulfillment of a contract.

B. The Yogas of Separation (No)

For a negative outcome, the two planets must be separating or obstructed.

Separating Aspect (Isarapha Yoga): If the faster planet has just moved away from the slower planet, the opportunity is over. The partner has moved on, the deal is lost, or the litigation has reached a point of no return.
Prohibiting Planet: If a powerful Malefic planet (like Saturn) is placed between the Lagna Lord and the 7th Lord, preventing their aspect from perfecting, it is a clear prohibition. The event will not happen due to a powerful obstacle.

Prashna Basics: The 1st and 7th House Lords in a 6/8 or 2/12 relationship to each other are fundamentally inimical. This is a severe misalignment, signaling high conflict or mutual destruction/loss.

The 7th House in Specialized Queries (Question Subject)

While primarily the house of partnership, the 7th House’s role can expand in specific types of questions, requiring careful application of the quesited house rules.

A. Litigation (Who Wins?)

In a court case, the Querent (1st) and the Open Enemy (7th) are clearly defined.

Victory for Querent: The 1st Lord is stronger than the 7th Lord, and the 6th House (enemies) is weak or afflicted by benefics.
Victory for Quesited/Opponent: The 7th Lord is significantly stronger than the 1st Lord, and the 8th House (loss to the Querent) or the 12th House (defeat/expenditure for the Querent) is strong.

B. Missing Persons (Will They Return?)

Here, the 7th House represents the missing person as the Querent’s counterpart.

Return Possible: If the 7th Lord is moving toward the Lagna or is in a Kendra, or if Jupiter aspects the 7th, the person is expected to return. The 4th House (home) or 9th House (long travel) can also be highly indicative.
Permanent Absence: If the 7th Lord is in the 8th or 12th House, or afflicted by Ketu, the return is highly unlikely, suggesting great difficulty or loss.

C. Dealing with the Public (General Interaction)

For public success, contract signings, or marketing campaigns, the 7th House represents the audience or the general public. A strong, unafflicted 7th House ensures public acceptance and successful outreach for the question subject prashna.

Conclusion: The Axis of Outcome

The 7th House in a Prashna chart is the axis upon which the entire outcome turns. It provides the querent representation of the Goal, allowing the astrologer to assess the quality, viability, and challenges inherent in the subject matter. By meticulously analyzing the 7th Lord’s dignity, the planetary guests in the 7th House, and the crucial connections between the 1st and 7th Lords, a master of prashna interpretation can deliver a definitive verdict.

The true magic of the 7th House in Prashna lies in its clarity: it forces the Querent to look honestly at their counterpart. The stars don’t just predict the outcome; they diagnose the relationship between the seeker and the sought, confirming whether the goal is aligned with the seeker’s destiny in that specific, critical moment.