Since everything in Vedic astrology is decided on the basis of impact or effect, all the planets can be classified as either benefic or malefic by nature.
- Benefic – they are ‘good’ by nature and will not cause issues for other planets
- Malefic – they are ‘harmful’ by nature and likely affect a benefic planet or simply cause harm on their own depending on wherever they are placed; however, malefic planets can and do give good results in certain conditions (explained later).
The table below lists the benefic and malefic planets in Vedic astrology.
| Planet | Nature | Reason |
| Sun | Benefic (but considered malefic by some astrologers since it combusts other planets and makes them lose their strength; additionally, unless exalted or in its own sign or conjunct with or at least is aspected by benefic planets like Mercury, Jupiter, or Venus, the Sun causes some problems related to the house it is placed in). | Supports vitality, authority, self-esteem, long life |
| Moon | Benefic | Supports emotional fulfillment, happiness, mental resilience |
| Mercury | Benefic (but turns malefic if conjoins or is conjunct with a malefic planet as per Brihat Parashar Hora Shashtra Vol. 1) | Supports intelligence, logic, reasoning, and communication |
| Venus | Benefic | Supports love, romance, luxury, comforts, beauty |
| Jupiter | Benefic | Supports good fortune, marriage, family, wealth, ancestry |
| Mars | Malefic | Causes anger, aggression, violence, conflicts |
| Saturn | Malefic | Causes delays, grief, misfortune, sorrow, sickness (mostly) |
| Rahu | Malefic | Causes sudden changes, losses, illusions, obsessions, etc. |
| Ketu | Malefic | Causes isolation, detachment, losses, anxiety, etc. |
Note that merely because a planet is termed as ‘malefic’ does not necessarily make it harmful for the native or person. For example, Rahu is a malefic, but He can also give sudden gains and income or drive a person’s obsession towards their career and make them very successful in technical fields.
Similarly, Jupiter, although the highest order benefic, will end up giving bad results if it is badly placed or in an enemy sign (explained later).
*As for trans-Saturnian planets, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto are all considered neither benefic nor malefic as their presence does not affect the rest of the 9 planets in Vedic astrology. However, their placements still matter and if they are badly placed, their ill-effects will become apparent.
Some additional rules to remember as per the Brihat Parashar Hora Shastra Volume 1 are:
- Mercury is a young planet, so if it is conjunct with a malefic planet, it becomes acting like a malefic planet itself.
- Moon is a natural benefic, but if it is too close to the Sun (that is, combusted), then it turns into a malefic planet.
- Lords of the angular houses (1st house, 4th house, 7th house, and 10th house) lose their abilities to either do good or bad for the native. So, if the lords of the angular houses are malefic, they no longer can do bad for the native, and if they are benefic, they can no longer do good for the native. However, their effects as per their zodiac signs (exaltation, own sign, friendly sign, neutral sign, enemy sign, debilitation) still apply.
- Lord of the trines (1st house, 5th house, and 9th house) will always give benefic results irrespective of whether they are benefic or malefic by nature.
- Lord of the 1st house or Lagna or ascendant house is both a lord of the trines as well as the lord of the quadrants or angular houses, and so, He will ALWAYS give benefic results to the native irrespective of the situation.
- Lord of the 3rd, 6th, and 7th houses are always malefic by nature.
- Lords of the 2nd, 8th, and 12th houses are neutral; they will give good results as per their placement in house and zodiac sign.