Exaltation is a status wherein a planet operates at 100% or close to 100% efficiency; Debilitation is the opposite of that. Debilitation is a status wherein a planet, as a virtue or result of its position in the astrological chart of the person, usually loses up to as much as 50% of its power (or more, sometimes) and the figure may even increase to 90% loss if it is at its peak debilitation degree (but this can always be fixed).
Note that when a planet is in its peak exaltation, it will deliver 100% of the benefits, but when it is at its peak debilitation, it will not lose 100% of its power, but 90% of it. This is because the house it is positioned in will still give some benefit regardless.
So, in Vedic astrology, every planet has a certain zodiac sign where its powers are the lowest. The said zodiac sign is referred to as its debilitation sign, and the planet, if placed in that zodiac sign, is said to be debilitated.
A debilitated planet usually loses 50% of its strength at least unless it is aspected by a benefic; the loss may be more if it is in conjunction with an enemy planet or further aspected by a malefic that’s also an enemy planet. A debilitated Saturn being aspected by Rahu will not cause much issue even though both are malefics because Rahu is a friend of Saturn.
Remember once more that even if planets are debilitated, they will still give some kind of benefit from the house they are positioned in.
For example, I had Mars debilitated in the 11th house of my ascendant chart, which controls profits, gains, social connections, friends, etc. Although debilitated, I still managed to get some profits and gains from my social circle (as in, clients for my freelancing work). So, like exaltation signs, there are peak debilitation points for planets, too. The table below illustrates:
| Sr. No. | Planet | Debilitation Zodiac Sign | Peak Debilitation Degree |
| 1 | Sun | Libra | 10 degrees in Libra |
| 2 | Moon | Scorpio | 3 degrees in Scorpio |
| 3 | Mercury | Pisces | 15 degrees in Pisces |
| 4 | Venus | Virgo | 27 degrees in Virgo |
| 5 | Mars | Cancer | 28 degrees in Cancer |
| 6 | Jupiter | Capricorn | 5 degrees in Capricorn |
| 7 | Saturn | Aries | 20 degrees in Aries |
| 8 | Rahu (North Node)* | Sagittarius | 15 degrees in Sagittarius |
| 9 | Ketu (South Node)* | Gemini | 15 degrees in Gemini |
A few things to note regarding debilitated planets:
- Planets in certain zodiac signs are always considered debilitated; for example, Saturn in Aries is always debilitated irrespective of its degree.
- The closer a planet is to its peak debilitation degree, the weaker it becomes. For example, Saturn at 10 degrees Aries clearly loses 90% of its strength, but at 11 degrees Aries, it gains 3.33% strength, which puts it at 53.33% strength. The strength calculation is 100% divided by 30 degrees = 3.33% per degree.
The table below explains how the concept of power works when a planet is debilitated or placed in its debilitation sign.
Consider the example of Saturn in Aries, where it is debilitated.
| Degree | Remark |
| Till 9 degrees | Saturn starts at 50% power and keeps decreasing until 85% power |
| 10 degrees | Saturn loses 90% of its power clearly; 10 degrees its peak debilitation |
| 11 degrees | Saturn is moving away from peak debilitation, gains 3.33% power |
| 12 degrees + | Saturn gains more power as it keeps moving away from peak debilitation |
Note that, under no circumstances, would a planet be able to reach 100% or even 70% power in a debilitation sign. The maximum it can reach is perhaps 60%, no more than that. However, this can be improved by chanting mantras and performing divine procedures (such as worshipping certain deities).