Phaladeepika
नक्षत्रपादैष्यघटी समुत्था पूर्वा दशा तत्पतिवर्षजाता । पूर्वोक्तपादक्रमशोऽत्र विद्यात्- केषांचिदेवं मतमाहुरार्या ॥ १०॥
The initial Mahadasa of a life belongs to the lord of the Rasi owning the Nakshatra Pada occupied by the Moon at the time of birth, being so much of the Rasi-Mahadasa as corresponds to the Ghatikas that yet remain of the Nakshatra pada and the order of Mahadasas follows the natural order of the Nakshatra padas reckoned from the aforesaid one. This is the opinion, say the sages, held by some (astrologers).
english translation
nakSatrapAdaiSyaghaTI samutthA pUrvA dazA tatpativarSajAtA । pUrvoktapAdakramazo'tra vidyAt- keSAMcidevaM matamAhurAryA ॥ 10॥
hk transliteration by Sanscript