Dear VAS, Strength todo what? - Ask yourself this.

Shad Bala is for grahas alone, and those being the 7 grahas from Sun-Saturn. Shad Bala is used to see the extent to which the Grahas indications will be felt . I.e. an example from BPHS: "A planet in deep exaltation, and fully equipped with the Shad Bala, confers Gre at Raja Yoga.. etc" Zoran has earlier given an example of this usage in an Article about Avasthas, b ut unfortunately i can't find it on the http://sjvcusa.org site. Astakavarga is more advanced, and relates to the 7 Grahas influence on the vario us houses, from themselves. Hence this is related to activity and the place wher e there is activity. There is something called Bhava Balas as well. Otherwise see the house. Treat the friends and enemies of the house, as per the karaka of it, and hence decide the results. I.e. for Mother see 4th house, and Moon being karaka gives; Saturn, Venus and Me rcury as enemies towards Moon. Hence Saturn, Venus or Mercury in the 4th house, can be bad for the health of mo ther. Education is also the 4th house, and its Karaka is Mercury. Mars is very enimica l towards Mercury, and its placement in the 4th obstructs education, and the per son has trouble reading, learning math etc. Hence Mars occupying the Siddhamsa-N arayana Dasa Rasi also gives problems with education during its Dasa. I assume you are checking for wealth of the person. Well 2nd house doesn't show wealth gained but shows he sustaining forces of ones life. i.e. which factors ke eps one alive, and how one keeps alive. Karaka for wealth is Jupiter. Hence Rahu and Saturn in 2nd is very troubling for the person and gives a poor upbringing. 11th from Arudha Lagna should be check to determine the wealth propperly. The mo re grahas aspecting/joining this place, gives more sources of gains.