Mahabharata Quiz - 57

 Click here for the previous question

Question – 57

Did the observation of change of direction by seven rivers appear in the same context of a strong south westerly wind? If so, the causes for the nimitta can be traced to a stormy wind. Why bring in a meteor-hit to explain the events?

Answer:

The change of direction from east to west of seven rivers including the river Sindhu appears in the same context explained by Vaisampayana to king Janamejaya (MB: 5.82.6). He also said that a South-westerly wind with the harsh rattle of thunder, uprooting trees by the thousands, crushed the city of Hastinapura (MB: 5-82.10).

The south-westerly wind in this context is taken by Mr. Nilesh Oak to mean Southwest Monsoon by which he interpreted the Kaumudi Maasa (Krishna starting his peace journey) as falling in Varsha season (rainy season) notwithstanding the reference to Sharad season (autumn season) in the verse.

Nowhere Vaisampayana talked about rainfall from the Southwest wind. He only said that the wind was roaring and harsh that it crushed the city and the trees. The accompanying events refer to the absence of clouds, but thunderous noises form the sky. These indicate that this was not a rain giving monsoonal wind.

The change of direction of seven rivers including Sindhu from east to west appears odd, because not all the rivers are east flowing, certainly Sindhu was not. Then what did Vaisampayana (Vyasa) mean?

Seeking an answer for this, the rivers including Sindhu take a winding path such that in some places they move towards east for long stretches. Some force of wind had pushed such east flowing parts of the rivers towards west.