Mahabharata Quiz - 88

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Question – 88

Did unusual Kshaya tithi-s cause Trayodasi Pournami? How did the moon appear then?

Answer:

The unusual repetition of kshaya tithi-s, apparently caused by the disturbance on the lunar orbit due to the comet-hit resulted in faster than normal movement of the moon. That it continued in the next phase is made out from the expression, “tat kṣayāya bhaviṣyati” which was seen by Vyasa day and night.

The other expressions given by Vyasa which were mistaken to mean an eclipse are taken up now. The phrase “alakṣyaḥ prabhayā hīnaḥ” is quoted by opponents to indicate an eclipse.  Taking the meaning of ‘alakṣyaḥ’ as ‘invisible’, the Mahabharata researchers thought it referred to an eclipse as there was a ‘reduction in the moonlight’ (prabhayā hīnaḥ). But Alakṣya is the opposite of Lakṣya with one of the meanings, “mark”. Alakṣya means without marks.

Here we must recall Vyasa’s verse on “Somasya lakṣma vyāvṛttaṃ” where he meant seeing changes in the marks on the lunar disc. So naturally he was expected to look intently at the waxing moon for the fresh mark that he had seen days ago. To his dismay, no marks were seen anywhere on the moon. Then what did he see? He explains it in the next line, “candro 'bhūd agnivarṇa” - the moon appeared in the colour of fire. Additionally, the increase in brightness day after day expected in the waxing phase was no longer happening. The lunar disc appeared entirely devoid of marks and bereft of light.

The verse under discussion (quoted in question - 85) perfectly expresses the dull appearance of the lunar disc that was recovering from a comet-hit. Two probable reasons can be cited for such appearance; one, related to the atmospheric aberrations in the observer’s location and two, disturbed lunar soil yet to settle down on the surface of the moon.