Mahabharata Quiz - 91

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Question – 91

Some people claim that these events represent twin eclipses. How do you prove them wrong?

Answer:

The Thirteen-day eclipse, single or twin or triple is proposed by almost all the Mahabharata researchers without realizing that Vyasa doesn’t talk about day but only about tithi. There is no reference to Rahu or Ketu either whose conjunction with the sun and the moon is an essential condition for a solar eclipse (on Amavasya). There is only a reference to ‘aparvaṇi grahāv etau’ – of two grahas joining in, out of season. Vyasa says this after expressing the impossible-to-happen Trayodasi Amavasya.

candrasūryāv ubhau grastāv ekamāse trayodaśīm

aparvaṇi grahāv etau prajāḥ saṃkṣapayiṣyataḥ (MB: 6.3.29)

Meaning:

Candrasūryāv = Moon and sun (dual, nominative, vocative, accusative)

Ubhau = both of them, against each other, i.e., opposite to each other (SB 10.63.23) (dual, nominative, vocative, accusative)

Grastāv = covered (SB 6.8.34: sva-tejasā grasta-samasta-tejāḥ sva-tejasā = by His personal effulgence covered all other influences = one upon another) (dual) stem: grasta. (Nominative, accusative, dual past passive participle)

ekamāse = in a month (locative)

trayodaśīm = trayodaśīm = trayodaśī (ī-stem, singular, accusative)

aparvaṇi = (locative case of a-parvan-) at the wrong time, out of season

grahāv = two grahas (moon and sun), (dual, nominative, vocative, accusative)

etau = these two (SB 10.41.31), these (SB 10.43.23, SB 10.46.31, SB 10.82.38, SB 11.11.6, SB 3.16.2)

prajāḥ = people

saṃkṣapayiṣyataḥ = will be destroyed

Overall meaning:

“These two grahas, the moon and the sun covered each other (Full-moon) at a wrong time in Trayodaśī in a month, (by which) the people are to be destroyed.”

In the first line of this verse, ‘candrasūryāv, ubhau and grastāv’ are in dual case indicating the catching of only two planets, the moon and the sun. Since this followed Amavasya in Trayodasi in the previous verse, the meaning “against each other” referring to “opposite to each other” (Full-moon) is taken for ‘ubhau’. The event being that of Full-moon, the meaning ‘covered’ is taken for ‘grastāv’ (dual declension). They covered each other at wrong time (aparvaṇi), a reference to Trayodasi –i.e., before the normal season on Pañcadasi or even Caturdasi. This happened in ekamāse – in a month or in one month – which could be a reference to a solar month or two pakshas (phases of the moon) together, but can never be in a single lunar month, because by Amavasya, a lunar month ends, and the next month starts from the next day. In that month the Full Moon happened at Trayodasi.

Thus, there is absolutely no reference to an eclipse in this verse too. The word ‘grasta’ is mis-interpreted by some researchers to mean, Rahu!!!  Grasta can happen with or by anyone. To have meant an eclipse, the verse should have made a mention about Rahu or Ketu by their alternative names if not their own names.  It is repeatedly written in dual declension about the sun and the moon and what they did with each other.

The simulated version from the astrology software for the Vedic Surya Siddhānta ayanāmśa shows Vishakha starting in the evening of Krishna Trayodasi of Kartika month.

 

Amavasya started on Trayodasi in the star Vishakha.

The Amavasya in Trayodasi occurred in the lunar month of Kartika (Kaumudī) in the star Vishakha and not in Jyeshtha. Note the location of Rahu more than 90 degrees away from the sun. In the absence of a conjunction with Rahu or Ketu, an eclipse did not occur.