In the 31st part of the Mahabharata series, Nilesh Oak's
version that Arundhatī preceded Vasishtha (star) for 6000 years is analysed.
After explaining Arundhati’s significance as an icon of Pativratātva in Vedic
society, I provide a word-by-word meaning of the verse, highlighting an
inherent contradiction. This is resolved using the Mīmāṃsā axiom on Guna and Pradhāna statements,
establishing that Arundhatī momentarily appearing ahead of her husband was a
temporary phenomenon, a nimitta as stated by Vyasa.
This appearance is attributed to a comet impact which is
explained with a diagram. The astronomical explanation for calculating a star's
location is given, demonstrating Oak's error in considering only the Right
Ascension of the two stars, neglecting calculations involving Right Ascension,
Proper Motion, and observer latitude. Oak's oversight has tarnished Arundhati's
iconic status, invoked in Vedic marriages as a Pativratā symbol. As this
nimitta is neither primary nor secondary evidence for dating the epic, viewers
believing his version are cautioned about these mistakes.
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