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Question – 102
Did Vyasa say that
the star Arundhati (Alcor) which is seen behind the star Mizar (Vasishtha) was
found to have changed position with Vasishtha?
Answer:
Vyasa did say that
Arundhati who always follows her husband (star) was seen to have put her
husband behind her, but he said this as one of the many nimitta-s that caused
fear in him. The context was just before the war began when Vyasa came to meet
the king Dhritarashtra to persuade him to stop his sons from fighting the war. He
began by saying that he is seeing numerous nimitta-s (omens) which indicate
terror. (yathemāni nimittāni bhayāyādyopalakṣaye – MB: 6-2-16a).
Following this
statement, Vyasa gives more than 75 nimitta-s of three types – terrestrial,
atmospheric and celestial. In the context of celestial nimitta-s, he talks
about the position of Arundhati- Vasishtha stars (Alcor and Mizar in Saptarishi
Mandala), then about Saturn causing affliction to Rohini and then about the
change in the marks on the lunar disc.
