Thursday, November 2, 2023

Mahabharata Quiz - 102

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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.