History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v4.c63.t2.756.1

v4.c63.t2.756.1

Most of the important astronomical details will now be set out from the time when Lord Kṛṣṇa is said to have started as a peace-maker to the Kauravas. In Udyogaparva 83. 6-7¹⁷⁶⁸ it is said that Kṛṣṇa started in the month of Kārtika (Kaumude māsi) *at the end of the śarad season and about the advent of winter*, when the moon was in Revatī nakṣatra and on *maitra muhūrta*. Āśvina and Kārtika are at present said to form the season of *śarad*, and Mārgaśīrṣa and Pauṣa form *hemanta*. This verse itself presents a difficulty. On the Full Moon day of Kārtika, the moon is in Kṛttikā nakṣatra and the moon would be in Revatī three days before i. e. on or about the 12th of the bright half of Kārtika. If we take this along with the words 'at the end of śarad' it follows that the month was *pūrṇimānta*; otherwise (i. e. if the month were *amānta*) it would be highly improper to say that the 12th of the bright half of Kārtika was at the end of Śarad. After Kṛṣṇa failed in his mission he returned to the Pāṇḍavas (for all of which we must allow a few days after the 12th of Kārtika *śukla*) and reported what Duryodhana and he himself said. Two of the statements reported by him are very material. Duryodhana said to his allies: 'March towards Kurukṣetra (for battle);