History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v4.c63.t2.756.2

v4.c63.t2.756.2

to-day the moon is (in) Puṣya nakṣatra'.¹⁷⁶⁹ If Kṛṣṇa started on his mission when the moon was in Revatī (on the 12th of the bright half of Kārtika), then these above words must have been uttered in his presence on or about the 5th of the dark half of Kārtika (or of Mārgaśīrṣa if the month was pūrṇimānta). Another important statement is that Kṛṣṇa in his conversation with Karṇa (whom he had tried to win over) stated to him: 'this is a mild month in which fodder and fuel can be easily had, which is neither too hot nor too cold; on the 7th day (from today) there will be amāvāsyā; battle may be joined on that day; they regard it as having Indra for its (guardian)¹⁷⁷⁰ deity'. Therefore this must have been said on or about the 8th of the dark half of the month. But what was the name of the month? If the reckoning was pūrṇimānta, the month must be Mārgaśīrṣa, but if the reckoning was amānta, the month must be Kārtika. The words 'this month' taken along with Udyoga 83. 6-7 would indicate that the month meant was Kārtika. Further, Indra was the deity of Jyeṣṭhā nakṣatra and the amāvāsyā (as stated in Udyoga 142. 16-18) had Jyeṣṭhā nakṣatra. In modern times this is possible on Kārtika Amāvāsya, while there cannot be Jyeṣṭhā nakṣatra in modern times on Mārgaśīrṣa amāvāsyā, but only on or about the 13th of the dark half of it. But this passage itself (Udyoga 142. 16-18) is in conflict with Śalya 35.