History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v4.c63.t2.773.2

v4.c63.t2.773.2

There are grave doubts whether the statement is made from actual observation. The appearance of a comet has always been associated in ancient times with great calamities. Compare Kumārasambhava II. 32 'upaplavāya lokānām dhūmaketurivotthitaḥ'. As indicated above, the Mahābhārata gathers together several possible and impossible things to emphasize their significance as to impending calamities. Therefore the inclusion of a comet among portents does not establish that a comet had actually appeared at the time of the Bhārata war. Supposing for argument that a comet had appeared, that circumstance is of no help at all in settling the date. A large number of comets is included in the sun's retinue. The number of comets of long periods that approach the sun in a century is said to be 300. There is nothing to show what particular comet appeared at the time of the war and no one has data to connect the Mahābhārata comet with Halley's comet or any other comet well-known in modern times. Therefore the *datum* about a comet is entirely worthless for purposes of chronology. According to Bṛhatsaṁhitā 11. 5 and Utpala thereon the ancient writer Parāśara held the view that there were 101 *ketus* and Garga said that there were a thousand. The description in Bhīṣma 3. 13 states that the *perihelion* of the comet was in Puṣya. In Udyogaparva 143. 10 it is said 'since a *graha* specially afflicts Citrā, a great calamity is indeed approaching the Kauravas'. This may probably refer to a comet.