*SKANDHA XII. CHAP. 2.*
When the present Kali Yuga will be about to end, Bhagavan will incarnate
as KALKI. He will take birth at Sambhal as the son of Vishnu-Yasas.
On His advent, Satya Yuga will make its appearance. The Sun, the Moon
and the Jupiter will then enter together the constellation of Pushya.
(Jupiter enters the constellation of Pushya in Cancer every twelve
years, and there may be a conjunction of that planet with the Sun and
the Moon on new Moon nights, but the text here means the _entering
together_ of the three. _Sridhara_.)
One thousand one hundred and fifteen years will expire from the birth of
Raja Parikshit to the beginning of King Nanda's reign. (But in the
detailed account given in the Bhagavata Purana, the period comes up to
1448 years, as shewn by Sridhara.)
Of the Seven Rishis (forming the constellation of the Great Bear), the
two that are first seen to rise above the horizon have through their
middle point a correspondence with some constellation (in the Zodiac).
The Rishis remain united to that constellation for one hundred mortal
years.
At present (_i.e._ when Sukadeva was reciting Bhagavata to Raja
Parikshit), the Rishis are united to Magha.
The form of the Great Bear or the constellation of the Seven Rishis is
given below.
6 5 X
X X 1
X X X X
7 4 3 2
Sridhara gives the following names:
No. 1 is Marichi.
No. 2 is Vasishtha with Arundhati.
No. 3 is Angiras.
No. 4 is Atri.
No. 5 is Pulastya.
No. 6 is Pulaha.
No. 7 is Kratu.
"Such being the configuration of the Rishis, the two that are first seen
to rise above the horizon are Pulaha and Kratu. The longitudinal line
passing through the middle point of the line joining them crosses some
one of the 27 constellations, Asvini, Bharani and others. The Rishis
have their position in that constellation for one hundred years."
_Sridhara_.
So soon as the Krishna named divine body of Vishnu ascended the heavens,
Kali entered this Loka. As long as the Lord of Lakshmi touched this
Earth with His lotus feet, Kali could not overtake the planet. ( While
Sri Krishna was still on this Earth, Kali appeared in its Sandhya or
Dawn. When Sri Krishna disappeared, the Sandhya period was over, and the
period proper of Kali set in. _Sridhara_).
The Yuga shall become darker and darker, as the Seven Rishis will pass
on from Magha to Purva-Ashadha, _i.e._, till the period of king Nanda.
(The darkness will go on increasing till the reign of king Pradyotana.
It will still go on increasing very much till the reign of king Nanda.
_Sridhara_.
This gives us a cycle of 1,000 years. The line of the Ecliptic is
divided into 27 constellations, which form the 12 signs of the Zodiac.
Each sign of the Zodiac contains 9 parts of these constellations, if
each constellation be divided into four parts.
Thus Aries contains Asvini, Bharani and 1/4 Krittika;
Taurus contains 3/4 Krittika, Rohini and 1/2 Mrigasiras;
Gemini contains 1/2 Mrigasiras, Ardra and 3/4 Punarvasu;
Cancer contains 1/4 Punarvasu, Pushya and Ashlesha;
Leo contains Magha, Purva Falguni and 1/4 Uttar Falguni;
Virgo contains 3/4 Uttara Falguni, Hasta, and 1/2 Chitra;
Libra contains Chitra, Svati and 3/4 Visakha;
Scorpio contains 1/4 Visakha, Anuradha and Jyeshtha;
Sagittarius contains Mula, Purva Ashadha and 1/4 Uttara Ashadha;
Capricornus contains 3/4 Uttara Ashadha, Sravana, and 1/2 Dhanishtha;
Aquarius contains 1/2 Dhanishtha, Sata-bhisha, and 3/4 Purva Bhadrapada;
Pisces contains 1/4 Purva Bhadrapada, Uttara Bhadrapada and Revati.
Abhijit is included in Uttarashadha and Sravana. From Magha to Purva
Ashadha there are eleven constellations. This gives a cycle of 1,000
years.
The reference to king Nanda's reign leaves no doubt as to the cycle
being one of 1,000 years, for the period is given in this very chapter
as 1,115 years.
The lines of Kshatriya kings have been given in the Purama, The lines of
Brahmanas, Vaisyas and Sudras are to be similarly known.
Devapi, brother of Santanu and Maru of the line of Ikshvaku are now
waiting at Kalapa. They will appear towards the end of Kali Yuga and
will again teach Varna and Asrama Dharma. (They will start again the
lines of divine kings which came to an end in the Kali Yuga.
_Sridhara_.)