The Twelfth Skandha
Skandha XII. Chap. 2
When the present Kali Yuga will be about to end, Bhagavân 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 Pushyâ. (Jupiter enters the constellation of Pushyâ 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. Śridhara.)
One thousand one hundred and fifteen years will expire from the birth of Râjâ Parikshit to the beginning of King Nanda’s reign. (But in the detailed account given in the Bhâgavata Purâna, the period comes up to 1448 years, as shewn by Śridhara.)
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 Bhâgavata to Râjâ Parikshit), the Rishis are united to Maghâ.
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
Śridhara gives the following names:
No. 1 is Marichi.
No. 2 is Vasishtha with Arundhâti.
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.” Śridhara.
So soon as the Krishna named divine body of Vishnu ascended the heavens, Kali entered this Loka. As long as the Lord of Lakshmî 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 Sandhyâ or Dawn. When Sri Krishna disappeared, the Sandhyâ period was over, and the period proper of Kali set in. Śridhara).
The Yuga shall become darker and darker, as the Seven Rishis will pass on from Maghâ to Pûrva-Âshâdhâ, 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. Śridhara.
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, Ârdrâ and 3/4 Punarvasu;
Cancer contains 1/4 Punarvasu, Pushyâ and Ashlesha;
Leo contains Magha, Pûrva Falguni and 1/4 Uttar Falguni;
Virgo contains 3/4 Uttara Falguni, Hastâ, and 1/2 Chitra;
Libra contains Chitra, Svâti and 3/4 Visâkhâ;
Scorpio contains 1/4 Visâkhâ, Anurâdhâ and Jyeshthâ;
Sagittarius contains Mûla, Pûrva Âshâdha and 1/4 Uttara Âshâdhâ;
Capricornus contains 3/4 Uttara Âshâdhâ, Sravanâ, and 1/2 Dhanishtha;
Aquarius contains 1/2 Dhanishthâ, Sata-bhishâ, and 3/4 Pûrva Bhâdrapada;
Pisces contains 1/4 Pûrva Bhâdrapada, Uttara Bhâdrapada and Revati.
Abhijit is included in Uttarâshâdhâ and Sravana. From Maghâ to Pûrva Âshâdhâ 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 Purâma, The lines of Brâhmanas, Vaisyas and Sudras are to be similarly known.
Devâpi, brother of Santanu and Maru of the line of Ikshvâku are now waiting at Kalapa. They will appear towards the end of Kali Yuga and will again teach Varna and Âsrama Dharma. (They will start again the lines of divine kings which came to an end in the Kali Yuga. Śridhara.)