Exact age of B.Gita

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While many scholars have given their varied opinions, here is a quote from

the "Sri Krsna-samhita", a book written by our acarya Srila Bhaktivinode

Thakur.

 

from Introduction pp. 27-29:

"Now we must determine when the Battle of Kuruksetra took place. Maharaja

Pariksit was born just after the battle. From the birth of Pariksit up to

the coronation of Nandivardhana (the fifth of the Pradyotana kings) was

1,115 years (Bhag. 12.2.26). Conningham Sahib and others say that the word

nandabhiseka in this previous footnote verse from the Srimad-Bhagavatam

refers to the first of the nine Nandas. But although the respected

Sridhara Swami also accepts this, he says the number is irrelevant.

Therefore we fearlessly accept this Nanda as Nandivardhana. Moreover, in

the Ninth Canto of the Srimad-Bhagavatam it is stated that 20 kings from

the dynasty of Brhadratha, beginning from Marjari up to Ripunjaya, would

rule for 1,000 years. The names of those 20 kings are also given in the

Twelfth Canto of the Srimad-Bhagavatam. Then, after five Pradyotana kings

rule for 138 years and ten Sisunaga kings rule for 360 years, the nine

Nandas will rule for 100 years. So if we refer to the first of the nine

Nandas, it will be about 1,500 years; but if we deduct the 23 years of

Nandivardhana's rule, then we have the correct figure of 1,115 years.

Again, in the Srimad-Bhagavatam it is stated that during the reign of King

Pariksit the constellation of the seven rsis took shelter in the naksatra

called Magha. When this constellation of the seven rsis crosses the

naksatras beginning with Magha through Jyaistha, then the age of Kali will

be 1,200 years old. ...... After his rule, during the reign of the other

Nandas, Kali became extemely prominent. This is also confirmed by

practical observation. After the fifth generation, Ajatasatru became the

king. During his reign, Sakyasimha preached Buddhism, in the form of

knowledge of self-realization devoid of a conception of the Infallible

(God). The Nandas were like cowherd men and were envious of eternal

religious principles. Asokavardhana even widely propagated Buddhism.

Gradually various castes like Sundhas ruled the kingdom and created many

obstacles in the path of religion. The total duration to the end of the

nine Nandas' rule was 1,598 years. Canakya Pandita killed the last of the

Nandas and gave the kingdom to the kings of the Maurya dynasty. According

to some opinions, King Dasaratha, and according to others, Candragupta was

the first king of the Maurya dynasty. During the time of Candragupta,

people from Greece visited India first with Alexander and later with

Seleucus. According to the opinions of Greek literature, the great

dynasties from Simhala, and the Buddhist history of Brahma-desa,

Candragupta took the throne 215 years before Christ. From this calculation

it may be understood that the Battle of Kuruksetra took place 3,791 years

ago from today. Dr. Bentley Sahib calculated the position of the stars

mentioned in the Mahabharata and decided that the battle of Kuruksetra

took place 1,824 years before Christ. When we compare his calculation with

mine there is a difference of 89 years. So either Bentley Sahib made a

mistake or the 1,000 years duration of the Barhadratha's rule was an

approximation that we have to deduct 89 years from. The future swanlike

scholars can determine the correct figures after further research."

 

 

 

Here today is meant with the year 1879 of our present calendar, since

Bhaktivinode Thakur refers to this date elsewhere in his book, and he

wrote his book in 1888.

 

Your servant,

Dhira Krsna dasa