Inquiries Into the Absolute: Digest 182, Time of the appearance of

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Digest 182, August 22nd, 2006. Answers by His Holiness Romapada Swami Maharaja

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Time of the appearance of Vyasadeva

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Q- From SB 1.4.14 we see that Srila Vyasadeva was born at the overlap of Treta

and Dwapar yuga. From Srila Vyasadeva's mother to Parikshit Maharaj, there were

about 6 generations. My question is how did all of Dwapar yuga get get covered

by the passing of 6 generations only? I believe Dwapar yuga is 864,000 years

long and the age of people in Dwapar yuga in general was 10 times that of

people in Kali yuga - around 1000 years. In that case the passing of six

generations would cover only about 6000 years or so. But the six generations I

mentioned above covered nearly 864,000 years. How is that possible?

 

The translation itself for SB 1.4.14 clearly indicates that Srila Vyasadeva was

born when the second millenium overlapped the third -

 

"Sukadeva Goswami said: When the second millennium overlapped the third, the

great sage [Vyasadeva] was born to Parasura in the womb of Satyavati, the

daughter of Vasu."

 

In light of this, how can the length of Dwapar yuga be explained? The extent of

the overlap is not mentioned and that could perhaps explain the extent of

Dwapar yuga.Is that the explanation for my question?

 

If, however, Srila Vyasadeva was born at the sandhya of Dwapar and Kali yuga

then does that mean that all these events - Krishna's lilas, Mahabharata and

many others took place in Kali yuga?

 

Ans-

 

1) Application of the term "Overlap" in this case-

 

In the 28th cycle of the four yugas in the life of Vaivasvata Manu, Krishna

appears. During the particular Dvapara Yuga of that 28th cycle, the Dvapara and

Treta Yugas change places. By definition, Treta means third and Dvapara means

second, but in this cycle we understand that Dvapara Yuga has just finished and

we are now in Kali Yuga. However, normally the order is Satya, Dvapara, Treta

and Kali.

 

The use of the word "overlap" means they changed place, not that they literally

overlapped as we commonly used the term.

 

This fact is not commonly discussed, because we generally are dealing with our

current cycle of 4 yugas. However, it is a technical fact.

 

2) The sequence of Vyasa's appearance with Krishna's -

 

Vyasa appeared in the third sandhya (sesa sandhya) or final sandhya of Dvapara

Yuga. While Vyasa previously appeared at some point during the sesa sandhya of

Dvapara Yuga, Krishna appeared some time after him, and then the Battle of

Kuruksetra happened about 90 years into the time that Krishna was here, and

then after Krishna had been here for 125 years He left, and then the prathama

sandhya (first sandhya) of Kali Yuga began.

 

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