Clarifying doubt in Srimadbhagavatam

[sangom]

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There is a doubt about the pregnancy period of uttarā and how long she had parīkṣit in her womb? The doubt arises because, in Canto I, Ch. 8, verses 9 & 10, it is stated that uttarā complained to Krishna that "a fiery iron arrow is coming towards me fast. My Lord, let it burn me personally, if You so desire, but please do not let it burn and abort my embryo." The embryo here is obviously parīkṣit in uttara’s womb.

In verse 6 of the same Chapter (I-8-6) it is seen that this complaint from uttara happened at a time when Krishna had, under his able leadership, made yudhiṣṭhira perform three aśvamedha yajñas which would have taken at least three years going by the rules now known from the scriptures.

So, my doubt is whether uttarā was carrying a child in her womb for such a long period like more than three years and if yes, how has this abnormally long human pregnancy been explained away in śrīmadbhāgavataṃ?

Learned members may kindly enlighten with their comments.

 

[renuka]

There is a doubt about the pregnancy period of uttarā and how long she had parīkṣit in her womb? The doubt arises because, in Canto I, Ch. 8, verses 9 & 10, it is stated that uttarā complained to Krishna that "a fiery iron arrow is coming towards me fast. My Lord, let it burn me personally, if You so desire, but please do not let it burn and abort my embryo." The embryo here is obviously parīkṣit in uttara’s womb.

In verse 6 of the same Chapter (I-8-6) it is seen that this complaint from uttara happened at a time when Krishna had, under his able leadership, made yudhiṣṭhira perform three aśvamedha yajñas which would have taken at least three years going by the rules now known from the scriptures.

So, my doubt is whether uttarā was carrying a child in her womb for such a long period like more than three years and if yes, how has this abnormally long human pregnancy been explained away in śrīmadbhāgavataṃ?

Learned members may kindly enlighten with their comments.

Dear Sangom ji,

I only saw this thread after you wrote about it in the Transgender thread.

3 years?? As far as I know even the African elephant has a gestational period of 24 months(2 years)!LOL

Anyway I used to wonder how did Gandhari give birth to 100 children? How was it possible?

Many things seemed almost impossible in Srimadbhagavatam..even the story of Pradyumna was swallowed by a fish and then the fish was caught and the baby Pradyumna came out alive.


Its all hard to believe..so I really dont even know what to say..may be it was written to make simple folks wonder and marvel Mega Serial style.

May be if religion was written along the lines of logic no one would pray!

 

[biswa]

Of course Gandhari's story is possible. IVF! Dont you know the full story?

 

[Raji Ram]

100 deliveries are impossible, Renu! Here is the story how Gandhari got her children.


''Once Rishi Vyas came to visit Gandhari in Hastinapur. She took great care of the comforts of the great saint and saw that he

had a pleasant stay in Hastinapur. The saint was pleased with Gandhari and granted her a boon. Gandhari wished for one

hundred sons who would be as powerful as her husband. Vyas granted her the boon and in due course of time Gandhari found

herself to be pregnant. But two years passed and still the baby was not born. Meanwhile Kunti gave birth to a son whom she

called Yudhisthar. After two years of carrying her pregnancy, Gandhari gave birth to a hard piece of lifeless flesh that was not

a baby at all. Gandhari was devastated as she had expected hundred sons according to the blessing of Rishi Vyas. She was

about to throw away the piece of flesh when Rishi Vyas appeared and told her that his blessings could not have been in vain.

He asked Gandhari to arrange for one hundred jars full of Ghee (oil). He told Gandhari that he would cut the piece of flesh into

hundred pieces and place them in the jar, which would then develop into the one hundred sons that she so desired. Gandhari

told Vyas then that she wanted that she should also have a daughter. Vyas agreed and cut the piece of flesh into one hundred

and one pieces and placed them each in the jar. After two more years of patient waiting the jars were ready to be opened.

When the first jar was opened Gandhari took the baby out and named him Duryodhan. But alas! As soon as the baby started

crying all the beasts of the jungle started howling and many signs of ill omen were seen. Everyone was shocked and

disappointed as this meant that the baby was not auspicious and would bring harm on the entire clan of the Kauravas. Vidur

spoke then and said that the child would have to be abandoned as the omens at his birth spell doom for the Kuru clan. He said,

"The scriptures clearly state that for the good of the clan an individual can be sacrificed, for the good of the village a clan can

be sacrificed, for the good of the country a village can be sacrificed and for the development of the soul, even the earth can be

sacrificed." So for the good of the clan and of the country and of humanity, please sacrifice this son of yours. But both Gandhari

and Dhritrashtra were adamant that a baby could not cause any harm and much against Vidur's wishes kept the baby. At the

same time Bheemsen was born to Kunti in the forest. The other children of Gandhari were taken out of the jars and now

Gandhari had one hundred sons and a daughter called Duhshala. All the children grew up to be strong and powerful.''


Source: answers.yahoo.com

 

[renuka]

Of course Gandhari's story is possible. IVF! Dont you know the full story?

I know that story..but it sound so illogical.

 

[tbs]

hi

there is no question /logical arguements in puranas...just read as it is....

 

[Raji Ram]

Dear Renu,

When Gods and devas can give instant child, why not children grown in ghee pots??

 

[Raji Ram]

....... Learned members may kindly enlighten with their comments.

Wonder whether there are more learned members than you, Sir!

 

[renuka]

Dear Renu,

When Gods and devas can give instant child, why not children grown in ghee pots??

Actually if child birth was that easy it would be fun too..all born in Ghee pots..children will be called Ghrtadrona!

 

[Raji Ram]

The stories have all types of child births! Remember the story of Vinata and Kadru?

They gave birth to two eggs and hundred eggs respectively!

Vinata got 'Aruna' (half formed son because the egg was broken before it hatched!) and 'Garuda' as sons.

Kadru got hundred snakes as children! :shocked:

 

[sangom]

Actually if child birth was that easy it would be fun too..all born in Ghee pots..children will be called Ghrtadrona!

"drona" is not a pot but an open vessel not of pot shape please.

 

[renuka]

"drona" is not a pot but an open vessel not of pot shape please.

Thanks..noted...a wooden vessel or cup,bucket..Vaman Apte Sanskrit English Dictionary.

 

[Raji Ram]

How about 'Gheerry Potter'?

 

[KRN]

Dear Sangom

Good question....
The sloka under consideration is :

(1:8:6)
Yaajayitvaaswamedhaistam Tribhiruttamakalpakaih
Tadyashah paavanam dikshu Sathamanyorivaathanoth

The Mahabharatam gives a lot of details on the Ashwamedha yagam conducted by King Yudhishtira. The vast resources left over from a previous yajna conducted by King Marutta has been indicated here by the word “Uttama kalpakaih“.

Now the question here pertains to “Tribhih“. Did King Yudhishtira go through the same Ashwamedha rigorous process three times? If so͵ why?

To answer this IMO we need to refer the first Brahmana of Brhad-Aranyaka Upanishad͵ commented by Shankaracharya.

The Acharya quotes “Vidyayaa vaa karmanaa vaa Tadvaitad lokajiteva“ (Br.U.1:3:28)
ie.. through Karma as well as through Upasana vidya͵ the same lokas are won over.
Also quotes “Yo Ashwamedhena yajate ya u chainam veda“
He who performs Ashwamedha yajnam as well as he who knows this secret Knowledge of the inner meaning of the Yajna͵ both of them (have their sins removed).
Acharya goes on to remark that͵ from the above it is obvious that͵ from Ashwamedha Vijnanam (as outlined in the first two Brahmanams of Br.Up) itself one obtains the phala of Ashwamedha Yajnam. Also due to the prominence of Ashwamedham among all Vaidika karma͵ the rahasya-Jnaanam of Ashwamedham is specially considered in the Brih.Up prior to taking up Brahmavidya.

Hence it is reasonable to surmise that while King Yudhishtira performed one Ashwamedha Yajna karma͵ at its conclusion Lord Krishna initiated him to the knowledge of the inner meaning of Ashwamedha Yajnam in two kinds (Avayava drishti and Devataa drishti - as in thr first two Braahmanas of Brih.Up) which thus enabled him to acquire the phala of performing the Yajnam 3 times despite doing the karma kandam only once.

 

[KRN]

Bhagavan had stated ¡°Sarvam Karmaakhilam Jnanena parisamaapyate¡°. So we can surmise that while exhorting King Yudhishtira to perform Ashwamedham￾0È3 Bhagavan had the bigger picture in mind￾0È3 of giving Yudhishtira the inner knowledge of Ashwamedham￾0È3 as outlined in the Brih. Up. This need not take the same time as required by an elaborate Karmakanda yajna. Hence the original question about the period taken by Uttara￾0È2s pregnancy does not arise.

 

[Raji Ram]

Where is Sangom Sir??

 

[P.J.]

Do you believe in Test Tube Babies ? Who knows, This was there in Mahabarata period itself!!




Picture Source: https://www.google.com/search?q=Test+Tube+Babies&client=firefox-a