Respect Time, respect Ved Vyas!
He is the character who plays a major role in the Mahabharata and always emerges as the right man at the right time and place. Ved Vyas, also known as, Krishna Dwaipayan, was the son of Satyavati and Rishi Parashar. Technically, he fathered Dhritarashtra, Pandu and Vidura from his deceased brother Vichitraveerya's wives--Ambika and Ambalika. But, Vidura was born of a maidservant of Ambika. Vyas had already told Satyavati how these sons were going to fare in life. He makes many historical narrations of the events happened much before his time and effortlessly predicts times to come.
According to a narrative, Ved Vyas was black complexioned and was born on an island and hence was named Krishna Dwaipayan ( द्वैपायन comes from the word द्वीप--Island). He is credited with putting into words the spoken Vedas and categorising them according to the time and theme. He also compiled 18 Puranas--historical records to expand people's understanding.
Real import: But, this is history. Ved in Sanskrit means an unbroken stream of knowledge. How is it unbroken? Because it vibrates as a sound energy in every particle of the cosmos. This sound can be heard alone by a pure receiver and hence it is also called Shruti (श्रुति—that which is heard). Vyas means an "spatial measuring scale." Therefore, Ved Vyas means the eternal vibration which has measured up everything thing that exists. What can it be then काल (time). It is a proven fact that wherever there is an expanse (space) there is a measure (व्यास) — meaning everything is time-bound. Even this cosmos is time bound as is its every particle. This means that we mistakenly refer to as immeasurable, infinite and ever-expanding cosmos is actually a measured reality. The only problem with our intelligence is that we don't have the exact unit to measure it. However, the ancient rishis had the finest measurement techniques, a bit of it has been described in the Vishnu Puran. In the Mahabharata, Ved Vyas is the second most important personality after Krishna Himself. The word island attached to Krishna only connotes the measurable dimension of Krishna and hence Ved Vyas gets the name Krishna Dwaipayan—an island is surrounded by water on all sides. If the watery mass is taken to be a relatively infinite space, then an island is a visible measurable reality. In the finite, dimension, time is the only important and powerful entity and so is Vyas. Therefore. Vyas, the wise historian of the yore, is actually time in its finite dimension. He is the son of Satyavati. Satyavati is the daughter of Vasu. There are eight Vasus (existent entities). In fact, their daughter becomes the eight-fold nature (Prakriti) . Krishna defines it in Chapter 7 of the Gita—भूमिरापोऽनल: वायु: खं मनो बुद्धिरेव च अहंकारम् इतीयम् मे भिन्ना प्रकृतिरष्टधा | earth, water, fire, air, space, mind, intellect and ego these are अपरा ( real nature, which you can feel and experience). Satyavati is also called Kali in the Mahabharata. She represents the mysterious power of real existence of cause and effect. Parashar, who is the father of Ved Vyas, is a combination of two Sanskrit words परा + शर:. Para represents the supreme enlivening, energising and animating infinity and sharah means an arrow. Therefore, time is born when the arrow of the infinite energy animates the real dimension. What it really means? Whenever something is created, time, the measure, is born too. That means the entire existence is measured—the five elements, the mind, the intellect and the ego all are measured existence. That is the reason Ved Vyas is shown as a historian and a measuring scale of all.
The entire creation is trigunaatmak ( multiple of three: Sat, Raj and Tam ). Satyavati + Parashar = 2. They unite and trigger an involved creation. The inward creation is the multiple of three. That means 2 x 3 = 6. This is the involved cycle of creation. The cause represents 2 and the measured effect is 3 times. Therefore, the second cycle is 6 (the cause, involved time measure) x 3 = 18. The manifest creation (multiplication starts from the second cycle). Therefore, the second cycle is the genesis of the first manifest time measure—18. This is the reason why Ved Vyas’ creation Mahabharata has 18 parts, Bhagwad Gita has 18 chapters, Krishna delivers the discourse in 18 seconds, the battle goes on for 18 days, the battle is fought with 18 akshauhani army. Six times of 18 is 108 and 20 times of 18 is 360, which is roughly one cycle of the earth—-that is the reason why a geometrical circle is represented by 360 degrees. In the Sanatan system, a seeker takes god’s name 108 times. This represents the time of the sixth wheel of creation—shathchakras in the body (immediate and manifest creation). There are many other dynamics which can predict the exact location, event coordinates etc in terms of eight-fold nature—mind, intellect and ego all can be predicted. Everything is explained, measured and manifest. But, I cannot detail that. I leave this to those who want to research further.
Krishna in Chapter 11 Himself says he is the Final Multiple of Time (Kalosami lokkshaykrit pravriddho—I am the final multiple of Kaal manifesting to wind up everything ).
Example: You have always heard people say ‘time is not in favour, am through bad times, having good time…. These are all expressions of your measuring ability. You have a clock inside. You measure things accordingly and find things good or bad. But, unless you match your clock with that of the creation, you cannot really have the right time. measurement. But, how can one do it? Just remember that your breath is measured and engage yourself in creative activities. Okay, I give you a mystical clue—go through the 18 chapters of the Gita.
Takeaway: Time is never good or bad—your measuring scale is good or bad. Respect time, respect Ved Vyas and you will gain enormously.
Next: Who is Kunti?
Vivek Sharma