Question


Time travel in Hindu scripture

Answer


In Bhagavata Purana and some other Puranas, there is mention of a king named Muchukunda who also experienced a similar effect. He went to join the battle for the gods as their commander but by the time he was free to return, all his family and relatives were extinct being swept away by this effect of relative time (SB - 10.51.18).


Update
This answer is based on the verse from Bhagavata as it describes the story a bit more than the other Puranas. But anyone who is interested can find the story mentioned at least in the following Puranas: Vishnu Purana, Brahma Purana, Skanda Purana, Harivamsha, and Padma Purana. This incident may also be present in Mahabharata, but I don't know the chapter number.

Now those who rightly say that the above-referenced verse doesn't explicitly state less time had passed for Muchukunda should put some thoughts and analyze the meaning again. Everything is not present in direct words always that everything would be easily understood. Otherwise, there would be no explanations, commentaries, bhasyas, etc. by saints and scholars. And there would be no arguments, debates, and different sects and creeds.

Anyway, in this verse, it should be noted that not only his family but relatives, citizens, contemporaries, all are gone in course of time. Had Muchukunda been under the same effect of time, he would have been dead also. But because he was in devaloka the course of time for him was slower and different. If only his family were extinct then someone could have said Muchukunda was probably having a longer life length. But because all the citizens of his Kingdom, his relatives, and contemporaries were dead it can be understood that time was running faster on earth compared to where Muchukunda was.


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