Shrimad Baagavatam - Parikshit - III

Faith Mysticism

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By Super

Thursday, May 3, 2012, 10:03

For seven days, the sages, and the king and all the great people sitting around, heard the stories and forgot all about their physical, mental or intellectual needs. 'Yavanartha udhapanae sarvathah sampluthodake, thavan sarveshu vedeshu brahmanasya vijanathah'

When, after six days, Suka took leave of the king, the king was free from all anxieties. He was rather actually ready to give a hearty welcome to Lord Death. A brahmin came forward and offered a lime fruit to the King. The king received it with reverence and pressed it to his eyes. A tiny insect came out of the lime and drew out to be a terrible serpent and bit the king. The body became ashes in a moment.

This snake was called Thakshaka, the most venomous serpent. He had heard of the curse of the brahmin boy and undertook to execute it himself. On his way to the king, he met a brahmin Kaasyapa, who was capable of neutralising the poison of any snake. Thakshaka bowed to him, gave him great presents and requested him not to come near the king, lest his mission should fail. Then he went to the king in the form of a brahmin and presented the lime where-in he was himself hiding as an insect.

Pramadho Dheemathaamapi ; even learned people are apt to slip. But their greatness lies in the fact that they rise higher after the apparent fall. A ball of soft mud, when thrown on the ground lies flat, never more rises. But a rubber ball dashed against the ground, touches the feet of the mother Earth, and immediately rises high up into the sky. There is a purpose behind the apparent fall of great men. It is always for Loka Kalyaan. Out of the grave of Parikshith, as it were, grew the Eternal Bhaagavatha, Kalpatharu, to bless mankind for Eternity.

About the author

This article has been written for the Vedanta Vani magazine of Chinmaya Mission.