The Essence Of Bhagavatam (Story of Parikshit)

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The Story of Parikshit

Long long ago, there was a king named Parikshit. Parikshit is a beautiful name, meaning 'one who goes on examining everything, every being'. We live our lives without examining anything, without trying to analyse our experiences, and blindly end up in all kinds of sorrow. Here was Raja Parikshit, a very noble, righteous king, and everybody was happy in his country.

Once he went to the forest to hunt, as kings used to do in those days, and he lost his way. As he was roaming about, tired, hungry and thirsty, he reached the hermitage of a sage. Addressing the sage, who was in meditation, Parikshit asked for some refreshments. When the Rishi failed to respond the king lost his cool. Extreme hunger and thirst can delude a person and make him lose his balance. Though he revered great sages, for a moment he thought that the Rishi was a fake, just pretending to meditate. Seeing a dead snake lying nearby, he lifted it with his bow, put it around the neck of the sage and walked out in anger.

After some time, the Rishi's son, a young man of great austerity and spiritual prowess, came and saw a dead snake on his father's neck. Coming to know about what happened, he became furious; the duty of a king is to protect the sages but, instead, Parikshit had committed this outrage. In his anger, he cursed that the king will be stung by Daksha, a poisonous snake, and die on the seventh day. The words of those who abide in the 'Truth' are never in vain. The sage rose from his meditation and remonstrated with his son; the noble king, who had lost his balance because of hunger and exhaustion, did not deserve such a fate. Anyway, it was too late to do anything about it then, but at least the king could be informed about the curse, giving him the option of how to face it.

When the king returned to his palace, had a meal and calmed down a little, he remembered what he had done and was horrified. He prayed to God, "O Lord, I have committed an unpardonable sin. I do not seek any forgiveness for it. O Lord, punish me in such a way that in future I will never make such a mistake." Note his greatness. Generally it is the king who punishes others for their misdeeds. Who is to punish the king?

On hearing about the curse, he felt that his prayer had been answered. He was delighted, as he knew that God was pleased with him. He swung into action, called his son and handed over the kingdom to him. Winding up all his affairs, he went to the banks of the river Ganga in Haridwar and sat down, deciding to absorb his mind in God alone.

To be continued

Srimad Bhagavatam

It is 'Bhagavatam' the noted story of Raja Parikshit appears. The story contains the very essence of Bhagavatam. The essence in fact is encapsulated in this tory from Bhagavatam.

About the author

Swami Tyagananda
Swami Tyagananda in this write up on the 'Essence Of Bhagavatam' takes up the story of Parikshit which reveals the essence or the truth of Bhagavatam.