srimadbhagavatham-end of skandha1

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chapter18-Parikshit incurs a curse

Sootha praised Parikshit saying that he was a great bhaktha who did not get upset even when he knew that he was cursed to die in seven days and became the disciple of Sukha and renouncing everything left this world contemplating only on the Lord , hearing His story. This was because 'nOtthamaSlOka vArthAnAm jushathAm thathkaTHAmrtham;syAth sambhramO anthakAlE api smarathAm ththpadhAmbujam.' This means, those who speak of the Lord, hears His stories and think about His lotus feet, do not lose their calm even at the time of death.

Parikshit did not punish Kali, said Sootha, because he saw a very good trait in kali. In kaliyuga, punya or meritorious deeds give result even at the time of thinking about them but the evil deeds give result only when actually done.

Then the rshis asked him about the curse of parikshit and his end. Sootha started telling them about it.

Once when the king went on a hunt he wandered away from his men and lost the way. Getting hungry and thirsty he approached a rshi who was in samadhi and asked him for some water. Seeing the rshi sitting quietly without answering, overcome with hunger and thirst, he got angry and took a dead snake that was nearby and put it on the neck of the rshi and went out.The rshi was unaware of what happened but his son returning to the asrama got angry and knowing what happened through his yogic power cursed the king that he wil die in seven days from thence bitten by serpent Thakshaka.The rshi, who as a great devotee, coming out of his samadhi felt bad for what his son has done and said that the punishment is too big for such a small thoughtless act.He said that the king was a righteous man and a great devotee and prayed God that his son might be forgiven for what he has done.

Here it is worthy to note that even a young tapasvi had the power to curse a king in those days.It also shows that the good need not fear the effects of kali but kali waits to catch those who are thoughtless and uncaring and do some wrong as Parikshit did, which was thoughtless though not intentional.The influence of kali will be exerted only when one is weak as the king was, when he became hungry and thirsty.

Chapter 19

Parikshit regretted for what he had done on returning to his kingdom and when he came to know about the curse, accepted it as the will of God.He decided to do prayaschittha at the banks of Ganges.He sat on the seat made of darba grass with their tips pointing to east, on the south bank of the river,facing north.All the sages came there with their sishyas which shows that when one has attained vairagya, detachment, then the acharyas will come on their own accord to instruct him.They told Parikshit to follow the means of attaining moksha such as yajna, dhana thapas etc. which made the king a little confused and he asked them to tell him what should a man do with pure heart at the time of death.

At this moment Suka, the son of Vyasa came their as though by chance. He was looking most handsome and attractive and was of 16 years of age. He was a realised soul and did not bear any mark of varnasrama. In Srimadbhagavatham there are four slokas describing Suka. The king and the rshis got up from their seats and bowed down to him and the king honoured him duly and said, 'api mE bhagavn preethah krishnah pAndusuthapriyah;paithrshvasEya preethyarTham thathgOthrasyAtthabAndhavah, surely the Lord Krishna , the friend of the pandavas is merciful even towards me;Due to his love towards his cousins he wants to do good to me also.' Parikshit said otherwise he would not have been able to see Suka,who cannot be seen by people as he usually wandered only in the forest, especially at the time of his death.

Parikshit asked Suka,

yacchrothavyam athO japyam yathkarthavyam nrbhih prabhO;smarthavyam bajaneeyam vA broohi yadh vA viparyayam.

"Please tell me oh Master,what is to be heard, to be chanted, to be done by men,what should be comntemplated on, worshipped and also what should not be done."

Parikshit considered himself to be very fortunate as Suka who never stays in the residence of a householder more than the time needed to milk the cow , had come to grace him and instruct him.

Then Suka started to speak.

The first skandha of Srimadbhagavatham concluded.