Parikshit
Parikshit
THE FEAR
Parikshit, the great Bhaagavatottama, was the son of veera Abhimanyu and Viraata's daughter,
Uttara and was the only successor of Pandavas. Parikshit was a great favourite of God, to the
extent that God suppressed the unstoppable Brahmaastra, because he was a great Bhakta and
never deviated from the path of Dharma
After Shri Krishna left to Vaikuntam, the Bhu-devi (who is realized to be in the form of
Goomaata) again sank into uncontrollable sorrow. The Dharma-devata (who is realized to be in
Vrishabha form) was tortured and legs cut off by Kali(Kali Yugam). Due to the entrance of Kali, all
kinds of adharma kaaryas were encouraged. There is no shuchi-shubhrata, no daya-daanam,
no vedas, puraanaas, or shaastra knowledge, no adherence to satyam etc. But Parikshit, with his
power, controlled everything and taught Kali a lesson. Kali begged Parikshit Mahaaraaja not to kill him
saying that, following the kaala-dharma, since it is the start of Kalikaalam, he must be allowed to
come and do his duty and must not be killed. Parikshit to obey the kaala-dharmam allows him some
specific places to stay in.
Finally Parikshit allowed him four places to reside: where there is gambling, alcohol
consumption, prostitution and gold. Kali smartly entered into Parikshit's golden crown and spoiled
his thoughts.
Parikshit entered into a sage Semeeka Maharshi hut as he was thirsty. He found the sage in deep
meditation. He bowed to him several times but as there was no response. Frustrated he took a
dead snake and threw it around the sage's neck. Later when the sage's son Shrungi Maharshi
heard of this incident and cursed the king to die of a snake bite on the 7th day.
On hearing this, the king forswore the throne for his son Janamejaya and spent his last 7 days
listening to the discourses of Sage Sukadeva(Grandson of Lord Vyasa) on Bhagavata.
Parikshit put a question: “What is good for man, especially at this hour when my life is about
to end?”
To this great question, Sri Sukadev answers in a majestic manner by quoting Srimad
Bhagavadgita as Sri Krishna to Arjuna when He says, “That which is the ultimate good is the
Supreme Brahman.”
A similar question was raised by Yudhishthira at the end of the Mahabharata war when he went to
Bhishma, who was lying on a bed of arrows, and Bhishma’s answer was that it is better to remember
Vishnu and recite his name one thousand names, not only at the end of time, but at all times,
because the end of time is at any time. Even this very moment can be the end of time. So, when
we ask the question, “What is good for us at the end of time?” it is implied that it is that which is good
for us at all times is the thoughts of Lord Vishnu(Supreme Brahman) because, knowing the
brittleness of things in the world, all times are the end of time.
Thus, the fear of death that was hovering on the mind of Parikshit had to be removed by this
kind of great admonition by Sukadeva Maharishi. Parikshit Maharaja thus attained salvation
and reached the holy abode of Lord Vishnu on the seventh day by hearing Srimad
Baghavatham