Stories From The Bhagavatham - The Blessed King Who Was Cursed!

 

Once King Parikshit was out hunting. While pursuing a deer he lost his way and wandered around the forest in severe hunger, thirst and fatigue. He came across an Ashram. He went inside and called out for someone to help him. Not getting any response, he walked around, searching for people.

He saw a Rishi sitting in meditation. The Rishi was completely lost to the world. Parikshit initially called him out gently, requesting for water. When the Rishi did not respond, the king called out his name forcefully. Inspite of everything, the Rishi showed no movement.

The combination of hunger, thirst and fatigue turned a good king into a desperate version of himself. Feeling angry and disgusted with the Rishi, Parikshit looked around and found a dead snake lying on the grass. In a terrible moment of weakness, the king lifted the snake with the tip of his bow and flung it around the Rishi’s neck. Still the Rishi did not come out of his meditation! Parikshit left the Ashram in anger.

The Rishi was named Shamika and he had a son named Shringi. The later’s friends saw the whole event. They went to Shringi and teased him. “Your father is someone who carries corpses.” Laughingly they told him of the incident where the king of the country had insulted Shamika by placing the dead snake around his neck.

Shringi’s anger knew no bounds. He declared. “I curse this arrogant king that in a matter of seven days, the king will die of snake-bite caused by none other than Takshaka, the dreadful serpent.” Then he ran to his father and on seeing him with the dead snake, he cried out loud.

His cry roused Shamika out of his meditation. He saw the dead snake and pushed it away without giving it any thought. He asked his son. “Why are you crying? Did anyone hurt you?”

Shringi told him everything that had happened – the king’s deed and Shringi’s curse. Shamika was greatly angered by Shringi’s action.

“You acted out very rashly!” Shamika severely reprimanded Shringi. “Do you realise who you have cursed? Parikshit is a righteous king, born as Vishnurata, the one whom Lord Vishnu Himself protected right from his mother’s womb. It is only because of Parikshit that the world is protected from the influence of Kali. The king was hungry and thirsty and it angered him when I did not respond. It was a very childish deed and did not deserve your curse! Because of your impulsive action, earth will lose her most precious son. Leave this place immediately and perform Tapas until you learn a modicum of self-control. Because of your curse, the good king will have to die. It is my duty to warn him so that he can prepare himself for his departure.”

In the meanwhile, Parikshit had returned to his kingdom. He realized that he had done a terrible mistake and felt deep regret for his action. While he was lamenting his deed, a disciple of Shamika named Gauramukh came to the palace and informed Parikshit about Shringi’s curse and his impending death.

The king, a rightful descendant of the Pandavas, welcomed this curse as a punishment befitting his behavior. Just hearing about his inevitable death brought dispassion to his mind. He crowned his son Janamejaya as the king, renounced everything and retired to the banks of the Ganga where he undertook Prayopavesha, fasting unto death, and devoted his mind to Lord Narayana.

Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaaya!