॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
॥ द्वादशोऽध्यायः ॥
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Discourse XII
Birth of Parikṣit (Preamble)
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शौनक उवाच ।
अश्वत्थाम्नोपसृष्टेन ब्रह्मशीर्ष्णोरुतेजसा ।
उत्तराया हतो गर्भ ईशेनाजीवितः पुनः ॥ १॥
तस्य जन्म महाबुद्धेः कर्माणि च महात्मनः ।
निधनं च यथैवासीत्स प्रेत्य गतवान् यथा ॥ २॥
तदिदं श्रोतुमिच्छामो गदितुं यदि मन्यसे ।
ब्रूहि नः श्रद्दधानानां यस्य ज्ञानमदाच्छुकः ॥ ३॥
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Śaunaka said : (You have already told us that) the infant in the womb of Uttarā, though destroyed by the formidable Brahmāstra discharged by Aśwatthāmā (Drona's son), was brought back to life by the Lord Himself. (1)
We now wish to hear about the birth and exploits of that noble soul of great wisdom, to whom Śūka imparted (true) knowledge, how his death came about and what destiny he attained after death. Kindly narrate all this to us, who are so earnest about it, if you deem fit. (2-3)
- Fickleness is attributed to the Goddess of Fortune only in Her material form viz., riches.
(1-3)
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सूत उवाच ।
अपीपलद्धर्मराजः पितृवद्रञ्जयन् प्रजाः ।
निःस्पृहः सर्वकामेभ्यः कृष्णपादाब्जसेवया ॥ ४॥
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Sūta continued : Freed from thirst for all enjoyments through the service of Śrī Kṛṣṇa's lotus-feet, the righteous king Yudhiṣṭhira protected his subjects like a father, gratifying them in every way. (4) (4)
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सम्पदः क्रतवो लोका महिषी भ्रातरो मही ।
जम्बूद्वीपाधिपत्यं च यशश्च त्रिदिवं गतम् ॥ ५॥
किं ते कामाः सुरस्पार्हा मुकुन्दमनसो द्विजाः ।
अधिजह्रुर्मुदं राज्ञः क्षुधितस्य यथेतरे ॥ ६॥
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He had (untold) riches and had performed many a sacrifice and earned thereby a place in the highest worlds. His consort (queen Draupadi) and brothers were all devoted to him. His suzerainty extended over the entire globe, while he enjoyed the sovereignty of Jambūdwīpa. Nay, his fame had reached as far as heaven. (5)
But could all these objects of enjoyment, coveted even by the gods, O Brāhmaṇas, bring delight to the king, who had given his mind to Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa (the Bestower of Liberation), any more than things other than food gratify a hungry soul. (6) (5-6)
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मातुर्गर्भगतो वीरस्स तदा भृगुनन्दन ।
ददर्श पुरुषं कञ्चिद्दह्यमानोऽस्त्रतेजसा ॥ ७॥
अङ्गुष्ठमात्रममलं स्फुरत्पुरटमौलिनम् ।
अपीच्यदर्शनं श्यामं तडिद्वाससमच्युतम् ॥ ८॥
श्रीमद्दीर्घचतुर्बाहुं तप्तकाञ्चनकुण्डलम् ।
क्षतजाक्षं गदापाणिमात्मनः सर्वतो दिशम् ।
परिभ्रमन्तमुल्काभां भ्रामयन्तं गदां मुहुः ॥ ९॥
अस्त्रतेजः स्वगदया नीहारमिव गोपतिः ।
विधमन्तं सन्निकर्षे पर्यैक्षत क इत्यसौ ॥ १०॥
विधूय तदमेयात्मा भगवान् धर्मगुब्विभुः ।
मिषतो दशमास्यस्य तत्रैवान्तर्दधे हरिः ॥ ११॥
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While being scorched by the fire of the Brahmāstra, that hero (Parikṣit) in the womb of his mother (Uttarā), O Śaunaka (the delight of the Bhṛgus), beheld some effulgent Being of the size of a thumb, most charming in appearance and swarthy of hue, clad in yellow robes that shone like lightning and wearing a brilliant diadem of gold. He was no other than Lord Acyuta (Śrī Kṛṣṇa). (7-8)
He had four long and graceful arms, was adorned with pendants of refined gold, had bloodshot eyes and held in one of His hands a mace that shone like a firebrand even as He waved it in a circle again and again, Himself revolving round the child all the time. (9)
He was quenching the fire of the Brahmāstra with His mace, even as the sun disperses the fog. Perceiving Him by his side, the child in the womb wondered who it was. (10)
Having quenched that fire, Lord Śrī Hari (Śrī Kṛṣṇa), the Protector of virtue, who is infinite by nature and omnipresent too, disappeared in the womb itself, that (unborn) child of ten months still looking on. (11) (7-11)
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ततः सर्वगुणोदर्के सानुकूलग्रहोदये ।
जज्ञे वंशधरः पाण्डोर्भूयः पाण्डुरिवौजसा ॥ १२॥
तस्य प्रीतमना राजा विप्रैर्धौम्यकृपादिभिः ।
जातकं कारयामास वाचयित्वा च मङ्गलम् ॥ १३॥
हिरण्यं गां महीं ग्रामान् हस्त्यश्वान् नृपतिर्वरान् ।
प्रादात्स्वन्नं च विप्रेभ्यः प्रजातीर्थे स तीर्थवित् ॥ १४॥
तमूचुर्ब्राह्मणास्तुष्टा राजानं प्रश्रयान्वितम् ।
एष ह्यस्मिन् प्रजातन्तौ पुरूणां पौरवर्षभ ॥ १५॥
दैवेनाप्रतिघातेन शुक्ले संस्थामुपेयुषि ।
रातो वोऽनुग्रहार्थाय विष्णुना प्रभविष्णुना ॥ १६॥
तस्मान्नाम्ना विष्णुरात इति लोके बृहच्छ्रवाः ।
भविष्यति न सन्देहो महाभागवतो महान् ॥ १७॥
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Then, at an hour which was favourable for the development of all noble traits and when the stars in the ascendant were propitious, was born that child, who maintained the thread of Pāṇḍu's line and was another Pāṇḍu as it were in bodily strength. (12)
Delighted at heart (at the news of his birth), the king had benedictory hymns recited and rites connected with the birth of a child performed by holy Brāhmaṇas like Dhaumya, Kṛpa and others. (13)
The king, who knew the right moment for making gifts, bestowed at the sacred hour of the birth* of Parikṣit (before the navel-string is cut) gold, cows, lands, villages (as revenue-free grants), excellent elephants and horses and the best foodgrains on the Brāhmaṇas. (14)
Pleased with the gifts, the Brāhmaṇas addressed the king, who was all humility, as follows:—"O jewel of the Pauravas (descendants of king Puru), by the will of Providence, which cannot be balked, this stainless race of the Purus had all but died out; yet the almighty Lord Viṣṇu (Śrī Kṛṣṇa), in order to shower His grace on you, preserved it by saving this child. (15-16)
Hence he will be known in this world by the name of Viṣṇurāta (one who has been saved by Lord Viṣṇu). His fame will extend far and wide and he will undoubtedly turn out to be a great devotee of God and an exalted soul. (17) (12-17)
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युधिष्ठिर उवाच ।
अप्येष वंश्यान् राजर्षीन् पुण्यश्लोकान् महात्मनः ।
अनुवर्तिता स्विद्यशसा साधुवादेन सत्तमाः ॥ १८॥
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Yudhiṣṭhira asked : Will this child share the good reputation of the glorious and high-souled royal sages of his own line, O most worthy souls? (18) (18)
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ब्राह्मणा ऊचुः ।
पार्थ प्रजाविता साक्षादिक्ष्वाकुरिव मानवः ।
ब्रह्मण्यः सत्यसन्धश्च रामो दाशरथिर्यथा ॥ १९॥
एष दाता शरण्यश्च यथा ह्यौशीनरः शिबिः ।
यशो वितनिता स्वानां दौष्यन्तिरिव यज्वनाम् ॥ २०॥
धन्विनामग्रणीरेष तुल्यश्चार्जुनयोर्द्वयोः ।
हुताश इव दुर्धर्षः समुद्र इव दुस्तरः ॥ २१॥
मृगेन्द्र इव विक्रान्तो निषेव्यो हिमवानिव ।
तितिक्षुर्वसुधेवासौ सहिष्णुः पितराविव ॥ २२॥
पितामहसमः साम्ये प्रसादे गिरिशोपमः ।
आश्रयः सर्वभूतानां यथा देवो रमाश्रयः ॥ २३॥
सर्वसद्गुणमाहात्म्ये एष कृष्णमनुव्रतः ।
रन्तिदेव इवोदारो ययातिरिव धार्मिकः ॥ २४॥
धृत्या बलिसमः कृष्णे प्रह्लाद इव सद्ग्रहः ।
आहर्तैषोऽश्वमेधानां वृद्धानां पर्युपासकः ॥ २५॥
राजर्षीणां जनयिता शास्ता चोत्पथगामिनाम् ।
निग्रहीता कलेरेष भुवो धर्मस्य कारणात् ॥ २६॥
तक्षकादात्मनो मृत्युं द्विजपुत्रोपसर्जितात् ।
प्रपत्स्यत उपश्रुत्य मुक्तसङ्गः पदं हरेः ॥ २७॥
जिज्ञासितात्मयाथात्म्यो मुनेर्व्याससुतादसौ ।
हित्वेदं नृप गङ्गायां यास्यत्यद्धाकुतोभयम् ॥ २८॥
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The Brāhmaṇas replied : O Yudhiṣṭhira (son of Pṛthā), this grandson of yours will protect his subjects just like Ikṣwāku, the eldest son of Vaivaswata Manu (who presides over the present Manwantara), and will be devoted to the Brāhmaṇas and true to his word like Śrī Rāma, the celebrated son of Daśaratha. (19)
He will be munificent and kind to those who seek his protection like Śibi, the king of the Uśinaras; and, like Bharata (the son of Duṣyanta), he will extend the fame of his own people as well as of those who perform sacrifices. (20)
. As a leader of bowmen, he will be a match for both the Arjunas (Sahasrabāhu and his own grandfather); nay, he will be unassailable as fire and unconquerable as the ocean. (21)
He will be heroic as a lion (the king of beasts), worth resorting to as the Himālayas, enduring as the earth and forbearing like parents. (22)
In even-mindedness he will compare with Brahmā (the Creator) himself; while in graciousness of disposition he will be equal to Lord Śiva. And he will be the support of all living beings like God Viṣṇu (the Abode of Ramā, the Goddess of Prosperity). (23)
In high-mindedness accompanied with excellent virtues, he will follow the example of Śrī Kṛṣṇa; he will be generous as king Rantideva and pious like Yayāti. (24)
He will be equal to Bali in firmness, and unflinching in his devotion to Śrī Kṛṣṇa as Prahlāda. He will perform a number of Aśwamedha sacrifices and will wait upon the aged. (25)
He will be the progenitor of a race of royal sages and chastiser of those who stray from the path of virtue. Nay, he will subdue Kali (the spirit presiding over the Kali age) in the interest of mother Earth as well as of righteousness. (26)
Hearing of his impending death at the hands of Takṣaka (a chief of the Nāgas), impelled by the curse of a Brāhmaṇa's son, he will renounce all attachment and take refuge in the feet of Śrī Hari. (27)
Having ascertained the truth about the Spirit from the sage Śukadeva (the son of Vyāsa), he will cast off his mortal coil, O king, on the bank of Gaṅgā and attain the fearless state (the state of blessedness). (28) (19-28)
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इति राज्ञ उपादिश्य विप्रा जातककोविदाः ।
लब्धापचितयः सर्वे प्रतिजग्मुः स्वकान् गृहान् ॥ २९॥
स एष लोके विख्यातः परीक्षिदिति यत्प्रभुः ।
गर्भे दृष्टमनुध्यायन् परीक्षेत नरेष्विह ॥ ३०॥
स राजपुत्रो ववृधे आशु शुक्ल इवोडुपः ।
आपूर्यमाणः पितृभिः काष्ठाभिरिव सोऽन्वहम् ॥ ३१॥
यक्ष्यमाणोऽश्वमेधेन ज्ञातिद्रोहजिहासया ।
राजालब्धधनो दध्यावन्यत्र करदण्डयोः ॥ ३२॥
तदभिप्रेतमालक्ष्य भ्रातरोऽच्युतचोदिताः
धनं प्रहीणमाजह्रुरुदीच्यां दिशि भूरिशः ॥ ३३॥
तेन सम्भृतसम्भारो धर्मपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः ।
वाजिमेधैस्त्रिभिर्भीतो यज्ञैः समयजद्धरिम् ॥ ३४॥
आहूतो भगवान् राज्ञा याजयित्वा द्विजैर्नृपम् ।
उवास कतिचिन्मासान् सुहृदां प्रियकाम्यया ॥ ३५॥
ततो राज्ञाभ्यनुज्ञातः कृष्णया सहबन्धुभिः ।
ययौ द्वारवतीं ब्रह्मन् सार्जुनो यदुभिर्वृतः ॥ ३६॥
इति श्रीमद्भागवते महापुराणे पारमहंस्यां संहितायां
प्रथमस्कन्धे परीक्षिज्जन्माद्युत्कर्षो नाम द्वादशोऽध्यायः ॥ १.१२॥
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Having thus told the king (about the future of the new-born babe), the Brāhmaṇas, who were all well-versed in astrology, returned each to his own home after receiving their fee. (29)
It was this very child who was known all over the world by the name of Parikṣit, because this gifted boy used to look for, among those whom he saw, the Person whom he had perceived in his mother's womb and who always lingered in his thought. (30)
Being fostered everyday by (the love of) his grandparents, the prince (Parikṣit) grew up very soon, even as the orb of the moon, waxing by degrees in a bright fortnight everyday, becomes full very soon. (31)
The king now made up his mind to propitiate the Lord through the performance of a horse-sacrifice in order to atone for his hostile conduct towards his own kith and kin; but since he had no money (to defray the expenses of the sacrifice) other than that collected as revenue or fines (which was evidently not much), he became thoughtful. (32)
Perceiving what was in his mind, his younger brothers, at the instance of Acyuta (the immortal Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa) fetched abundant riches that had been left in the north (by king Marutta and his priests*). (33)
Having thus equipped himself with all the requisites for the sacrifice, king Yudhiṣṭhira, the son of Dharma (the god of righteousness), who was afraid of sin, propitiated Śrī Hari by performing three horse-sacrifices. (34)
Having enabled the king to perform the sacrifices with the help of the twice-born (the Brāhmaṇas), Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who had been invited for the occasion, stayed with him for some months for the gratification of his friends and relations. (35)
Then, with the leave of the king and his younger brothers, as well as of Kṛṣṇā (queen Draupadi), O Śaunaka, He proceeded to Dwārāvatī (Dwārakā) accompanied by Arjuna and surrounded by the Yadu chiefs (Uddhava, Sātyaki and others). (36)
- In the line of Diṣṭa (the fourth of the ten sons of Vaivaswata Manu, the Manu presiding over the present Manwantara) there flourished a universal monarch, Marutta by name, who performed a sacrifice which was unequalled by any other sacrifice. All the vessel used in that sacrifice were made of gold and most beautiful in shape (vide Śrīmad Bhāgavata IX. ii. 27). At the conclusion of the sacrifice the king had all the vessels thrown in the north. Besides, he gave untold wealth to the priests by
Thus ends the twelfth discourse entitled "The Glory of birth etc., of Parikṣit," forming part of the story relating to the Naimiṣa forest, in Book One of the great and glorious Bhāgavata-Purāṇa, otherwise known as the Paramahārṣa-Sarhhitā
(29-36)
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