॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
Monday, 12 September 2022 - Nineteenth chapter of the first Skandha- Parikshit undertakes his final penance in the presence of great sages including Sage Shuka.
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अहो मया नीचमनार्यवत्कृतं निरागसि ब्रह्मणि गूढतेजसि
T:”Alas! What a sin I have committed by my despicable act of insulting that great, blemishless sage who was radiant, immersed deeply in Brahman!”
The contrition of King Parikshit was intense. He realized that he would have to reap a terrible harvest of his misdeed. Just then he also came to know that the sage’s son had cast a curse that he would die on the seventh day of the bite of the great serpent Takshaka. This message had been conveyed by Sage Shameeka himself through his own disciple.
This solidified the king’s resolve to hand over all responsibilities and dedicate the few remaining days to worship of the Lord.
कृष्णाङ्घ्रिसेवामधिमन्यमान उपाविशत् प्रायममर्त्यनद्याम्
T: Seated on the bank of the Ganga, King Parikshit entered into intense meditation on Sri Krishna’s lotus feet, controlling all his bodily functions.
Sage Vyasa describes the Ganga in glowing terms,
या वै लसच्छ्रीतुलसीविमिश्रकृष्णाङ्घ्रिरेण्वभ्यधिकाम्बुनेत्री ।
पुनाति लोकानुभयत्र सेशान् कस्तां न सेवेत मरिष्यमाण: ॥
T: The Ganga flows from Hari’s feet, is mixed with Tulasi leaves. Her waters purify the three worlds, including all gods starting with Lord Shiva! Thus she is the last resort of everyone about to die!
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Just then all the greatest of sages, from Devarshi Narada to Brahmarshis, Agastya, Gautama, Parashurama, and so on descended to witness the great passing of a noble devotee, King Parikshit. The king felt greatly blessed and bowed down to all of them.
तं मोपयातं प्रतियन्तु विप्रा गङ्गा च देवी धृतचित्तमीशे ।
द्विजोपसृष्ट: कुहकस्तक्षको वा दशत्वलं गायत विष्णुगाथा: ॥
T: “Oh venerable sages! Kindly accept my complete surrender, and let Mother Ganga accept me too. I am now fully immersed in the worship of the Lord. Let Takshaka, or whatever being has been invoked by that Brahmana, come and bite me, but I beseech all of you to keep singing the stories of Sri Maha Vishnu and sanctify me!”
King Parikshit, thus seated on the Ganga’s southern bank, presented a most inspiring picture. He had handed over the kingdom to his son Janamejaya, and sat as an intense devotee, nothing more nor less. The gods came and showered heavenly flowers on such a rare soul.
King Parikshit kept asking only one question to the sages. “Please tell me what is the most auspicious thing for me to do in this moment!”
Just then Sage Shuka arrived. His arrival is described beautiully.
तत्राभवद्भगवान् व्यासपुत्रो यदृच्छया गामटमानोऽनपेक्ष: ।
अलक्ष्यलिङ्गो निजलाभतुष्टो वृतश्च बालैरवधूतवेष: ॥
T: Just then arrived the glorious son of Sage Vyasa. He was completely immersed in his own Self, unmindful of all else. He roamed freely, and was surrounded by women and children. He was totally oblivious to how he looked and what he wore. He was a most beautiful man of sixteen years of age, of a dark radiance like Sri Krishna, completely naked. He had an irresistible attraction owing to his divine appearance that was not missed by anyone including women, chidren and sages present.
Everyone assembled there rose in reverence.
अन्यथा तेऽव्यक्तगतेर्दर्शनं न: कथं नृणाम् । नितरां म्रियमाणानां संसिद्धस्य वनीयस: ॥
अत: पृच्छामि संसिद्धिं योगिनां परमं गुरुम् । पुरुषस्येह यत्कार्यं म्रियमाणस्य सर्वथा ॥
T: “Oh great sage Shuka! It is only Sri Krishna’s grace that you have deigned to come here and grant me your Darshan. I therefore ask you sir, as you are the supreme guru of yogis, this question. I am on the verge of passing from this body. Therefore, what is my foremost duty?”
Let us see next what Sage Shuka’s reply is.
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॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
