Parikshit gets a curse.
Once, King Parikshit went to the forest with his minister and soldiers to hunt. As usual, he wore a golden crown on his head. There, he came across a herd of deer and shot an arrow while pursuing it. An arrow struck a deer. The deer did not perish though after it fell to the ground. No deer in the king's life had ever been shot twice. The deer bolted and ran into the woods.
In search of her, King Parikshit disbanded his bodyguards and entered the dense forest alone. He entered a nearby hermitage owned by Sage Shamika, exhausted by hunger and thirst.
He noticed the sage sitting with his eyes closed. The thirsty king requested water. But the sage remained silent.
The king, who tried and failed several times to wake up the sage, lost his mind and became enraged with the sage for failing to offer a formal greeting. The King forgot his virtue (Dharma). The influence of Kali, who was seated in the golden crown of his head, was already on the king. Thinking that the sage insulted him on purpose, to relieve his fury, he looked around, picked up a dead snake, put it around the sage's neck, and walked out.
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| King Parikshit and Sage Shamika |
Sage Shamika had a son named Shringi. He was a boy, but a great ascetic. While playing, he learned about his father from his friends. He immediately became angry and, without asking, "Who insulted my father?", "He who placed the dead snake around my father's neck may be bitten by the serpent world's snake Takshaka in seven days." He cursed. Then, not wanting to play, he ran to the ashram to see his father.
According to another story, Shringi is not an adolescent; instead, he is a youngster, and he is a great ascetic. No matter how much asceticism he practices, Shringi will not be able to undo the curse he imposed. While Shringi is collecting darbha grass, his friend Krisha comes to him and informs him that the king has garlanded a dead snake around Shamika's neck. At that moment, an angry Shringi curses the king and immediately runs to the ashram to see his father.
Some other sources say that Shringi cursed "A snake bird shall bite the king."
Likewise, his friend told him that Shamika had a dead snake wrapped around his neck. Shringi sat waiting for his father to wake up from his meditation. Sage Shamika's vow of silence was over. Meditating on the Lord, he slowly opened his eyes and saw his son Shringi sitting sadly opposite him.
"Can you tell me what happened?" As he questioned the son, he learned of Parikshit's arrival and the King's placement of a dead snake around his neck. He also learned of his son's curse on the king.
Shamika was saddened by his son's grumpiness and instructed him on how to regulate his rage.
And, as he was powerless to undo the curse, he called some of his disciples to inform the king about the curse to help him take care of it and fulfill his last wishes. Accordingly, his disciples immediately set out for the palace.
King was more upset about his wrongdoing than the effects of the curse when he learned of Shringi's curse. The king asked his disciples to say that he had sought forgiveness from Shamika. And he discussed in court "How to spend the next seven days?"
Everyone's opinion was collected. Accordingly, so that the serpents could not crawl and climb, a high tower was built and the king stayed there. The king's guards were watching twenty-four hours a day. The king had not lost his will to live, even though he knew that his death was almost certain.
But, as time passed, the king became utterly disinterested in governance. He renounced his throne and accepted Sanyasa. And he decided to spend the last days of his life well and wanted to listen to the stories of the Lord every day, so he asked his court to bring the right person to narrate. While searching, the minister came to know about Shukadeva Muni, considered him to be a worthy person, and got him.
The king saw Sage Shukadeva and took his blessings. Shukadeva had entirely given up wearing clothing, and he had a dark complexion. Some stories say that Sukhadeva wore only minimal clothing. Shukadeva was the son of Vedavyasa who wrote the Mahabharata. He narrated not only the stories to the Parikshit but also the many travails between man's birth and death and their solutions. And he very calmly gave meaningful answers to all questions asked by the king.
***
The king stayed in the tower- palace all day long. The royal family and courtiers used to go there and talk to the king. Many sages, sadhus, and saints, visited the king and blessed him. Herbs and various aromatic fumes were placed so that no snakes and insects would come close to the palace. Takshaka, who had camped a little distance from the palace, was now worried when he heard about this. Thus six days passed.
It was the seventh day. In a forest not far from the palace, a sage named Kashyapa was speeding towards the palace. He was confident that if he was in the palace, even if Takshaka killed the king, he would be able to bring him back to life.
Sage Kasyapa, who was making strides like this, was stopped by a stranger holding his arm. And, he asked him where he was going.
Kasyapa replied, “I have come to give life to the king after he was bitten.”
That person laughed and continued, "Takshaka is a very terrible snake. No one can save king if he bites.” Kasyapa says, “I have faith in my Mantrashakti.”
“Then, let's see, I am that Takshaka.” The stranger promptly transformed into a monstrous snake and bit a massive banyan tree nearby.
As Sage Kasyapa looked on, the tree turned to ashes. He, undeterred, sprinkled water from his kamandalu on the ashes of the burnt tree and chanted some mantra. Takshaka could not believe his eyes. The ash now began to grow together into a tree. In an instant, the banyan tree had gained its original shape. Now Takshaka lowers his head, “Munivarya, Please allow me to bite the king. Ask me what you want? and I will give it to you.”
“I am poor. I need money. I came with the wish that if the king survives, I will be honored.” Kashyap replied that “If you give me money, I will back out”
And calculating the king's ayushya in his mind, Kashyapa, decided to allow the Kaliyuga to continue as prescribed and looked to Takshaka's face for money.
Giving the Muni a bag of gold coins and sending him home, serpent Takshaka now sighed.
***
The sun was shining in the west. Numerous sages used to visit the king's palace. Many people used to offer fruits to the king. The king welcomed everyone and seated them in suitable seats.
It was now evening. The king had no sign of Takshaka anywhere. He was a little hungry due to improper eating. The fruits on the plate in front of him piqued his appetite. Taking an attractive apple in his hand, the king asked others to eat the fruit too. The minister and the royal family took one fruit each.
The son of Abhianyu began consuming the apple. After taking a few nibbles, he saw an odd, black worm in the apple. stopped eating and held the worm in his hand. His mind was getting gloomy.
The king had said loudly, “Ministers, I do not wish to thwart the curse of the young sage. This worm shall transform into Takshaka and kill me.” The minister, too, was under some spell and replied, “As you wish. Your Majesty.”
In an instant, the worm in the palm turned into a hideous snake, writhing and biting the king.
Seeing Takshak in a terrifying form, the people gathered around ran in different directions. The king collapsed to the floor. His skin turned a dark blue colour. Thus, the king died as a result of a mistake he made.
Lessons we should learn from this story.
1. A mistake is a mistake, always. whoever the perpetrator is.
2. Anger destroys intelligence.
3. A person unable to control their senses is responsible for their own destruction.
Friends, I have a simple question for you.
How did Takshaka get inside the king's palace?
Please tell me the answer in the comment box.
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