Parikshit

Parikshit (Sanskrit: परिक्षित्, IAST: Parikṣit, with the alternative form: परीक्षित्, IAST: Parīkṣit) is in the Mahābhārata epic the successor of Yudhisthira to the throne of Hastinapura. His name came from the Sanskrit verb root परि-क्षि "pari-kṣi" = "around-possess" (or, less likely here, "around-destroy").

Alternate modern, not all of them correct as regards the original Sanskrit, spellings of his name are Pariksita, Pariksit, Parikshat and Parikshita. His name is a common Hindu name across India today.

He was also referred to as the "King of the Kurus".

Birth

Parikshit is the son of Uttara, the Matsya princess and Abhimanyu, the Vrishni son of Arjuna. He is born only after the end of the war.

Uttara is carrying their son in her womb when Abhimanyu is mercilessly and unfairly slain by the Kauravas. Later, Ashwathama attempts to kill the unborn child and his mother by directing the "brahmastra" towards her tent off the battlefields. She is saved by Lord Krishna, who was also the maternal uncle of Abhimanyu (Arjuna's wife Subhadra was the sister of Lord Krishna and mother of Abhimanyu.)

Prophecy of Life

The chief priest Dhaumya predicts to king Yudhisthira after Parikshit's birth that he will be a great devotee of the Supreme Lord Vishnu, and since he was saved by the Lord Krishna, he will be known as "Vishnurata" ("One who is always protected by the Lord").

Dhaumya Rishi predicts that Parikshit would be ever-devoted to virtue, religious principles and the truth and would be a wise monarch, exactly as Ikshvaku and Rama of Ayodhya. He would be as exemplary a warrior as Arjuna, his own grandfather, and would expand the fame of his family.

He is given the name "Parikshit" as he would search and test for the Supreme Lord, whom he had witnessed as an unborn child, across the world and within every human being.

King of Hastinapura

Upon the commencement of the Kali yuga, the dark age of sin, and the departure of Krishna Avatara from the world, the five Pandava brothers retire. Young Parikshit is duly invested as king, with Kripa as his counselor. He performed three aswamedha yajnas under the guidance of Kripa.

Last years

Once Parikshit went hunting in the forest, the demon Kali (not the goddess Kālī), the embodiment of Kali Yuga, appeared before him and asked permission to enter his kingdom, which the king denied. Upon insisting, 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 the hut of a sage named Samika as he was thirsty. He found the sage in deep meditation. He bowed to him several times but as there was no response he took a dead snake and threw it around the sage's neck. Later when the sage's son, Sringin, heard of this incident he cursed the king to die of 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 on Bhagavata. As prophesied, the snake king Takshaka bit Parikshit, who left his mortal remains behind and attained salvation.

Other thesis say that Kali had entered the gold and thus creating man's desire for gold. Parikshit had gone hunting into the forest. He stops at one point and gets into the lake for a bath. He removes his crown and keeps it on the bank of river. Takshaka, a naga king sees the golden crown and desires to get it. He steals the crown, but he was got by Parikshit guards. Parikshit jails him. On his release Takshaka avenges Parikshit and kills him mercilessly.

On hearing this, Parikshit's son Janamejaya vows to kill all the naga in a week. Janamejaya starts his killing spree of naga. He brutally murders Takshaka. Asthika, a close friend of Janamejaya, minister and a philosopher comes to know of Janamajaya's act and stops him.

ee also

*Mahābhārata
*Hindu mythology
* [http://moralstories.wordpress.com/2006/05/25/anger-is-ones-greatest-enemy/ Story of the great Parikshit maharaja]

External links

* [http://www.dharmakshetra.com/sages/Parikshit.htm Parikshit]