|| Srimad Bhagavath
Mahapuran||
|| Om Namo Bhagavathe
Vasudevaya||
Chapter – 7- The birth of
King Pareekshith
It was morning Draupadhi
found that her five children were mercilessly killed in their chamber. She became inconsolable, wept bitterly at
the death of five children. The Pandavas
came to know about the brutal incident, Lord Krishna was with them. Arjun took a vow to take revenge on
Ashwaththama after seeing the disturbing state of Draupadi. Arjuna in fury chased for Ashwaththama was
followed by Krishna. Ashwaththama
released Bhramasthra to destroy the entire Universe, but he was unaware of the withdrawal of this powerful weapon.
Arjun took shelter at the lotus feet of Lord Krishna, who advised to
release a Bhramasthra to nullify the effect of the one released by
Ashwaththama. These Asthras are created
with the power of Manthras. The deities
were alarmed to witness these two Bhramasthra which could devour the entire Universe. Lord Shiva intervened and
pacified these Bhramasthra. Arjuna
caught hold of Ashwaththama and fastened with a rope, dragged before Dhraupadi,
Arjuna screamed in a rage “ Oh! Devi, the culprit who had committed the severest sin is
before you. I am going to kill him.”
Draupadi said “ No, do not kill him. I am the mother of five children who lost
their lives mercilessly, I am deeply suffering the loss of them if you kill
Ashwaththama, his mother also will have the same sufferings which I am
going through at this moment, therefore leave him. He is the son of your
preceptor Dronacharya,” Bima said, “ No,
absolutely not, he has committed an intolerable crime, therefore no mercy should
be shown upon him.” Yudhishtira said “ No, we should show mercy upon
Ashwaththama, Draupadi is right.” Arjun
was in a dilemma, Arjuna looked at Lord Krishna and said: “ Krishna, kindly advise me.” Lord Krishna said “ People
who commit crime should get punished, but Ashwaththama is the son of your
preceptor Dronacharya. He is a Brahmin,
killing a Bhramin would bring the sin of Bhramahathya.” Arjuna understood the
inner meaning of the dialogue of Krishna that Ashwaththama is worthy of
punishment, but should not be killed.
Ashwaththama used to have a precious gem on his forehead, Arjuna plucked it out, which was practically as good as death for Ashwaththama, his head and the mustache was shaven and released him.
Maharishi Vedavyasa beautifully reveals the
nobleness of Dhraupadi, though she could have taken away the life of
Ashwaththama with her own hand for the loss of her five children, she thought
of the pain of a mother and left Ashwaththama free. But, Ashwaththama did not keep quiet, he released
Bhramasthra once again. This time he
shot the Astra pointing at the womb of Uththara who was the wife of Abhimanyu, son of Arjun was deceitfully killed in the battlefield, she was fully pregnant with the
last child in the Pandava dynasty.
Uttara cried out for help to Krishna, he entered inside the womb of
Uttara in a subtle form and protected the child from damage. Krishna annulled
the effect of the Bhramasthra on the womb and gave Dharshan to the
infant. In due course of time, Uththara
gave birth to a male child, who was staring all around as if searching for
someone. Yudhishtira asked, “ Krishna,
why this child is looking all around searching for something?” Narada describes that the child had envisaged
the supreme Lord Krishna from its mother’s womb, after coming in this word he still continues the search of the glorious form of supreme Lord. Thus, the child got its name ‘Pareekshith’.
