|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 55 – The legend of Lord Krishna – The legend of King Pareekshith

Kechith Swadhehanthar Hridhayavakashe  Pradheshamathram Purusham Vasantham | Chathurbhujam Kanjja Radhangashankhagadhadharam  Dharanaya Smaranthi || Prasannavakthram Nalinayathekshanam Kadamba Kinchilka Pishangavasasam | Lasan Maharathna Hiranmayangadham Spuran Maharathna Kireeta Kundalam ||

Shuka Bharamam speaks “Oh! Rajan, I have described the Sthoolaroopa/Virat Roopa of the supreme Lord to contemplate, which could bring union of mind and intellect to the supreme soul is considered as its origin.  Hence, the union of the soul to the supreme soul with the constant practice of meditation brings the state of Jeevamuktha/where there are no grief or pain, happiness or sorrow, eventually the soul will attain Bhramanirvana/union with the supreme Bhramam, which removes the Jeeva from the cycles of birth and death, like the river flows until and unless it merges with the ocean.  Oh! Rajan, I have described the ultimate object of meditation to you.”

Shuka Bhramam speaks, “ Oh! Rajan, Lord Bhrama attained the knowledge of creation and immersed in the creation of living beings.  Thus the Jeevas came into existence and engaged in various Karmas/deeds, they have started performing deeds to fulfill one’s own desires to make their lives promising and comfortable, ultimately the Jeevas got fastened with the various material desires and bondage find it difficult to attain serenity of mind.  An intellectual will not give importance to material matter or affairs or bondage, with the constant meditation and contemplation attains the serenity of the mind and approaches all the life events with a serene mind, eventually elevate their souls, they consider  a simple bed as super most comfort in the presence of a plain floor, the pillow is not a requirement at all, when they are capable to freely move their hands under the head.  In this way, an intellectual accommodate themselves into any odd situations in their lives with a serene mind.  Oh! Rajan, we have leaves and bark of wood to wear, we have pathways to walk, nature is the rich source of food and fiber roots, there are caves to take rest, and therefore whoever finds immense pleasure in meager comforts would achieve the union with the Lord effortlessly.  Oh! Rajan, keep your intellect and mind in the thoughts of supreme Lord Anantha who has neither beginning nor end resides as a soul in you and experiences his eternal presence in you and contemplate upon that marvelous form of supreme Lord, whenever your mind and intellect gets disturbed of worldly matters and bondage.  Oh! Rajan, if you find it difficult to concentrate on the subtle form of the supreme soul, you can envision the supreme Purusha who resides as a soul in all the living beings, and his marvelous appearance with four arms holding Shankha, Chakra, Gadha, and Padma, has a pleasing smile, eyes resemble lotus flower petals, attired in magnificent yellow silk garment, adorned in exquisite ornaments all over the body, gem decorated Kireeta, Kangana, Kundala, Angadha that spreads intense luster, adorned in Vanamala, Kausthubham, Srivathsam and Goddess Sri Mahalakshmi on his chest, decorated with marvelous anklets, waist ornaments, dark and beautiful curly hair locks adorned in the magnificent crown, beautiful eyebrows, forehead adorned in sandalwood paste and vermilion. In this way, you can practice meditation, fixing your glance from the feet to that magnificent crown of the supreme Lord Hari.”

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 54 – The legend of Lord Krishna – The legend of King Pareekshith – Mahapurusha Varnnana

Shukha Bhramam speaks “Oh! Rajan, King Khatvanga elevated his soul in a few seconds, you have seven days left, therefore undoubtedly you will get relieved from all your qualms,  rise your soul from the fear of death.  I have a firm belief that you can understand the supreme knowledge of ‘self’ from this glorious scripture and elevate your soul. You have already abandoned your family and Kingship, and you are willing to hear the glories of the supreme Lord. Oh! Rajan, visualize the magnificent form of supreme Lord with a regulated breath, contemplate upon his glorious names so that you will get rid of the fleeting thoughts from your mind, in this way you can achieve calmness of the mind.  This is the initial stage to please the Supreme Lord; it would remove all those thoughts of material matters and bring utmost serenity.”

King Pareekshith speaks “Oh! Bhraman, how did I visualize the form of supreme Lord? How should I practice meditation?”

Shukha Bhramam speaks “Oh! Rajan, the mind and intellect should be well prepared to understand this sacred scripture, for that practice you requires to be Jithasana/comfortably seated and with a curiosity to listen to it, should have devotion and faith to listen, Jithashwasa/understand the concept with a calm mind, Jithasangha/follow that sincerely without any doubt being in the association of holy men and practice it, Jithendhriya/practice control over senses, envision the magnificent form of supreme Lord who is all-pervasive Virat Purusha, whose feet represent Patal Loka, back of feet represent Rasathala, Gulpha represent Mahathalam, Jangha represent Thalathala, knees represent Suthalaloka, two thighs represent Athala  and Vithala respectively, waist represent Maheethala, navel represents the sky, chest represent Swargaloka, Greevah/neck represent Maharloka, face represent Janarloka/Agni, top of the head represent Sathyaloka, hands represent Indra, ears represent directions, nose represent Ashwinidevathas, eyes represent Surya, Vedas are Bhramarandhra, teeth represent Yama, smile represents Maya, upper lip represents Lajja, bosom represent Dharma, the stomach represents the ocean, and bones represent the mountain. Oh! Rajan, I have described elaborately about the all-pervasive nature of the Supreme Lord, contemplate upon that glorious form.”

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 53 – The legend of Lord Krishna – The legend of King Pareekshith

Jithasano Jithashvaso Jithasangho Jithendhriya: | Sthoole Bhagavatho Roope Mana: Sandharayedhdhiya||

Shukha Bhramam speaks “Oh! Nripa, you have raised a brilliant question which is highly promising  for ‘ Jeeva’ and welfare of the Universe, it would help the soul to elevate from the miseries and sorrows of worldly existence forever.  Oh! Rajendra, you have raised marvelous questions that will wake up the Jeeva that never spared time to realize the presence of the supreme soul in it, and completely engages in the worldly matters and bondage, spend solid time in sleeping in the night, and a good time with the children and wife, Alas! spends a little time performing daily rites that too for fulfilling one's own desires.  It causes the Jeevas to undergo constant miseries and sorrows of worldly existence, eventually dies without the knowledge of Athma Thaththva/knowledge of ‘self'.  Oh! Rajan, reading and reciting the glorious scriptures praising the splendor of Lord Hari, contemplating upon the supreme Lord who resides as a soul in living beings, is the ultimate shelter for Jeeva, hence elevates your soul to that supreme Lord and get rid of your fear and anxieties.”

Shukha Bhramam continues “Oh! Rajan, I shall describe the Sankhya Yoga which describes the knowledge of ‘self’ along with the practice of Swadharma, you will get rid of all the fears; finally, you will attain that constant remembrance of supreme Lord Narayana/supreme soul. I have taught the glorious Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran which is the essence of Veda and Vedanta, from my father Maharishi Dhwaipayana.   It is one of the glorious scripture that was learned by Lord Bhrama, holds supremacy among all the scriptures. It was the illustrious Rishis and Sages found after a thorough search with the practice meditation and recitation of the glories of supreme Lord Hari, Jeeva could get rid of extreme fear and anxieties of worldly existence.  Oh! Rajan, do not be anxious, you will attain serenity of the mind in seven days, you might have heard of the legend of King Khatvanga who elevated his soul in a few seconds.”

Once, there was a King Khatvanga from the clan of Raghu, highly skilled in war fields, Lord Indra was highly pleased with the skills of King Khatvanga instructed him to participate in the war between deities and demons.  He sleeplessly fought against the demons and conquered them.  Lord Indra advised King Khatvanga to live in his abode and get rid of physical and mental exhaustion caused by the war, was refused by the latter, and in return enquired Lord Indra to predict his life span on the Earth.  Lord Indra hesitated to reveal, but King Khatvanga was firm in his decision to know his lifetime, Lord Indra revealed he has two Muhurtha/ to live on Earth.  King Khatvanga immediately left the abode Indra, returned to his Kingdom, all the wealth, richness and Kingdom was equally distributed to his sons, went to the sacred river bank Ganga and undertook intense meditation, ultimately attained union with the supreme Bramham.

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 52 – The legend of Lord Krishna – The legend of King Pareekshith

King Pareekshith speaks “Oh! Mahatma, I am fortunate one, I have obtained the grace of Lord while in mother’s womb, and I had the grace of Lord Vishnu to take birth in an illustrious clan, as the grandson of the great archer Arjuna who is dearest companion of supreme Lord Krishna. Today my entire clan got sanctified with the association of Mahayogis.  Oh! Paramaguro, Oh! Mahayogi, kindly remove my qualms, and kindly describe which is the superior responsibility of a Jeeva, who is constantly moving towards death? How did I get relieved from the fear of death? How did I confront my death without any trepidation? What should I recite, or what are the austerities that should be followed, or what are the duties to be performed? Or contemplate upon or meditate?”

The great emperor Pareekshith did not approach the palace physicians to get  on advise to get cured of serpent bite, was aware that the body has to undergo constant transformation and ruin, he was not anxious about the death, all the  Jeevas are bound by ruin and death, he was curious to know how to face death without fear.  Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran is the Scripture speaks about the management of thoughts and the ways to get rid of redundant thoughts that cause mental and physical exhaustion. The sense of fear and anxieties have become inseparable from mind and intellect causes various ailments, hence the Rishis and Sages conducted a rigorous search of the origin of mind and intellect and the related fleeting thoughts and introduced various methods of meditation to get rid of redundant thoughts which cause extreme anxieties.  The constant meditation and contemplation upon supreme Lord, who is beyond ‘Maya’, would help to attain serenity and a well-balanced state of the mind to handle any adverse situations in life, with the remembrance of the law of Karma that follows the Jeeva continuously.

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 51 – The legend of Lord Krishna – The legend of King Pareekshith

King Pareekshith speaks “Oh! Mahatma, I am a fortunate one, I am extremely delighted to be in the association of you all. I have seven days to meet my death by serpent bite Thakshaka.  I have to contemplate upon the supreme Lord, live in his constant remembrance; I have to be able to face my death without any trepidations.  Oh! Noble souls, if I am failed to elevate my soul with the constant contemplation, I have only one desire, if I was born again I should live in the constant remembrance of Lord, and the association of saintly people like you.  I shall repeatedly prostrate before you.”  Thus, all the Rishis and Sages assembled were recited glorious names of Lord, the entire atmosphere of the sacred river Ganga echoed in the recitation of Vedic chants.

King Pareekshith enquired the sages assembled “Oh! Mahatma, I am waiting for my death as predicted by the Vipra, I am not able to concentrate my mind and intellect on the recitation, and it is already crammed with the thoughts and fear of death on the seventh day.  Therefore, how did I get rid of the thoughts about the fear of death and contemplate the supreme Lord? How did I face death with no fear? How did I continue meditation without any disturbances?”

Soon, there arrived Maharishi Shukha Bhramam who is the son of Maharishi Vedavyasa. An Avadhootha, who is an absolute Bhramam, not conscious about the Prakrithi or body, always in a state of supreme bliss, the union of the soul with the Supreme Lord attired in lion clothe was followed by several thousands of women and children singing in praise of the Supreme Lord.  Shukha Bramham has thin and long stature, hairs falling down the shoulder, a handsome youth in his teens, attractive long arms and legs, lustrous cheeks and face, he has conch shaped neck and a pleasing smile on his face.  All the sages and Rishis assembled were raised from their seats and greeted him with great reverence.  Vishnuratha/King Pareekshith approached Shukha Bhramam with folded hands and received him with great honor, offered a raised seat to him, and seated at his feet like a disciple.

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 50 – The legend of Lord Krishna – The legend of King Pareekshith

Rishi Shameeka advised his son to meet King Pareekshith in his palace and inform about the curse. While returning to the palace King Pareekshith realized that he had committed a grave sin, disrespecting a saint while he was in deep meditation, he felt unworthy of his act.

Sutha Pauranika speaks “Oh! Shaunakadhis, previously King Pareekshith had a conversation with the Kali, requested the King to allow four places for his stay in this Kali era, was allowed to stay the place where the gambling takes place, where the people consume intoxicating drinks, women sell their flesh for money, animal slaughter homes, further he requested for a decent place to reside, was allowed to stay in the wealth and gold earned in illegitimate ways.  While returning to the palace King Pareekshith realized he had performed an arrogant deed which is not at all suitable for a king, he felt terribly ill of his act, understood that very soon he will receive the punishment for his sin.  He sincerely prayed to the supreme Lord to give him severe punishment for his sin, so that he won’t repeat it again in life.  Thus, King Pareekshith was all prepared to receive punishment for his sin. Shortly, the son of Rishi Shameeka arrived in the palace and informed the King about the curse and his death in seven days by the serpent bite Thakshaka.  Instantly, King Pareekshith got relieved from the extreme guilt of his arrogant deed to Rishi, received the punishment ordained in seven days with a serene mind, further decided to leave the kingly status and comforts, immediately called for an assembly of members, ascetics, and Sages, and detailed all that happened during the hunting expedition and the curse of Vipra. He sought their opinions, revealed his intention to spend the seven days in deep contemplation upon the supreme Lord, and no interest in carrying out the duties of the King. The saintly men and ascetics advised King Pareekshith to prepare for Prayopavesha/it is one of the ancient practices to leave home and families, conduct pilgrimage in the later years of age, and spend the remaining life in contemplation of supreme Lord. Thus King Pareekshith crowned his son Janamejaya as the Emperor of Hastinapura and left the Kingdom. ”

Sutha Pauranika continues “Oh! Shaunakadhi, King Pareekshith arrived on the riverbank of Ganga,/Haridwar to contemplate upon the lotus feet of Lord Mukund.  Soon all the Sages, Rishis, Saintly men assembled on the river bank with their disciple.  Sage Athri, Vashishta, Chyavana, Sharadhva, Arishtanemi, Bhrigu, Angira, Parashara, Gathiputhra Rama, Devala, Arshtishena, Bharadhvaja, Gauthama, Indhra, Pramadhema, Pippaladha, Maitreya, Urva, Kavasha, Kumbayoni Agasthya, Dhvaipayana, Narada, Devarishi, Bhramarishi, and Rajarshi were received reverentially by King Pareekshith.”

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 49 – The legend of Lord Krishna – The legend of King Pareekshith - Viprashapopalambanam

Once King Pareekshith went for a hunting expedition, he entered in a dense wood while chasing a deer, he felt extremely thirsty, searched for stream or pond all around, did not find any.  Far away, he could see a beautiful hermitage, and a saint was sitting in front of the hermitage, he was under deep meditation. King Pareekshith felt peace and approached the saint with a request for water, and introduced himself as the son of Abhimanyu.  Alas! The saint did not hear any of the requests of the King, did even look at him, or uttered a single word in answer.  King Pareekshith felt humiliated, thought the Saint and Sages are freely engaging in meditation and other spiritual rites under the protection of a King, he should have the curtsey to receive the King and serve him, did not even show minimal respect, therefore he must be rude. In a moment, King Pareekshith lost his patience, looked around, and saw a corpse of a serpent emitting foul smell; he carried the corpse with the arrow and put it around the neck of the saint.  The act on sudden impulse and self-importance caused intense grief and agony in the later life of King Pareekshith.

King Pareekshith prepared to leave the hermitage, mounted on the top of the horse, saw a brilliant child of Rishi playing with his companions, was noticing the King.  He was extremely disappointed to watch The king who is believed to rule the Kingdom and take great care of his subject, and respect the twice-born, saints and ascetics acted like a dog that attacked its Master.  He decided not to forgive the King for his grave sin; he went to the pond nearby, took a handful of water, invoked deity in it, and cursed the King who humiliated the Rishi  Shameeka who was under deep meditation, to die of serpent bite of Thakshaka in seven days.  Thus King Pareekshith left the hermitage, son of Rishi rushed to his father and wept bitterly.  Rishi Shameeka who was in deep meditation got out and saw his son with tears overflowing, and the corpse of the snake next to him.  Rishi Shameeka enquired the reason for his grief, was answered all that happened.  Rishi felt extremely disappointed with his child’s response, spoke “Oh! Child, you have cursed a King who witnessed the supreme Lord Hari from the mother’s womb, a righteous ruler cannot be seen in the Kali era. You have given him a huge punishment for a silly mistake. He is a wise ruler, people are happy in his custodian and remain protected and satisfied, and you have committed a grave sin.  Soon, this Kingdom will lose a great King and will undergo a huge threat in his absence. You have punished an ardent devotee of Lord, and a great ruler, he approached me with intense thirst should have served with humility.  Oh! Child, I am praying to the supreme Lord to forgive you, I shall pray to Lord to forgive you for the mistake you have done to a righteous King. Oh! Child,  a true devotee should not react to any of the unpleasant situations in life, a true devotee never acts on a sudden impulse, should have patience, and react to the situation to avoid self-destruction. Oh! Child, a spiritual seeker never react to situations abruptly, you have wasted your austerities.”