01.037
Library: Shringi curses King Parikshit. Father Shamika teaches Shringi on ascetic dharma.
Sūta said:
Upon being addressed in this manner, the radiant Śṛṅgī, overwhelmed with anger, lamented with wrath after hearing about the deadly curse on his teacher.
He noticed the emaciated state of the person and, speaking kindly, asked, "Father, how is he still sustaining my life today?"
Krisha said:
O dear, today a dead serpent is affixed on your father's shoulder while King Parikshit was roaming in the hunt.
Śṛṅgi spoke:
What undesirable act has my father committed against that wicked king? Tell me truthfully, you thin one, and witness the strength of my penance.
Krisha spoke:
The king, descendant of Parikshit and Abhimanyu, went on a hunt. He pursued the deer alone and shot it with a feathered arrow.
The king, while wandering in the great forest, did not see any deer. Upon seeing your father, he immediately asked the silent one.
The one who was standing still, afflicted by hunger and thirst, repeatedly asked your father about the lost deer.
The sage, who had taken a vow of silence, did not respond to him. The king, in anger, placed a snake on the sage's shoulder using the tip of his bow.
Śṛṅgin, your father remains steadfast in his vow today, just as he always has. The king has also returned to his city, Gajāhvaya.
Sūta said:
Upon hearing this, the sage's son stood motionless, his eyes red with anger, appearing as if blazing with fury.
Overcome by anger, he cursed the king. Then, after touching water, the powerful one acted with the force of his rage.
Śṛṅgi spoke:
He who shed tears on the shoulder of the dead snake, which was the sin of the king, for the old father and also for the one in difficulty.
The enraged and evil-minded Takshaka, the best among serpents, driven by the power of my words, is a fierce and venomous snake.
In seven days, the leader will head towards Yama's abode, bringing disgrace to the Kurus by insulting the twice-born.
Sūta said:
After cursing the king, the enraged Śṛṅgī went to his father, who was seated in the pasture, holding a dead snake.
Śṛṅgī, upon seeing his father with a corpse and a snake on his shoulder, was once again filled with intense anger.
Overcome with sorrow, she released tears and said to her father: "Having heard of this outrage committed by that wicked soul against you, father."
King Parikshit, in his anger, cursed the king as he deserved. He indeed deserved a severe curse, being the disgrace of the Kuru dynasty.
On the seventh day, the dreadful serpent Takshaka, known as the best among serpents, led the way to the abode of Vaivasvata, bringing great terror.
The father, filled with anger, said to him, O Brahman: "Dear, what you have done is not pleasing to me; this is not the duty of ascetics."
We live in the kingdom of the king, protected justly by him; I do not approve of his wrongdoing.
O son, in every way, the present king should always be forgiven by people like us. Indeed, when duty is destroyed, it kills without a doubt.
If the king does not protect us, our suffering would indeed be great. We would not be able to live according to dharma comfortably, my son.
Dear father, we are protected by kings who follow the views of the scriptures, and we practice extensive dharma, which is rightfully a part of them.
Parikshit, like his great-grandfather, especially protects us; just as a king should protect his subjects.
Today, the hungry and tired ascetic unknowingly performed this vow here, undoubtedly.
Therefore, my son, this wrongdoing was done by you suddenly out of childishness. Indeed, the king does not deserve a curse from us in any way.
