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Library: Enquired by Janamejaya, Parikshit’s life story narrated again!
शौनक उवाच॥
Śaunaka spoke:
यदपृच्छत्तदा राजा मन्त्रिणो जनमेजयः। पितुः स्वर्गगतिं तन्मे विस्तरेण पुनर्वद ॥१-४५-१॥
King Janamejaya asked his ministers to narrate in detail about his father's journey to heaven.
सूत उवाच॥
Sūta said:
शृणु ब्रह्मन्यथा पृष्टा मन्त्रिणो नृपतेस्तदा। आख्यातवन्तस्ते सर्वे निधनं तत्परिक्षितः ॥१-४५-२॥
Listen, O Brahman, to how the ministers of the king, when asked, all recounted the death of King Parikshit.
जनमेजय उवाच॥
Janamejaya spoke:
जानन्ति तु भवन्तस्तद्यथावृत्तः पिता मम। आसीद्यथा च निधनं गतः काले महायशाः ॥१-४५-३॥
You are aware of how my father, who was greatly renowned, passed away in due course of time.
श्रुत्वा भवत्सकाशाद्धि पितुर्वृत्तमशेषतः। कल्याणं प्रतिपत्स्यामि विपरीतं न जातु चित् ॥१-४५-४॥
Having heard from you about my father's conduct in full, I will adhere to what is auspicious and never to what is contrary.
सूत उवाच॥
Sūta said:
मन्त्रिणोऽथाब्रुवन्वाक्यं पृष्टास्तेन महात्मना। सर्वधर्मविदः प्राज्ञा राजानं जनमेजयम् ॥१-४५-५॥
The wise ministers, well-versed in all dharma, then spoke to King Janamejaya, as asked by the great soul.
धर्मात्मा च महात्मा च प्रजापालः पिता तव। आसीदिह यथावृत्तः स महात्मा शृणुष्व तत् ॥१-४५-६॥
Your father, who was a righteous and great soul and protector of the people, was here as it happened; listen to that story of the great soul.
चातुर्वर्ण्यं स्वधर्मस्थं स कृत्वा पर्यरक्षत। धर्मतो धर्मविद्राजा धर्मो विग्रहवानिव ॥१-४५-७॥
He established the four-caste system and ensured everyone performed their own duties, protecting them according to dharma. The king, a knower of dharma, acted as if he were the embodiment of dharma itself.
ररक्ष पृथिवीं देवीं श्रीमानतुलविक्रमः। द्वेष्टारस्तस्य नैवासन्स च न द्वेष्टि कञ्चन ॥ समः सर्वेषु भूतेषु प्रजापतिरिवाभवत् ॥१-४५-८॥
The prosperous and valorous one protected the earth goddess. He had no enemies, nor did he hate anyone. He was impartial to all beings, like the lord of all creatures.
ब्राह्मणाः क्षत्रिया वैश्याः शूद्राश्चैव स्वकर्मसु। स्थिताः सुमनसो राजंस्तेन राज्ञा स्वनुष्ठिताः ॥१-४५-९॥
Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras are indeed well-situated in their respective duties, with a good mindset, O King, as performed by the king.
विधवानाथकृपणान्विकलांश्च बभार सः। सुदर्शः सर्वभूतानामासीत्सोम इवापरः ॥१-४५-१०॥
Sudarsha, who was like another Soma, supported the protector of widows, the helpless, and the distressed, and was a source of comfort for all beings.
तुष्टपुष्टजनः श्रीमान्सत्यवाग्दृढविक्रमः। धनुर्वेदे च शिष्योऽभून्नृपः शारद्वतस्य सः ॥१-४५-११॥
He was a prosperous and truthful king, firm in valor, who became a disciple of Śāradvata in the art of archery.
गोविन्दस्य प्रियश्चासीत्पिता ते जनमेजय। लोकस्य चैव सर्वस्य प्रिय आसीन्महायशाः ॥१-४५-१२॥
Your father Janamejaya was dear to Govinda. He was also beloved by the entire world and was of great fame.
परिक्षीणेषु कुरुषु उत्तरायामजायत। परिक्षिदभवत्तेन सौभद्रस्यात्मजो बली ॥१-४५-१३॥
When the Kurus were weakened, Parikshit was born in Uttarā. He became the strong son of Subhadra.
राजधर्मार्थकुशलो युक्तः सर्वगुणैर्नृपः। जितेन्द्रियश्चात्मवांश्च मेधावी वृद्धसेवितः ॥१-४५-१४॥
The king, proficient in the duties of royalty and wealth, endowed with all virtues, who has mastery over his senses, is self-possessed, wise, and respected by the elders.
षड्वर्गविन्महाबुद्धिर्नीतिधर्मविदुत्तमः। प्रजा इमास्तव पिता षष्टिं वर्षाण्यपालयत् ॥१-४५-१५॥
Your father, who was wise and knowledgeable in ethics and duty, ruled these subjects for sixty years.
ततो दिष्टान्तमापन्नः सर्पेणानतिवर्तितम् ॥१-४५-१५॥
Then the example set by the snake was not surpassed.
ततस्त्वं पुरुषश्रेष्ठ धर्मेण प्रतिपेदिवान्। इदं वर्षसहस्राय राज्यं कुरुकुलागतम् ॥ बाल एवाभिजातोऽसि सर्वभूतानुपालकः ॥१-४५-१६॥
Then, O best of men, you righteously obtained this kingdom of the Kuru dynasty for a thousand years. Even as a child, you are born to be the protector of all beings.
जनमेजय उवाच॥
Janamejaya spoke:
नास्मिन्कुले जातु बभूव राजा; यो न प्रजानां हितकृत्प्रियश्च। विशेषतः प्रेक्ष्य पितामहानां; वृत्तं महद्वृत्तपरायणानाम् ॥१-४५-१७॥
In this lineage, there has never been a king who was not both a benefactor and beloved by his people, particularly when reflecting on the noble conduct of the forefathers who were devoted to righteousness.
कथं निधनमापन्नः पिता मम तथाविधः। आचक्षध्वं यथावन्मे श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्त्वतः ॥१-४५-१८॥
How did my father meet his end in such a manner? Please tell me the truth, I wish to hear it as it truly happened.
सूत उवाच॥
Sūta said:
एवं सञ्चोदिता राज्ञा मन्त्रिणस्ते नराधिपम्। ऊचुः सर्वे यथावृत्तं राज्ञः प्रियहिते रताः ॥१-४५-१९॥
Thus, prompted by the king, the ministers, who were devoted to the king's welfare and happiness, narrated everything to the lord of men as it had occurred.
बभूव मृगयाशीलस्तव राजन्पिता सदा। यथा पाण्डुर्महाभागो धनुर्धरवरो युधि ॥ अस्मास्वासज्य सर्वाणि राजकार्याण्यशेषतः ॥१-४५-२०॥
Your father, O king, was always fond of hunting, just like the fortunate Pandu, who was the best archer in battle. He entrusted all the royal duties to us completely.
स कदाचिद्वनचरो मृगं विव्याध पत्रिणा। विद्ध्वा चान्वसरत्तूर्णं तं मृगं गहने वने ॥१-४५-२१॥
Once, a forest-dweller shot a deer with an arrow and quickly pursued it into the thick forest.
पदातिर्बद्धनिस्त्रिंशस्ततायुधकलापवान्। न चाससाद गहने मृगं नष्टं पिता तव ॥१-४५-२२॥
Your father, the foot-soldier equipped with a bound sword and weapon-bundle, did not find the lost deer in the dense forest.
परिश्रान्तो वयःस्थश्च षष्टिवर्षो जरान्वितः। क्षुधितः स महारण्ये ददर्श मुनिमन्तिके ॥१-४५-२३॥
A tired and aged man, sixty years old and afflicted with old age, hungry, saw a sage nearby in the great forest.
स तं पप्रच्छ राजेन्द्रो मुनिं मौनव्रतान्वितम्। न च किञ्चिदुवाचैनं स मुनिः पृच्छतोऽपि सन् ॥१-४५-२४॥
The king of kings asked the silent sage, but the sage did not respond to him, even though he was being questioned.
ततो राजा क्षुच्छ्रमार्तस्तं मुनिं स्थाणुवत्स्थितम्। मौनव्रतधरं शान्तं सद्यो मन्युवशं ययौ ॥१-४५-२५॥
Then the king, troubled by hunger, saw the sage standing silently like a pillar, calm and composed, and was immediately overcome by anger.
न बुबोध हि तं राजा मौनव्रतधरं मुनिम्। स तं मन्युसमाविष्टो धर्षयामास ते पिता ॥१-४५-२६॥
The king could not comprehend the sage who was observing a vow of silence. In his anger, your father insulted the sage.
मृतं सर्पं धनुष्कोट्या समुत्क्षिप्य धरातलात्। तस्य शुद्धात्मनः प्रादात्स्कन्धे भरतसत्तम ॥१-४५-२७॥
The dead snake was lifted from the ground with the end of a bow and placed on the shoulder of the pure-hearted one, O noble Bharata.
न चोवाच स मेधावी तमथो साध्वसाधु वा। तस्थौ तथैव चाक्रुध्यन्सर्पं स्कन्धेन धारयन् ॥१-४५-२८॥
The wise man did not speak to him, whether it was good or bad. He simply stood there, holding the snake on his shoulder, feeling angry.
