Parīkṣit’s Birth

In the Eleventh Chapter of the First Canto, Śrī Kṛṣṇa arrives in Dvārakā and dispels the sorrow of separation experienced by its residents through the sound of His Pāñcajanya conch. Overwhelmed with joy at His arrival, the residents of Dvārakā welcome Him with love and praise Him as their very everything. Śrī Kṛṣṇa affectionately receives His relatives, elders, mothers, queens and other residents of Dvārakā, accepting their expressions of love and affection. In the Twelfth Chapter, the narrative returns to Hastināpura and turns towards the birth of the child in Uttarā’s womb, whom Śrī Kṛṣṇa had protected from the Brahmaśirāstra released by Aśvatthāmā, his future, and Yudhiṣṭhira’s Aśvamedha sacrifices. The life of Parīkṣit, which began under Bhagavān’s protection, his illustrious future, Dharmarāja’s performance of sacrifices, and Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s bhakta-vātsalya towards the Pāṇḍavas are prominently reflected in this chapter.

At the beginning of this chapter, Śaunaka and the other Maharṣis refer to how the child in Uttarā’s womb had died under the influence of the Brahmaśirāstra released by Aśvatthāmā, and how Śrī Kṛṣṇa restored him to life. They request Sūta Maharṣi to describe the child’s birth, his deeds as a great soul, his death, and the supreme destination he attained after relinquishing his body. Sūta first describes Yudhiṣṭhira’s righteous governance. Dharmarāja cares for his subjects like a father and lives without attachment to worldly pleasures, remaining absorbed in the service of Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet. Although he possesses immense wealth, performs sacrifices, enjoys royal authority and family happiness, and attains fame extending even to the heavenly realms, none of these brings true happiness to him, for his mind remains fixed upon Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Finding his happiness solely in the service of Bhagavān, he continues to govern his kingdom in accordance with dharma.

Sūta Maharṣi then describes the divine event that took place within Uttarā’s womb. As the unborn child is being consumed by the radiance of the Brahmaśirāstra released by Aśvatthāmā, ŚrīmanNārāyaṇa appears before him in a luminous form no larger than a thumb. Bhagavān appears with a dark complexion, yellow garments, a radiant crown and earrings, and four long arms. Wielding His divine mace, which shines with the brilliance of a meteor, He repeatedly whirls it while moving around the child. Just as the sun dispels mist, He disperses the radiance of the Brahmaśirāstra with His mace and protects the child. While the child looks on with curiosity, wishing to know who this divine person protecting him might be, Śrī Hari disappears from that very place. Subsequently, under favourable planetary positions and auspicious signs, the child destined to continue the Pāṇḍava lineage is born. Yudhiṣṭhira arranges for the jāta-karma saṁskāra to be performed by brāhmaṇas, including Dhaumya and Kṛpācārya, and offers them gold, cows, lands, villages, elephants, horses and wholesome food in charity.

Pleased with Dharmarāja’s humble hospitality, the brāhmaṇas declare that Śrī Mahāviṣṇu Himself protected and bestowed this child so that the sacred lineage of Puru would not become extinct. They proclaim that he will therefore become renowned by the name Viṣṇurāta and grow into a great mahābhāgavata. When Yudhiṣṭhira asks whether the child will uphold the devotion to dharma and the noble reputation of his ancestors, the royal sages, the brāhmaṇas describe his future qualities in detail. They explain that he will become illustrious like Ikṣvāku in protecting his subjects, Śrī Rāma in his steadfastness in truth, King Śibi and Rantideva in generosity, Yayāti in the observance of dharma, Bali Cakravartī in courage and steadfastness, and Prahlāda in devotion to Bhagavān. They declare that he will govern the kingdom with noble qualities such as valour, patience, equanimity, a disposition towards showing anugraha, protection of those who seek refuge, service to elders and steadfast adherence to dharma. They further proclaim that he will perform Aśvamedha sacrifices, become the father of worthy descendants resembling the royal sages, discipline those who follow the path of adharma, and restrain Kali Puruṣa to protect dharma upon the earth.

The brāhmaṇas also foretell the events that will occur towards the end of Parīkṣit’s life. They explain that, upon learning that he is destined to die through Takṣaka as a result of a brāhmaṇa boy’s curse, Parīkṣit will relinquish worldly attachments and seek refuge at the feet of Śrī Hari. On the banks of the Gaṅgā, he will seek to understand the true nature of the Self from Śuka Maharṣi, the son of Vyāsa Maharṣi, and will ultimately relinquish his body and attain the fearless supreme abode of Bhagavān. Having thus revealed his future from birth to the attainment of his supreme destination, the brāhmaṇas accept Yudhiṣṭhira’s honours and return to their homes. Because the child constantly remembers the divine form of Śrī Kṛṣṇa whom he had seen in the womb and continues to search for Him among people even after his birth, he becomes known by the name Parīkṣit. Thereafter, under the care and guidance of his grandfathers, he grows day by day like the waxing moon.

Finally, Yudhiṣṭhira resolves to perform Aśvamedha sacrifices to free himself from the fear of sin arising from the killing of his relatives during the Kurukṣetra war. However, as the funds required for these sacrifices are not available in addition to the regular royal revenue obtained through taxes and fines, he considers how the necessary wealth might be obtained from elsewhere. Understanding his intention, the Pāṇḍavas, inspired by Śrī Kṛṣṇa, bring back immense wealth that had been left behind in the northern region in earlier times. With this wealth, Yudhiṣṭhira performs three Aśvamedha sacrifices and worships Śrī Hari. Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who comes to Hastināpura at Yudhiṣṭhira’s invitation, arranges for the sacrifices to be conducted by the brāhmaṇas and remains there for several months, wishing to bring happiness to His dear friends. Thereafter, having obtained the permission of Yudhiṣṭhira, Draupadī and His other relatives, He departs for Dvārakā together with Arjuna and the Yādavas. Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s boundless compassion manifested in protecting the unborn child, the devotion to Bhagavān that will shine forth in Parīkṣit’s future life, the assistance Bhagavān provides in Dharmarāja’s performance of sacrifices, and His continuing bond of affection with the Pāṇḍavas movingly reveal how the lineage of dharma is preserved through Bhagavān’s anugraha.