Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 6
Bhāgavata-Māhātmya and the Complete Summary of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
प्रायोपवेशो राजर्षेर्विप्रशापात् परीक्षित: । शुकस्य ब्रह्मर्षभस्य संवादश्च परीक्षित: ॥ ६ ॥
prāyopaveśo rājarṣer vipra-śāpāt parīkṣitaḥ śukasya brahmarṣabhasya saṁvādaś ca parīkṣitaḥ
Also described are saintly King Parīkṣit’s sitting down to fast until death in response to the curse of a brāhmaṇa’s son, and the conversations between Parīkṣit and Śukadeva Gosvāmī, who is the best of all brāhmaṇas.
FAQs
This verse states that Parīkṣit undertook prāyopaveśa (a final fast) because of a brāhmaṇa’s curse, using the remaining time to focus entirely on spiritual realization.
Śuka is described here as a brahmarṣabha—the foremost realized sage—and his dialogue with Parīkṣit is central because it delivers the Bhāgavatam’s liberating wisdom through pure devotional hearing.
It teaches prioritizing bhakti and attentive hearing of sacred teachings, especially in times of crisis—turning urgency into focused remembrance, inquiry, and spiritual practice.