Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 6

Bhāgavata-Māhātmya and the Complete Summary of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Devanagari script

प्रायोपवेशो राजर्षेर्विप्रशापात् परीक्षित: । शुकस्य ब्रह्मर्षभस्य संवादश्च परीक्षित: ॥ ६ ॥

Transliteration

prāyopaveśo rājarṣer vipra-śāpāt parīkṣitaḥ śukasya brahmarṣabhasya saṁvādaś ca parīkṣitaḥ

Translation

Also described is how saintly King Parīkṣit, cursed by a brāhmaṇa’s son, sat in prāyopaveśa, fasting until death. And the dialogues between Parīkṣit and Śukadeva Gosvāmī, foremost among brāhmaṇas, are recounted.

Synonyms

• प्राय-उपवेशः: the fast unto death (sitting)
• प्राय-उपवेशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राय (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + उपवेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव-समासः (प्रायः उपवेशः = ‘unto death’ sitting/fasting)

• राजर्षेः: of the royal sage
• राजर्षेः: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजर्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• विप्र-शापात्: from the brāhmaṇa’s curse
• विप्र-शापात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक) + शाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (विप्रस्य शापः)

• परीक्षितः: King Parīkṣit
• परीक्षितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परीक्षित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शुकस्य: of Śuka
• शुकस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• ब्रह्म-ऋषभस्य: of the foremost brahma-sage
• ब्रह्म-ऋषभस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + ऋषभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (ब्रह्मणां ऋषभः = ‘bull among Brahman-knowers/sages’)

• संवादः: the dialogue
• संवादः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संवाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• परीक्षितः: Parīkṣit (again mentioned)
• परीक्षितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परीक्षित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (पुनरुक्त-उद्देशः—अनुक्रमणिका-शैली)

Characters & Entities

• Parīkṣit
• Śukadeva (Śuka)
• Vipra (brāhmaṇa)

FAQs

Why did King Parīkṣit fast until death in the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam?

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.

Who is Śuka (Śukadeva) and why is his conversation with Parīkṣit so important?

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.

What is the practical lesson of Parīkṣit’s prāyopaveśa for modern life?

It teaches prioritizing bhakti and attentive hearing of sacred teachings, especially in times of crisis—turning urgency into focused remembrance, inquiry, and spiritual practice.