Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 1
Parīkṣit’s Final Absorption, Takṣaka’s Bite, Janamejaya’s Snake Sacrifice, and the Vedic Sound-Lineage
सूत उवाच एतन्निशम्य मुनिनाभिहितं परीक्षिद् व्यासात्मजेन निखिलात्मदृशा समेन । तत्पादमूलमुपसृत्य नतेन मूर्ध्ना बद्धाञ्जलिस्तमिदमाह स विष्णुरात: ॥ १ ॥
sūta uvāca etan niśamya muninābhihitaṁ parīkṣid vyāsātmajena nikhilātma-dṛśā samena tat-pāda-mūlam upasṛtya natena mūrdhnā baddhāñjalis tam idam āha sa viṣṇurātaḥ
Sūta said: Having heard all that was spoken by Śukadeva, Vyāsa’s son—the self-realized sage, equal in vision—Parīkṣit humbly approached the root of his lotus feet. Bowing his head at the muni’s feet and folding his hands, the king protected by Viṣṇu spoke as follows.
According to Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura, some of the sages present while Śukadeva was instructing King Parīkṣit were impersonalist philosophers. Thus the word samena indicates that in the previous chapter Śukadeva Gosvāmī had spoken the philosophy of self-realization in a way pleasing to such intellectual yogīs.
FAQs
This verse shows Parīkṣit approaching Śukadeva with humility—bowed head and folded hands—indicating that sincere hearing and respectful surrender are essential for receiving realized knowledge.
Because Śukadeva is described as a seer of the Self in all and equal to everyone; Parīkṣit honors him as a fully realized teacher and thus approaches him with reverence to hear further.
Practice attentive listening to authentic teachings, cultivate humility, and approach spiritual mentors without ego—seeking truth rather than debate or display of learning.