Shloka 24
Mahārāja Parīkṣit Cursed by a Brāhmaṇa Boy (Śṛṅgi) and the Moral Crisis of Kali-yuga
एकदा धनुरुद्यम्य विचरन् मृगयां वने । मृगाननुगत: श्रान्त: क्षुधितस्तृषितो भृशम् ॥ २४ ॥ जलाशयमचक्षाण: प्रविवेश तमाश्रमम् । ददर्श मुनिमासीनं शान्तं मीलितलोचनम् ॥ २५ ॥
ekadā dhanur udyamya vicaran mṛgayāṁ vane mṛgān anugataḥ śrāntaḥ kṣudhitas tṛṣito bhṛśam
Once, Mahārāja Parīkṣit, bow in hand, roamed the forest on a hunt, pursuing the stags. He became greatly fatigued and was tormented by intense hunger and thirst. Searching for water, he entered the hermitage of the renowned Śamīka Ṛṣi and saw the sage seated in silence, peaceful, with eyes closed.
The Supreme Lord is so kind to His pure devotees that in proper time He calls such devotees up to Him and thus creates an auspicious circumstance for the devotee. Mahārāja Parīkṣit was a pure devotee of the Lord, and there was no reason for him to become extremely fatigued, hungry and thirsty because a devotee of the Lord never becomes perturbed by such bodily demands. But by the desire of the Lord, even such a devotee can become apparently fatigued and thirsty just to create a situation favorable for his renunciation of worldly activities. One has to give up all attachment for worldly relations before one is able to go back to Godhead, and thus when a devotee is too much absorbed in worldly affairs, the Lord creates a situation to cause indifference. The Supreme Lord never forgets His pure devotee, even though he may be engaged in so-called worldly affairs. Sometimes He creates an awkward situation, and the devotee becomes obliged to renounce all worldly affairs. The devotee can understand by the signal of the Lord, but others take it to be unfavorable and frustrating. Mahārāja Parīkṣit was to become the medium for the revelation of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam by Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, as his grandfather Arjuna was the medium for the Bhagavad-gītā. Had Arjuna not been taken up with an illusion of family affection by the will of the Lord, the Bhagavad-gītā would not have been spoken by the Lord Himself for the good of all concerned. Similarly, had Mahārāja Parīkṣit not been fatigued, hungry and thirsty at this time, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam would not have been spoken by Śrīla Śukadeva Gosvāmī, the prime authority of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. So this is a prelude to the circumstances under which Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam was spoken for the benefit of all concerned. The prelude, therefore, begins with the words “once upon a time.”
FAQs
This verse describes Parikshit roaming in the forest pursuing deer with his bow, a kshatriya activity; his fatigue, hunger, and thirst set the stage for the later mistake that leads to the curse.
By highlighting the King’s extreme exhaustion, hunger, and thirst, the Bhagavatam shows how physical distress can cloud discrimination and become the background for an otherwise noble person’s lapse.
Pause important decisions, seek basic needs and calmness first, and avoid impulsive reactions—this reduces the chance of regrettable actions done under pressure.