Shloka 9

Mahārāja Parīkṣit Cursed by a Brāhmaṇa Boy (Śṛṅgi) and the Moral Crisis of Kali-yuga

Devanagari script

उपवर्णितमेतद्व: पुण्यं पारीक्षितं मया । वासुदेवकथोपेतमाख्यानं यदपृच्छत ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

upavarṇitam etad vaḥ puṇyaṁ pārīkṣitaṁ mayā vāsudeva-kathopetam ākhyānaṁ yad apṛcchata

Translation

O sages, as you inquired, I have described for you the pious history of Mahārāja Parīkṣit, joined with narrations of Vāsudeva, Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

Synonyms

• उपवर्णितम्: described/narrated
• उपवर्णितम्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-√वर्ण् (धातु) → उपवर्णित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; used predicatively ‘has been described’

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• वः: to you/for you
• वः: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Beneficiary)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; enclitic pronoun ‘of you/for you’

• पुण्यम्: meritorious, sacred
• पुण्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; adjective qualifying एतत्/आख्यानम्

• पारीक्षितम्: of Parīkṣit
• पारीक्षितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पारीक्षित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘pertaining to Parīkṣit’

• मया: by me
• मया: Kartr-karana (कर्ता/Agent in instrumental)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; instrumental ‘by me’

• वासुदेव-कथा-उपेतम्: accompanied by the story of Vāsudeva
• वासुदेव-कथा-उपेतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वासुदेव (प्रातिपदिक) + कथा (प्रातिपदिक) + उपेत (कृदन्त from उप-√इ)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास: वासुदेवस्य कथा = वासुदेवकथा; तया उपेतम् ‘endowed with’; qualifies आख्यानम्

• आख्यानम्: narrative, account
• आख्यानम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आख्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• यत्: which
• यत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; relative pronoun referring to आख्यानम्

• अपृच्छत: you asked
• अपृच्छत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √प्रच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

Purport

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the history of the activities of the Lord. And the activities of the Lord are performed in relation with the devotees of the Lord. Therefore, the history of the devotees is not different from the history of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s activities. A devotee of the Lord regards both the activities of the Lord and those of His pure devotees on an equal level, for they are all transcendental.

Characters & Entities

• Maharaja Parikshit
• Vasudeva (Krishna)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the power of hearing Vasudeva-katha?

This verse highlights that the history of Parīkṣit is “vāsudeva-kathā-upeta”—filled with Kṛṣṇa’s topics—implying that such hearing is inherently sacred and spiritually purifying.

Why did Suta Goswami mention Parikshit’s story as ‘pious’ to the sages?

Because Parīkṣit’s narration is connected with devotion and remembrance of Vāsudeva, making the account a holy subject for śravaṇam (hearing) among seekers.

How can I apply this shloka’s teaching in modern life?

Regularly hear or read narrations of Kṛṣṇa (Vāsudeva-kathā) with attention and sincerity, treating them as a daily source of purification and guidance.