Shloka 15
Parīkṣit’s Vow on the Gaṅgā and the Advent of Śukadeva Gosvāmī
तं मोपयातं प्रतियन्तु विप्रा गङ्गा च देवी धृतचित्तमीशे । द्विजोपसृष्ट: कुहकस्तक्षको वा दशत्वलं गायत विष्णुगाथा: ॥ १५ ॥
taṁ mopayātaṁ pratiyantu viprā gaṅgā ca devī dhṛta-cittam īśe dvijopasṛṣṭaḥ kuhakas takṣako vā daśatv alaṁ gāyata viṣṇu-gāthāḥ
Wahai para brāhmaṇa, terimalah aku sebagai jiwa yang sepenuhnya berserah diri; dan semoga Dewi Gangga, wakil Tuhan, juga menerimaku demikian, sebab aku telah menempatkan kaki teratai Tuhan di dalam hatiku. Biarlah Takṣaka si ular-burung—atau ciptaan gaib apa pun dari brāhmaṇa itu—menggigitku sekarang juga; aku hanya memohon kalian terus melantunkan kisah-kisah Viṣṇu.
As soon as one is given up completely unto the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord, he is not at all afraid of death. The atmosphere created by the presence of great devotees of the Lord on the bank of the Ganges and Mahārāja Parīkṣit’s complete acceptance of the Lord’s lotus feet were sufficient guarantee to the King for going back to Godhead. He thus became absolutely free from all fear of death.
FAQs
He fixes his mind on the Supreme Lord, sits by the Gaṅgā, welcomes whatever comes (even Takṣaka’s bite), and asks that Viṣṇu-kathā be sung continuously.
He accepts the curse without resentment and declares that, whether Takṣaka comes by deception or openly, he is ready—showing surrender and freedom from fear through devotion.
Regularly hearing and chanting the Lord’s narrations steadies the mind, reduces anxiety, and builds spiritual clarity—especially during crisis, uncertainty, or the approach of death.