Shloka 37
Mahārāja Parīkṣit Cursed by a Brāhmaṇa Boy (Śṛṅgi) and the Moral Crisis of Kali-yuga
इति लङ्घितमर्यादं तक्षक: सप्तमेऽहनि । दङ्क्ष्यति स्म कुलाङ्गारं चोदितो मे ततद्रुहम् ॥ ३७ ॥
iti laṅghita-maryādaṁ takṣakaḥ saptame ’hani daṅkṣyati sma kulāṅgāraṁ codito me tata-druham
ഇങ്ങനെ മര്യാദ ലംഘിച്ച ആ വംശകലങ്കനെ—എന്റെ പ്രേരണയാൽ തക്ഷകൻ—ഇന്നുമുതൽ ഏഴാം ദിവസം കടിക്കും।
Thus the beginning of the misuse of brahminical power began, and gradually the brāhmaṇas in the Age of Kali became devoid of both brahminical powers and culture. The brāhmaṇa boy considered Mahārāja Parīkṣit to be kulāṅgāra, or the wretched of the dynasty, but factually the brāhmaṇa boy himself was so because only from him did the brāhmaṇa caste become powerless, like the snake whose poisoned teeth are broken. The snake is fearful as long as his poison teeth are there, otherwise he is fearful only to children. The personality of Kali conquered the brāhmaṇa boy first, and gradually the other castes. Thus the whole scientific system of the orders of society in this age has assumed the form of a vitiated caste system, which is now being uprooted by another class of men similarly influenced by the Age of Kali. One should see to the root cause of vitiation and not try to condemn the system as it is, without knowledge of its scientific value.
FAQs
This verse states that Takṣaka will bite Parīkṣit on the seventh day, as the brāhmaṇa boy Śṛṅgi declares the consequence of the king’s perceived transgression.
Śṛṅgi felt that Parīkṣit had violated proper conduct toward his father (Śamīka Ṛṣi) and, in anger, pronounced a curse that Takṣaka would kill the king on the seventh day.
It cautions against acting from anger and pride—especially when one holds authority—because impulsive words can cause irreversible harm and invite serious consequences.