Shloka 17

Parīkṣit’s Vow on the Gaṅgā and the Advent of Śukadeva Gosvāmī

Devanagari script

इति स्म राजाध्यवसाययुक्त: प्राचीनमूलेषु कुशेषु धीर: । उदङ्‍मुखो दक्षिणकूल आस्ते समुद्रपत्‍न्‍या: स्वसुतन्यस्तभार: ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

iti sma rājādhyavasāya-yuktaḥ prācīna-mūleṣu kuśeṣu dhīraḥ udaṅ-mukho dakṣiṇa-kūla āste samudra-patnyāḥ sva-suta-nyasta-bhāraḥ

Translation

ଏପରି ଦୃଢ଼ ନିଶ୍ଚୟ ସହିତ ଧୀର ରାଜା ପରୀକ୍ଷିତ କୁଶାସନରେ ବସିଲେ—କୁଶର ମୂଳ ପୂର୍ବମୁଖୀ ଥିଲା; ସେ ଗଙ୍ଗାର ଦକ୍ଷିଣ କୂଳରେ ଉତ୍ତରମୁଖ ହୋଇ ଆସୀନ ହେଲେ। ତା’ପୂର୍ବରୁ ସେ ରାଜ୍ୟଭାର ନିଜ ପୁତ୍ରଙ୍କୁ ସମର୍ପଣ କରିଥିଲେ।

Synonyms

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इत्यादि अव्यय)

• sma: indeed/then (past marker)
• sma: Sambandha (भावसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sma (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle indicating past narration (स्म इति भूतार्थक निपात)

• rājā: the king
• rājā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• adhyavasāya-yuktaḥ: endowed with firm resolve
• adhyavasāya-yuktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adhyavasāya (प्रातिपदिक) + yukta (कृदन्त; √yuj, क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies 'rājā'

• prācīna-mūleṣu: on kuśa-grass with old roots
• prācīna-mūleṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prācīna (प्रातिपदिक) + mūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (सप्तमी/7), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifies 'kuśeṣu'

• kuśeṣu: on kuśa grasses
• kuśeṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (सप्तमी/7), Plural (बहुवचन)

• dhīraḥ: steadfast, composed
• dhīraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies 'rājā'

• udaṅ-mukhaḥ: facing north
• udaṅ-mukhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: udaṅ (अव्यय/दिक्शब्द) + mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); 'with face to the north'

• dakṣiṇa-kūle: on the southern bank
• dakṣiṇa-kūle: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dakṣiṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + kūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular (एकवचन)

• āste: sits
• āste: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ās (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

• samudra-patnyāḥ: of the ocean's consort (Gaṅgā)
• samudra-patnyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samudra (प्रातिपदिक) + patnī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

• sva-suta-nyasta-bhāraḥ: having entrusted the burden to his own son
• sva-suta-nyasta-bhāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + suta (प्रातिपदिक) + nyasta (कृदन्त; ni-√as, क्त) + bhāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); bahuvrīhi qualifying 'rājā' = 'one whose burden has been placed on his own son'

Purport

The River Ganges is celebrated as the wife of the sea. The seat of kuśa straw is considered to be sanctified if the straw is taken out of the earth complete with root, and if the root is pointed toward the east it is considered to be auspicious. Facing the north is still more favorable for attaining spiritual success. Mahārāja Parīkṣit handed over the charge of administration to his son before leaving home. He was thus fully equipped for all favorable conditions.

Characters & Entities

• Mahārāja Parīkṣit
• Gaṅgā
• Parīkṣit’s son (Janamejaya)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about preparing for death like King Parikshit?

This verse shows Parīkṣit’s ideal preparation: he firmly resolves, relinquishes worldly duties by handing the kingdom to his son, and sits in a sacred place (Gaṅgā’s bank) with a focused mind for spiritual hearing and realization.

Why did King Parikshit hand over the kingdom to his son before sitting on the Ganga’s bank?

Because he had chosen a renounced, vow-bound focus for his remaining time; entrusting governance to his son removed distractions and fulfilled his responsibility in a dharmic way.

Practical application of Parikshit’s determination in modern life?

Make clear spiritual priorities, reduce avoidable obligations, and create protected time and space for sādhana—especially by simplifying responsibilities and focusing the mind on hearing and remembrance of Bhagavān.