Shloka 38
Mahārāja Parīkṣit Cursed by a Brāhmaṇa Boy (Śṛṅgi) and the Moral Crisis of Kali-yuga
ततोऽभ्येत्याश्रमं बालो गले सर्पकलेवरम् । पितरं वीक्ष्य दु:खार्तो मुक्तकण्ठो रुरोद ह ॥ ३८ ॥
tato ’bhyetyāśramaṁ bālo gale sarpa-kalevaram pitaraṁ vīkṣya duḥkhārto mukta-kaṇṭho ruroda ha
ต่อมาเด็กชายกลับสู่อาศรม เห็นซากงูพาดอยู่บนบ่าของบิดา ก็เศร้าโศกยิ่งนักและร้องไห้คร่ำครวญเสียงดัง
The boy was not happy because he committed a great mistake, and he wanted to be relieved of the burden on his heart by crying. So after entering the hermitage and seeing his father in that condition, he cried loudly so that he might be relieved. But it was too late. The father regretted the whole incident.
FAQs
This verse describes Śṛṅgi returning to the āśrama and seeing his father, Śamīka Ṛṣi, with a dead snake placed around his neck—an act that triggers the boy’s intense grief and sets the stage for the curse upon Mahārāja Parīkṣit.
Seeing his saintly father dishonored with a snake’s body around his neck, Śṛṅgi became overwhelmed with sorrow and indignation, leading him toward a rash response that would soon impact King Parīkṣit.
It highlights how shock and grief can quickly turn into impulsive reactions; the Bhagavatam’s broader lesson here is to respond with discernment and restraint, especially when emotions are intense.