Shloka 7
Mahārāja Parīkṣit Cursed by a Brāhmaṇa Boy (Śṛṅgi) and the Moral Crisis of Kali-yuga
नानुद्वेष्टि कलिं सम्राट् सारङ्ग इव सारभुक् । कुशलान्याशु सिद्ध्यन्ति नेतराणि कृतानि यत् ॥ ७ ॥
nānudveṣṭi kaliṁ samrāṭ sāraṅga iva sāra-bhuk kuśalāny āśu siddhyanti netarāṇi kṛtāni yat
มหาราชาปริกษิตมิได้ชิงชังต่อกาลี ทรงเป็นผู้ยึดแก่นสารดุจผึ้งที่รับแต่น้ำหวาน พระองค์ทรงทราบว่าในกาลียุค กุศลย่อมให้ผลโดยฉับพลัน ส่วนอกุศลต้องกระทำจริงจึงให้ผล ดังนั้นจึงไม่ทรงริษยากาลี
The Age of Kali is called the fallen age. In this fallen age, because the living beings are in an awkward position, the Supreme Lord has given some special facilities to them. So by the will of the Lord, a living being does not become a victim of a sinful act until the act is actually performed. In other ages, simply by thinking of performing a sinful act, one used to become a victim of the act. On the contrary, a living being in this age is awarded with the results of pious acts simply by thinking of them. Mahārāja Parīkṣit, being the most learned and experienced king by the grace of the Lord, was not unnecessarily envious of the personality of Kali because he did not intend to give him any chance to perform any sinful act. He protected his subjects from falling prey to the sinful acts of the Age of Kali, and at the same time he gave full facility to the Age of Kali by allotting him some particular places. At the end of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam it is said that even though all nefarious activities of the personality of Kali are present, there is a great advantage in the Age of Kali. One can attain salvation simply by chanting the holy name of the Lord. Thus Mahārāja Parīkṣit made an organized effort to propagate the chanting of the Lord’s holy name, and thus he saved the citizens from the clutches of Kali. It is for this advantage only that great sages sometimes wish all good for the Age of Kali. In the Vedas also it is said that by discourse on Lord Kṛṣṇa’s activities, one can get rid of all the disadvantages of the Age of Kali. In the beginning of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam it is also said that by the recitation of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, the Supreme Lord becomes at once arrested within one’s heart. These are some of the great advantages of the Age of Kali, and Mahārāja Parīkṣit took all the advantages and did not think any ill of the Age of Kali, true to his Vaiṣṇavite cult.
FAQs
This verse shows that a saintly king like Parīkṣit does not act from hatred toward Kali; instead, he remains composed and focuses on extracting spiritual benefit—like a bee taking nectar—rather than being disturbed by the age’s faults.
Śukadeva highlights Parīkṣit’s dharmic maturity: even when confronted with Kali’s influence, he chose a discerning response—seeking the essence and acting wisely—rather than reacting with enmity.
In a chaotic environment, avoid resentment and focus on the “essence”: keep good association, steady sādhana, and purposeful action, instead of being consumed by anger at society’s decline.