By “Soota said, ‘Sringee then replied to his father (Rishi Shameeka), saying, ‘O father, whether this be an act of rashness or an improper act that I have done, whether you like it or dislike it, the words spoken by me shall never be in vain. O father, I tell you (a curse) can never be otherwise. I have never spoken a lie even for joke.’
“(Rishi) Shameeka said, ‘Dear child, I know that you are of great skills, and truthful in speech. You have never spoken falsehood before, so that your curse shall never be falsified. The son, even when a person attains to age, (he) should yet be always advised by the father, so that crowned with good qualities he may acquire great fame. A child as you are, how much more do you stand in need of advice? You are ever engaged in Tapas. The anger of the illustrious ones possessing the six attributes (Gnana, Vairaagya, Aishwarya, Balaa, Sri and Keerthi) increases greatly. O you foremost of Dharma-observing persons, seeing that you are my son and a minor too, and seeing also your rashness, I see that I must advice you. O son, you live inclined to peace and eating fruits and roots of the forest. Kill this your anger and destroy not the fruit of your Tapas acts in this way. Anger surely kills Dharma that Rishis acquire with great pains. Then for those deprived of Dharma, the blessed state does not exist. Peacefulness ever gives success to forgiving Rishis. Therefore, becoming forgiving in your temper and conquering your passions, you should always live. By forgiveness you shall obtain worlds that are beyond the reach of (Lord) Brahma Himself. Having adopted peacefulness myself, and with a desire also for doing good as much as lies in my power, I must do something; I must send to that king (Parikshit), telling him, ‘O monarch, you have been cursed by my son of tender years and undeveloped intellect, in anger, at seeing your act of disrespect towards myself.’
“Soota continued, ‘That great Rishi (Shameeka), observer of auspicious vows (Vrata in Sanskrit), moved by kindness, sent with proper instructions a disciple of his to king Parikshit. He (Rishi Shameeka) sent his disciple Gauramukha of good manners and engaged also in severe Tapas, instructing him to first enquire about the welfare of the king and then to communicate the real message. That disciple (Gauramukha) soon approached that monarch (Parikshit), the head of the Kuru race. He entered the king’s palace having first sent notice of his arrival through the servant in attendance at the gate.
“The Dwija Gauramukha was duly worshipped by the monarch (Parikshit). After resting for a while, he detailed fully to the king, in the presence of his ministers, the words of (Rishi) Shameeka, of cruel meaning, exactly as he had been instructed.
“Gauramukha said, ‘O lord of kings (Parikshit), there is a Rishi, Shameeka, by name, of Dharmaatma, his desires under control, peaceful, and given up to hard Tapas, living in your territory! By you, O tiger among men, was placed on the shoulders of that Rishi observing at present the vow of silence, a dead snake, with the end of your bow! He himself forgave you for that act. But his son could not. By the latter you have today been cursed, O king of kings, without the knowledge of his father, to the effect that within seven nights from today, shall (the snake) Takshaka cause your death. Shameeka repeatedly asked his son to save you, but there is none to falsify his son’s curse. Because he has been unable to calm his son possessed by anger, therefore I have been sent to you, O king, for your good!’
“That king of the Kuru race (Parikshit), himself engaged in great Tapas, having heard these cruel words and recollecting his own sinful act, became exceedingly sorry. The king, learning that foremost of Rishis in the forest had been observing the vow of silence, was doubly pained with sorrow and seeing the kindness of the Rishi Shameeka, and considering his own sinful act towards him, the king became very apologetic. The king (Parikshit) looking like a very Deva, did not grieve so much for hearing of his death as for having done that act to the Rishi.’
“Then the king (Parikshit) sent away Gauramukha, saying, ‘Let the worshipful one (Rishi Shameeka) be gracious to me!’ When Gauramukha had gone away, the king (Parikshit), in great anxiety, without loss of time, consulted his ministers. Having consulted them, the king, himself wise in counsels, caused a mansion to be erected upon one single column. It was well-guarded day and night. For its protection were placed there physicians and medicines, and Brahmanas skilled in mantras all around. The monarch (Parikshit), protected on all sides, discharged his kingly duties from that place surrounded by his Dharmic ministers. No one could approach that best of kings (Parikshit) there. Even the air could not go there, being prevented from entering.
“When the seventh day had arrived, that best of Dwijas, the learned Kaashyapa was coming (towards the king’s residence), desirous of treating the king (after the snake-bite). He had heard all that had taken place, viz., that Takshaka, that first of snakes, would send that best of monarchs to the presence of Yama. He thought, ‘I would cure the monarch after he is bit by that first of snakes. By that I may have wealth and may acquire Dharma also.’ But that prince of snakes, Takshaka, in the form of an old Dwija, saw Kaashyapa approaching on his way, his heart set upon curing the king. The prince of snakes (Takshaka) then spoke to that bull among Munis, Kaashyapa, saying, ‘To what place do you go with such speed? What, besides, is the business upon which you are intent?’
“Kaashyapa, thus addressed, replied, ‘Takshaka, by his poison, will today burn king Parikshit of the Kuru race, that oppressor of all enemies. I go with speed, O friendly one, to cure, without loss of time, the king of immeasurable skills, the sole representative of the Paandava race, after he is bit by the same Takshaka like to Agni himself in energy.’
“Takshaka answered, ‘I am that Takshaka, O Brahmana (Kaashyapa), who shall burn that lord of the earth. Stop, for you are unable to cure one bit by me.’
“Kaashyapa rejoined, ‘I am sure that, (I am) possessed of the power of learning, going there I shall cure that monarch bit by you.’”
SRIMAD MAHABHARATA – AADI PARVA – AASTIKA PARVA – CHAPTER 42 – PARIKSHIT RECEIVES THE NEWS
