Mahabharata – 60

by 

Sankar Mukherjee

&

Dr Ramesh Chandra Mukhopadhyaya
                                            AdiParva.

Parikshit’s demise

As per the curse Parikshit was destined to die of snake bite in seven days. King Parikshit was not scared of death that much. But he was deeply ashamed to learn what he had done to the great sage Shamika. He  paid homage to the emissary of Shamika & bade him fare well.Now the King sat in a meeting. All the wise men & the ministers of king’s court assembled there.The king reported as to what had befallen him. What should be done next was discussed.Finally a tall tower was raised.At the top of it a room was made.It had no passage for even a worm. The king was placed there surrounded by the snake charmers,snake hunters,doctors specialized in snake bite, Brahmins capable of driving away snakes with Mantras & other wise men.Long days & long nights passed by.On the seventh day evening the king looked at the setting sun & felt sad because if the sun had set & if the seventh day was over the curse of a sage would not come true.

It was on the seventh day that the Sun god saw a band of Brahmins going together. Besides another Brahmin in tattered robes was going fast towards Hastinapur.The brightest among the band of Brahmins asked the Brahmin in tattered robes ----- Sir where are you going in such a haste? The latter said that his name was Kasyapa. He would hurry to Parikshit’s palace. Because he had heard that Parikshit would be killed by a snake bite. The snake would be none else but the great Takshaka. The Brahamin aglow in brightness asked what would Kasyapa do there? Kasyapa said that he would bring back the fleeting breath of the king.The bright robed Brahamin smiled. He said that that was impossible.Kasyapa became angry.He said what to talk of Takshaka.He could revive a person bitten by the fiercest & most venomous snake under the sun.The Brahmin in bright robes exposed himself.He was himself the much awaited Takshaka.He bit a nearby tree on the road.It was a big tree crowned with multitudinous green leaves supported by a number of prop roots.Takshka bit it.In a flash the tree turned into ashes Kasyapa smiled & took the ashes in the palm & silently chanted a mantra.And Lo! The sun god in the skies & the land scape where the tree  was royally placed saw that from the ashes the seed of the  tree  showed up. In no time there was the seedling. The seedling soon matured into a plant.The plant became a tree And in no time the tree resurrected in all its previous glory.Takshaka was also amazed at the sight.He then told Kasyapa that he was an agent of the wishes of a Brahamin which cannot be undone.So Takshka said that Kasyapa should not go to Parikshit to rescue him.Kasyapa however overserved that he was a poor Brahmin. He needed a lot of money.Once he could save the life of Parikshit he would be blessed with untold treasure.Takshaka then offered Kasyapa a jewel.Kasyapa was simply astounded to see the glow of the jewel.He knew that the jewel could buy kingdoms.Takshaka told Kasyapa that hence forth the gem would belong to Kasyapa.Kasyapa should however go back home.He must not go to Hastinapur.Kasyapa is an interesting character.He is like the skilled men of today who have no value judgement.A comfortable life in Lus Vagus would make them happy.No matter if the world goes out of joints and Trump’s  head  is flung in the air.Takshka is also an interesting character.He was an agent of a Brahmin’s wishes.In order to succeed in his assigned task he did not hesitate to give away the gem of his head to the Brahmin who needed wealth.Here it will not be out of place to point out that Takshaka had no personal grudge against Parikshit.

Now that Kasyapa had gone back home Takshaka accompanied by his attendants reached Hastinapur in the shape of Brahamins.They were duly attainted by the king’s men.Takshaka intuited that there was no passage to enter into the king’s room.His follower Brahamins however offered fresh fruits of numerous kind to be given to the king.The Brahamins tooks gifts from  the king & dispersed to their cavernous homes.The Sun was setting.The barred clouds bloomed the soft dying day.Now Parikshit distributed the exceedingly sweet fruits among his courtiers.He took one fruit himself.It had a little blemish.The king bit it. And Lo! There was a very small worm inside the fruit.The king prayed that the worm should be transformed into Takshaka.Because the king had never transgressed any wishes of a Brahamin.This time also the curse of the sage Sringi should be fulfilled & in a flash the small worm turned into a snake.It winded around the body of the king with thundering hisses of a tsunami & in no moment beaten by the great Takshaka, it’s hood widely spread,it’s venom widely sprayed, the king fell like a banyan tree hit by storm blast,And Hastinapur was filled with tears laments & screams.

And after the death of the king his ministers with his royal priests --a holy Brahmana performed all his last rites

And then along with the wise ministers, royal priests & all the citizens, assembling together, made the minor son of the deceased  King  of Kuru race as their king. He named as Janamejaya.He was wise from his tender age.He ruled the kingdom like his grand fathers with his councillors & priests.

Wise ministers of the young king then perceived that he could now get married as he was a great warrior too.So they approached Suvarnavarma the king of Kasi for his daughter as the bride for the young king.After due enquiries the king of Kasi was satisfied.He conferred his daughter to the hands of Janamejaya.The religious rites were properly observed.The people & Brahamanis wrere feasted.The young king receiving his bride became exceedingly happy.His head was full of his wife.He was never drawn to any other woman even in thought.The mighty king gifted with great energy moved in leisurly pursuit of pleasure in the lakes, in the woods, & in the flowery fields.The great king passed his time in great joy as Pururava did on receiving the celestial dancer Urvashi.Vapustama also was completely devoted to her husband.She celebrated her beauty having a desirable husband.She pleased him by love & affection during her honeymoon with her husband.