Parikshit
Parikshit | |
---|---|
Kauravya Raja Vishvajanina | |
King of Kuru | |
Reign | 12th-10th centuries BCE[citation needed] |
Predecessor | Yudhishthira (Grand Uncle) according to Mahabharata |
Successor | Janamejaya (Son) |
Spouse | Madravati |
Issue | |
Dynasty | Kuru |
Father | Abhimanyu |
Mother | Uttarā |
Religion | Hinduism |
Parīkṣit (
Mentions
"Listen to the good praise of the King belonging to all people, who, (like) a god, is above men, (listen to the praise) of Parikṣit! - 'Parikṣit has just now made us peaceful dwelling; darkness has just now run to its dwelling.' The Kuru householder, preparing (grains) for milling, speaks (thus) with his wife. — 'What shall I bring you, sour milk, the mantha [a barley/milk drink?' the wife keeps asking in the Realm of King Pariksit. — By itself, the ripe barley bends heavily (iva) over the deep track of the path. The dynasty thrives auspiciously in the Realm of King Parikṣit.”[7][8]
Parikshit is eulogised in a hymn of the Atharvaveda (XX.127.7-10) as a great Kuru king (Kauravya), whose realm flowed with milk and honey and people lived happily in his kingdom. He is mentioned as the raja vishvajanina (universal king).[9]
According to the Mahabharata, Parikshit married princess Madravati of the Madra Kingdom, reigned for 60 years, and died. It is believed that his son, Janamejaya, succeeded the throne.[10]
Historicity
Only one Parikshit is mentioned in Vedic literature; however, post-Vedic literature (Mahabharata and Puranas) seems to indicate the existence of two kings by this name –– one who lived before the
Family
Parikshit is the son of Abhimanyu and Uttara, and grandson of Arjuna.[15][16]
According to the Shatapatha Brahmana (XIII.5.4), Parikshita had four sons, Janamejaya, Bhimasena, Ugrasena and Śrutasena. All of them performed the Asvamedha Yajna.[17]
His bodily existence ended due to the curse of the sage
Legends
Parikshit is believed to be a reincarnation of
After his coronation, he performed three sacrifices. While performing the sacrifices he traveled throughout the country. Once he saw a man beating a one-legged bull with a rod, and kicking a cow. He became angry at this sight and arrested the man. Parikshit was about to kill him when the man revealed his true identity as
Death
Once while hunting, King Parikshit encountered
When Shamika learned of the curse his son had given, he was dissatisfied. Shamika ordered his disciple Gaurmukha to go to Parikshit and tell him everything about his death. When Parikshit heard about the curse he accepted his fate, but the ministers created a mansion that would stand on a solitary column and remain well guarded.[citation needed]
Kashyapa, a sage who knew how to cure snakebites was coming for the king. But Takshaka changed the mind of the sage by offering him more wealth. Takshaka came to the king in form of an insect in fruits and bit Parikshit, which eventually led to his death.[23]
The death of Parikshit is also recorded by another episode when the Pandavas conquered Khandavaprastha (now known as Indraprastha). Takshaka is the head of snakes, who was residing in Nagaloka without any human disturbance. When the Pandavas arrived, Takshaka felt his freedom is seized, with pure anger, he ordered his troops to attack the Pandavas and their subjects. The widespread attack resulted in the death of many people, or everyone except the Pandavas and their wife Draupadi. After this incident, Arjuna, the third Pandava, lifted his bow and set fire to the Nagaloka. Takshaka grew even more furious and vowed to kill one of the lineages of the Pandavas. The vow of Takshaka and the curse of Rishi Shamika's son Sringin gave the ultimate destiny of Parikshit that he will be killed by a snakebite.
On hearing of his father's death by Takshaka, Parikshit's son
Succession
Parikshit was succeeded by his son Janamejaya.[25]
See also
- Kuru Kingdom
- Hindu mythology
- Janaka
- Bimbisara
- Historicity of the Mahabharata
Notes
- ^ "Parīkṣit" is the correct Sanskrit form of the name. "Pārikṣita" refers to a son/descendant of Parikṣit, e.g. Janamejaya (Witzel 1997). Parīkṣita is a past participle meaning "examined", not a name.
- ^ Also, Witzel (1995) only refers to one Parikshit and one Janamejaya.
References
Citations
- ^ Michael Witzel (1989), Tracing the Vedic dialects in Dialectes dans les litteratures Indo-Aryennes ed. Caillat, Paris, 97–265.
- ^ Michael Witzel, "Early Sanskritization. Origins and development of the Kuru State". B. Kölver (ed.), Recht, Staat und Verwaltung im klassischen Indien. The state, the Law, and Administration in Classical India. München : R. Oldenbourg 1997, 27-52 "EJVS - Current and Back Issues". Archived from the original on 15 August 2006. Retrieved 5 July 2010.
- ^ Michael Witzel, "Early Sanskritization. Origins and development of the Kuru State". B. Kölver (ed.), Recht, Staat und Verwaltung im klassischen Indien. The state, the Law, and Administration in Classical India. München : R. Oldenbourg 1997, 27-52 "EJVS - Current and Back Issues". Archived from the original on 15 August 2006. Retrieved 5 July 2010.
- ^ "Prāci-jyotī: Digest of Indological Studies". 1967.
- ISBN 9780143414216.
- ^ Raychaudhuri 2006, p. 18.
- ^ Witzel 1997
- ^ Bloomfield, Hymns of the Atharva-Veda. (Sacred Books of the East 42.) Oxford 1897, repr. Delhi 1964
- ^ Raychaudhuri 2006, pp. 10–13.
- ^ Raychaudhuri (1996), p.19
- ^ Raychaudhuri (1996), pp.13-19
- ^ Michael Witzel (1989), Tracing the Vedic dialects (PDF), p. 19, 141, archived from the original (PDF) on 6 November 2021
- ^ Raychaudhuri 2006, p. 29.
- ^ Witzel, Michael (1989). The Realm of the Kurus: Origins and Development of the First State in India. Kyoto: Summaries of the Congress of the Japanese Association for South Asian Studies. pp. 1–3.
- ^ Raychaudhuri 2006, pp. 11–16.
- ^ Dowson, John (1888). A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History, and Literature. Trubner & Co., London. p. 1.
- ^ Raychaudhuri 2006, pp. 14, 39.
- ^ "Maharaja Parikshit". Archived from the original on 14 July 2006.
- ISBN 81-7276-413-8, p.278
- ^ Raychaudhuri 2006, pp. 19.
- ^ "Who was Raja Parikshit in Mahabharat and why the story of his death is philosophical". www.timesnownews.com. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
- ^ Motilal Bansaridas Bhagavata Purana Book 1 Skandha I Chapter 16-17
- ^ Prtap Chandra Roy Mahabharata, Astika Parva
- ^ Garg 1992, p. 743.
- ^ Raychaudhuri 2006, p. 30.
Sources
- Garg, Gaṅgā Rām (1992), Encyclopaedia of the Hindu World, Concept Publishing Company, ISBN 978-81-7022-376-4, retrieved 2 August 2013
- ISBN 81-307-0291-6