PARIKHAT (PARIKSHIT, PARICHHAT) Sukhadeva, Parikhyata (Parikshit) and the sage Gautama sing the Praises of Guru Nanak Dev….. (Swayye Mahle Pahle Ke, p. 1390) Parikhat (Parikshit) was the son of Abhimanyu by his wife Uttara. He was the grandson of Arjuna. Even before his birth, he was killed in the womb of his mother by Aswatthaman, therefore he was born dead. It was Krishna, who brought him to life and cursed Aswatthaman. When Yudhishthira and his brothers left for heaven through Himalayas, Parikshit succeeded on the throne of Hastinapur.
He incurred the imprecation of a hermit by which he was sentenced to die of the bite of a snake at the expiry of a week. In preparation of this event he went to the banks of the Ganges, where the sage Suka narrated the Bhagavata to him. In his final days, he wanted to be wholly engrossed in the thoughts of the Lord.
References :
1. Kohli,Surindar Singh ed,Dictionary of Mythological References in Guru Granth Sahib 1993
Parikshit, also spelled as Parikhit or Parichhat, is a significant figure in Hindu mythology, particularly in the epic Mahabharata and the Puranas. He is celebrated as a righteous king of the Kuru dynasty, known for his devotion to dharma (righteousness) and his pivotal role in the continuation of the Pandava lineage.
Key Aspects of Parikshit:
Lineage and Birth:
- Parikshit was the son of Abhimanyu (the valiant son of Arjuna) and Uttara, and the grandson of Arjuna, one of the Pandava brothers.
- His birth was miraculous, as he was saved in his mother’s womb by Lord Krishna from the deadly Brahmastra weapon unleashed by Ashwatthama during the Kurukshetra War. This divine intervention marked him as a blessed child.
Reign as King:
- Parikshit succeeded Yudhishthira, his granduncle, as the king of Hastinapur. His reign is described as a golden era of peace, prosperity, and adherence to dharma.
- He worked to restore order and stability after the devastation of the Kurukshetra War, ensuring the well-being of his subjects.
The Curse and Demise:
- Parikshit met a tragic end due to a curse. While hunting, he placed a dead snake around the neck of Sage Shamika as a prank, unaware that the sage’s son, Shringi, would curse him to die from a snake bite within seven days.
- Accepting his fate, Parikshit renounced his throne and spent his final days listening to the Bhagavata Purana, narrated by Sage Shuka. This act of devotion and spiritual enlightenment is a key event in his story.
Legacy:
- Parikshit’s death led to the famous Sarpasatra (snake sacrifice) performed by his son, Janamejaya, to avenge his father’s death by the serpent king Takshaka.
- His story is a reminder of the impermanence of life and the importance of dharma and devotion.
Parikshit’s life and reign are celebrated for their moral and spiritual lessons, making him a revered figure in Hindu mythology.
