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Parikshit (Sanskrit: परिक्षित्, IAST: Parikṣit, with the alternative form: परीक्षित्, IAST: Parīkṣit) was a mythical Kuru king, who succeeded Yudhisthira to the throne of Hastinapura, according to the Mahabharata and the Puranas. He was the grandson of Arjuna and the son of Abhimanyu and Uttarā.[1] His bodily existence ended due to the curse of a Brahmana, which used the Nāga king, Takshaka, the ruler of Takshashila as the instrument of death. Parikshit succeeded by his son Janamejaya.[2] According to the Mahabharata, he ruled for 24 years and died at the age of sixty.[3]
His name came from the Sanskrit verb root परि-क्षि pari-kṣi = "around-possess" (or, less likely here, "around-destroy"). An alternate suggestion from Nirala's translation is Pariskhit means the one who has been tested (The test (Parikhsha) being of coming back from death by efforts of Krishna.
Alternate modern, not all of them correct as regards the original Sanskrit, spellings of his name are Pariksita, Pariksit, Parikshat, Parixit, and Parikshita. His name is a common Hindu name across India today.
He was also referred to as the "King of the Kurus".
Parikshit was the son of Uttara, the Matsya princess and Abhimanyu. Abhimanyu was the son of Arjuna and his Vrishni queen Subhadra. He was born only after the end of the Kurukshetra war.
Uttara was carrying their son in her womb when Abhimanyu was mercilessly and unfairly slain by the Kauravas. Later, Ashwathama attempts to kill the unborn child and his mother by directing the Bhrama-Sheer Astra towards her tent off the battlefields. She is saved by Lord Krishna, who was also the maternal uncle of Abhimanyu (Arjuna's wife Subhadra was the sister of Lord Krishna and mother of Abhimanyu.)
The chief priest Dhaumya predicts to king Yudhisthira after Parikshit's birth that he will be a great devotee of the Supreme Lord Vishnu, and since he was saved by the Lord Krishna, he will be known as Vishnurata (One who is always protected by the Lord).
Dhaumya Rishi predicts that Parikshit would be ever-devoted to virtue, religious principles and the truth and would be a wise monarch, exactly as Ikshvaku and Rama of Ayodhya. He would be as exemplary a warrior as Arjuna, his own grandfather, and would expand the fame of his family.
He is given the name Parikshit as he would search and test for the Supreme Lord, whom he had witnessed as an unborn child, across the world and within every human being.
Upon the commencement of the Kali yuga, the dark age of sin, and the departure of Krishna Avatar from the world, the five Pandava brothers retire. Young Parikshit is duly invested as king, with Kripa as his counselor. He performed three aswamedha yajnas under the guidance of Kripa.
Once Parikshit went hunting in the forest, the demon Kali, the embodiment of Kali Yuga, appeared before him and asked permission to enter his kingdom, which the king denied. Upon insisting, Parikshit allowed him five places to reside: where there is gambling, alcohol consumption, prostitution, animal slaughter and gold. Kali smartly entered into Parikshit's golden crown and spoiled his thoughts.
Parikshit entered the hut of a sage named Samika as he was thirsty. He found the sage in deep meditation. He bowed to him several times but as there was no response he took a dead snake and threw it around the sage's neck. Later when the sage's son, Sringin, heard of this incident he cursed the king to die of snake bite on the 7th day.
On hearing this, the king forswore the throne for his son Janamejaya and spent his last 7 days listening to the discourses of Sage Śuka, complied as the Bhagavata Purana. As prophesied, the snake king Takshaka bit Parikshit, who left his mortal remains behind and attained Moksha.
Other thesis say that Kali had entered the gold and thus creating man's desire for gold. Parikshit had gone hunting into the forest. He stops at one point and gets into the lake for a bath. He removes his crown and keeps it on the bank of river. Takshaka, a naga king sees the golden crown and desires to get it. He steals the crown, but he was got by Parikshit guards. Parikshit jails him. On his release Takshaka avenges Parikshit and kills him mercilessly.
On hearing this, Parikshit's son Janamejaya vows to kill Takshaka within a week. He starts the Sharpamedha Yajna, which forces Takshaka to arrive when he tries to kill it, but is stopped from doing so by Astika Muni, as a result of which Takshaka lives.
“Listen to the good praise of the King belonging to all people, who, (like) a god, is above men, (listen to the praise) of Pariksit! - ‘Pariksit has just now made us peaceful dwelling;40 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], (or)the Parisrut [liquor]?’ 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 tribe thrives auspiciously in the Realm of King Pariksit.”[4] [5]
Parikshit is eulogised in a hymn of the Atharvaveda (XX.127.7-10) as the Kauravya king, whose rashtra (realm) flowed with milk and honey and people lived happily in his kingdom. He is mentioned as the raja vishvajanina (universal king).[6] According to the Satapatha Brahmana (XIII.5.4), Parikshit had four sons, namely, Janamejaya, Bhimasena, Ugrasena and Śrutasena. All of them performed the Asvamedha Yajna (horse sacrifice).[7]
| Preceded by Yudhisthira |
King of Hastinapura | Succeeded by Janamejaya |
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