Sampoorna Mahabharata • సంపూర్ణ శ్రీమహాభారతము • Episode 29

Death of Parikshit
Triggered by destiny, Parikshit picked a fruit. Takshaka was in it in the form of a germ. Parikshit said, ‘The Sun is setting and now I have no more fear. May this germ become Takshaka and bite me so that the sage’s curse comes true and I will be freed from sin’.
Keeping that fruit near his neck, he laughed loudly. Even when he was laughing, the insect emerged. Takshaka coiled around the king’s neck and with a thundering noise bit the king. Startled with that sound, the ministers fled. They then saw Takshaka speeding away in the skies.
The poison caused the mansion to burn down. The death ceremonies were duly completed for Parikshit and his son Janmejaya was crowned as the king. As he was capable of destroying enemies he was called Janmejaya. Although being young he was wise. He ruled righteously like grandfather Dharmaraja.
The ministers requested Suvarnavarma, King of Kashi, to give his daughter Vapushtama in marriage to Janmejaya. The king agreed. Taking on a vow of having a single wife, Janmejaya lived happily with his wife.
Around this time, Maharishi Jaratkara was wandering through earth. He would rest for the night in the village where he reached by sunset. This tough discipline is beyond the capacity of those who lack pure mind. Following rules perfectly, he completed pilgrimages. Sustaining only on air, he was getting weaker by the day.
Once, in a pit he saw his ancestors hanging upside down. As rats had chewed away other roots, only one root was supporting them. Pitying them who were about to fall into the pit, Jaratkara asked, ‘Who are you? Why are you hanging? The rat is about to chew away this last root. I am pained at your condition. What should be done to relieve you of this suffering? Can I offer a share of my penance to help you? I am ready to give away all the fruits of my penance. Tell me what I can do for you’.
They said, ‘If our problem could be solved by penance, we could have used our penance. As our lineage is coming to an end we are deprived of higher planes and are about to fall into hell.
We are from the Yāyavara lineage. There is only one man left in our lineage. It is our ill-luck that he chooses penance over marriage. He is learned in vedas and leads a disciplined life. His name is Jaratkara. Seeking penance he has thrown us into this danger. Due to his decision, we are orphaned and are about to fall into hell.
O Mahatma, if you meet Jaratkara please explain to him our predicament and request him to get married at the earliest. Tell him it is our command. Do you see this single blade of grass? It is the only pole that sustains our lineage. The rat that is chewing away the ropes is none other than time. The foolish Jaratkara is responsible for this last root to be chewed away. Like sinners we are about to fall down. When we fall down, Kāla will, along with our relatives, take us to hell.
Penance, yagna and other spiritual tools are not at par with progeny. This rule is applicable to our lineage. Please report everything to Jaratkara when you meet him. Ask him to get married and beget a child. By the way, who are you?’
‘All of you are my ancestors. I am Jaratkara, the sinner who has troubled you. You are free to punish me’.
‘Good luck has come to us today. You are here before us. But, why haven’t you got married?’- they asked.
‘Dear ancestors! With celibacy I have decided to reach higher worlds and hence stayed away from marriage. But now, seeing your plight I have decided to marry and save you from fall. But I will marry only that girl who bears the same name as mine.
Further she must be offered to me as bhiksha. I cannot take the responsibility of maintaining her and keeping her happy. I should be spared of this responsibility. If events take place contrary to this, I will not marry. Through her a son will be born who will spare you from the danger of falling into hell. You will live eternally in higher planes’- saying this Jaratkara resumed his travels.
As he was aged, no man was willing to give his daughter to him in marriage. Jaratkara lamented. Seeking to help his ancestors, three times he softly shouted, ‘I am looking for a bride’. Then loudly he said, ‘All visible and invisible living beings in vicinity, listen to me. My forefathers are in trouble. I want to marry and beget a child. I am wandering through earth requesting for a girl to be given to me in marriage. I am a poor, troubled man. But yet I make my efforts to please my ancestors’.