Chapter 41
“Sauti said, ‘Being thus addressed, and hearing that his sire was bearinga dead snake, the powerful Sringin burned with wrath. And looking atKrisa, and speaking softly, he asked him, ‘Pray, why doth my father beartoday a dead snake?’ And Krisa replied, ‘Even as king Parikshit wasroving, for purpose of hunting, O dear one, he placed the dead snake onthe shoulder of thy sire.’
“And Sringin asked, ‘What wrong was done to that wicked monarch by myfather? O Krisa, tell me this, and witness the power of my asceticism.’
“And Krisa answered, ‘King Parikshit, the son of Abhimanyu, whilehunting, had wounded a fleet stag with an arrow and chased it alone. Andthe king lost sight of the animal in that extensive wilderness. Seeingthen thy sire, he immediately accosted him. Thy sire was then observingthe vow of silence. Oppressed by hunger, thirst and labour, the princeagain and again asked thy sire sitting motionless, about the missingdeer. The sage, being under the vow of silence, returned no reply. Theking thereupon placed the snake on thy sire’s shoulder with the end ofhis bow. O Sringin, thy sire engaged in devotion is in the same posturestill. And the king also hath gone to his capital which is named afterthe elephant!’
“Sauti continued, ‘Having heard of a dead snake placed upon his(father’s) shoulders, the son of the Rishi, his eyes reddened with anger,blazed up with rage. And possessed by anger, the puissant Rishi thencursed the king, touching water and overcome with wrath.’
“And Sringin said, ‘That sinful wretch of a monarch who hath placed adead snake on the shoulders of my lean and old parent, that insulter ofBrahmanas and tarnisher of the fame of the Kurus, shall be taken withinseven nights hence to the regions of Yama (Death) by the snake Takshaka,the powerful king of serpents, stimulated thereto by the strength of mywords!’
“Sauti continued, ‘And having thus cursed (the king) from anger, Sringinwent to his father, and saw the sage sitting in the cow-pen, bearing thedead snake. And seeing his parent in that plight, he was again inflamedwith ire. And he shed tears of grief, and addressed his sire, saying,’Father, having been informed of this thy disgrace at the hands of thatwicked wretch, king Parikshit, I have from anger even cursed him; andthat worst of Kurus hath richly deserved my potent curse. Seven dayshence, Takshaka, the lord of snakes, shall take the sinful king to thehorrible abode of Death.’ And the father said to the enraged son, ‘Child,I am not pleased with thee. Ascetics should not act thus. We live in thedomains of that great king. We are protected by him righteously. In allhe does, the reigning king should by the like of us forgiven. If thoudestroy Dharma, verily Dharma will destroy thee. If the king do notproperly protect us, we fare very ill; we cannot perform our religiousrites according to our desire. But protected by righteous sovereigns, weattain immense merit, and they are entitled to a share thereof.Therefore, reigning royalty is by all means to be forgiven. And Parikshitlike unto his great-grandsire, protecteth us as a king should protect hissubjects. That penance-practising monarch was fatigued and oppressed withhunger. Ignorant of my vow (of silence) he did this. A kingless countryalways suffereth from evils. The king punisheth offenders, and fear ofpunishments conducteth to peace; and people do their duties and performtheir rites undisturbed. The king establisheth religion–establisheth thekingdom of heaven. The king protecteth sacrifices from disturbance, andsacrifices to please the gods. The gods cause rain, and rain producethgrains and herbs, which are always useful to man. Manu sayeth, a ruler ofthe destinies of men is equal (in dignity) to ten Veda-studying priests.Fatigued and oppressed with hunger, that penance-practising prince hathdone this through ignorance of my vow. Why then hast thou rashly donethis unrighteous action through childishness? O son, in no way doth theking deserve a curse from us.'”
