Parikshit- Hindu FigureMortal"King of Hastinapura"

Miraculous Survival

Parikshit's life began with divine intervention. He was the son of Abhimanyu and Uttara, still in his mother's womb when Ashvatthama launched the Brahmastra at the Pandava camp after the war. The weapon was directed at the unborn child, the last surviving heir of the Pandava lineage, with the intent to extinguish their dynasty entirely. The fetus was burned and killed within the womb. Krishna entered Uttara's womb with his divine energy, revived the dead child, and shielded him from the weapon's lingering effect. The boy was named Parikshit, "the examined one," because he spent his life searching faces for the divine being who had saved him before birth.

A Righteous King

After the Pandavas renounced the throne and departed on their final journey, Parikshit was crowned king of Hastinapura. During his rule the influence of the Kali Yuga was held in check. When Parikshit encountered Kali Purusha, the demon of the dark age, disguised as a king beating a bull and a cow, he drew his sword. He confined Kali to places of gambling and gold, and under his authority the age of darkness was contained.

The Curse

Parikshit's downfall came through a single moment of anger. While hunting, he grew thirsty and entered the hermitage of the sage Shamika. The sage was deep in meditation and did not respond to the king's requests for water. Insulted, Parikshit picked up a dead snake with the tip of his bow and draped it around the sage's neck. Shamika's young son Shringi discovered his father thus dishonored and cursed the king: within seven days, Takshaka the serpent king would strike him dead. Shamika, emerging from meditation, considered the punishment disproportionate and sent a warning, but could not retract a brahmin's spoken curse.

Final Days

Parikshit accepted the curse with composure. He renounced his throne, retired to the banks of the Ganga, and resolved to spend his remaining days in spiritual preparation. The sage Shuka, son of Vyasa, arrived and recited the Bhagavata Purana to Parikshit over seven days and nights: the complete narration of Vishnu's avatars, Krishna's life, and the nature of liberation. On the seventh day, Takshaka arrived disguised within a fruit and delivered the fatal bite. Parikshit died having attained spiritual knowledge. His son Janamejaya ascended the throne with vengeance burning in his heart.