View source for The brahmana's son who cursed Pariksit Maharaja, he was only twelve years old, a boy, and because he cursed Pariksit Maharaja that, "Within seven days he will have to die," so he had to die. Just a small brahmana boy, how he was powerful

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[[Category:Brahman]]
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[[Category:Pages Needing Audio - SHARMISTHA]]
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<h2>Lectures</h2>
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<h3>Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures</h3>
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For example, the brāhmaṇa's son who cursed Parīkṣit Mahārāja, he was only twelve years old, a boy, and because he cursed Parīkṣit Mahārāja that, "Within seven days he will have to die," so he had to die. Just a small brāhmaṇa boy, how he was powerful. And it could not be changed.
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[[Vanisource:730515 - Lecture SB 01.09.01 - Los Angeles|730515 - Lecture SB 01.09.01 - Los Angeles]]
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Yudhiṣṭhira Mahārāja is not only thinking of the human being who were killed in the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra. He is thinking of all the horses, elephants—because they are also living entities. They are also prajā, national. "National," this word there was . . . we don't find in the Vedic literature, "national." It is modern invention. So if we feel nationally, then we feel for every living entity who is born in that land. That is real Kṛṣṇa consciousness, not sectarian that, "I feel for this living entities, not for that." So iti bhītaḥ, he was very much afraid that, "I have killed so many animals and men. So what to do?" Prajā-drohāt. Droha, droha means to become enemy. Unless you become my enemy, you cannot kill me, neither I can kill you. So droha means if you become enemy.

So when the prajās were killed, the king became enemy. He is thinking, "Otherwise, how I could induce them to be killed?" He was thinking like that. Prajā-drohāt. As you, if you rebel against the king it is also a great fault, similarly, if you rebel, revolt against the prajās, that is also great fault. Therefore he is afraid. Bhītaḥ prajā-drohāt. "Now what to do?" Sarva-dharma-vivitsayā. This is the position to approach a guru, when you are bewildered. When things are not in order, brain is puzzled . . . just like Arjuna accepted Kṛṣṇa as guru when he could not ascertain whether he shall fight or not. Bewilderment. So similarly, Yudhiṣṭhira Mahārāja also became bewildered that, "I have killed so many prajās. What is my position? I have become so much sinful. How can I rule over the empire?"

So when all these questions puzzled him, he decided to go to Bhīṣmadeva, who was lying on the arrows' bed before his death. As I told you that Bhīṣmadeva could not be dead without . . . so long he does not wish. That was the benediction given by his father that, "My dear boy, you have taken such a strong vow. So I give you one benediction." Formerly, everyone was so powerful. Of course, father's benediction always there, but they were actual benedictions. Everyone was so powerful.

For example, the brāhmaṇa's son who cursed Parīkṣit Mahārāja, he was only twelve years old, a boy, and because he cursed Parīkṣit Mahārāja that, "Within seven days he will have to die," so he had to die. Just a small brāhmaṇa boy, how he was powerful. And it could not be changed. Although Parīkṣit Mahārāja was competent to change it, but he did not change. He showed honor to the brahminical curse. That is discussed by his father. So those who were powerful, actually they could benedict. Yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādaḥ. As we read in the Gurvaṣṭaka, "By the benediction of the spiritual master, one becomes benedicted by the Supreme Lord."

So this Bhīṣmadeva . . . when he became puzzled, he went to Bhīṣmadeva, Yudhiṣṭhira Mahārāja went to Bhīṣmadeva. So this is the process. One must approach a superior person, who is called guru. Tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum eva abhigacchet (MU 1.2.12). We, in this material world, we are confused, step by step. This is our position. Step by step. Every step. Padaṁ padaṁ vipadāt. Padaṁ padam means every step; vipadāt, danger. It is such a nice place, this material world, that every step there is danger. And as soon as there is danger, we are confused. So . . . and as soon as we are confused, "How to solve?"

Tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum eva abhigacchet. Therefore the Vedic instruction is "Because you are confused, because you do not know which path to follow, therefore you must approach a guru." Tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum eva abhigacchet (MU 1.2.12). This word abhigacchet is used when there is compulsory, "You must." You cannot say that, "Without going to guru, I shall chalk out my own path." No, that is not possible. Therefore this very word is used, gacchet. In Sanskrit all words are meaningful. Gacchet means it is a question of must, not that, "I may and may not." Nowadays it is going on, and there is many rascals who come here in your country to preach that, "There is no need of guru. You can become your own guru yourself." That is not Vedic injunction. Vedic injunction is you must go to a guru, tad-vijñānārtham, in order to understand the transcendental science. And that is natural.

When we are confused in our ordinary life, we also go to a friend, senior friend or experienced friend, and ask him, "My dear friend, I am in this condition. I am very much confused what to do." That is natural. Similarly, when Yudhiṣṭhira Mahārāja was so much afraid that he had killed so many prajās, he knew that "Now, still, there is a superior person, my grandfather, who is lying on the bed of arrows. Let me go there." Tato vinaśanaṁ prāgāt. Then he decided, "Let me go to Bhīṣmadeva. He can give me instruction." What is that instruction? Sarva-dharma. Sarva-dharma: instruction on all kinds of different varieties of religious system. Sarva-dharma.
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