Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana Book 1 Chapter 18:28-42

Book 1: Chapter 18

Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 1: Chapter 18: Verses 28-42 The youthful sage Srngi utters an imprecation against king Pariksit Not being offered a mat of straw or bare ground to sit on, and denied water to wash his hands (and feet) or even kind words, the king thought himself as treated with disrespect and grew indignant accordingly. His mind being oppressed with hunger and thirst, there arose in him, all of a sudden, a feeling of enmity and anger against the sage, which, O Saunaka, he had never entertained before (against a Brahmana). While departing, he indignantly threw with the end of his bow a dead serpent across the shoulder of the Brahmana sage and returned to his capital. (He offered this indignity to the sage because he wanted to make sure) whether he had closed his eyes inasmuch as he had (really) withdrawn all his senses from their objects or he simply feigned deep meditation because he thought he had nothing to do with the wretched Ksatriyas. The sage's son, who was possessed of abundant spiritual glow, though a mere boy, happened to be- playing at that time with other Brahmana boys. Having heard of the indignity to which his father had been subjected by the king, he made the following observations on the spot :- "Oh the unrighteousness of the ruling class, who have grown fat like crows ! Like dogs that guard one's door, these servants (of the Brahmanas) dare to insult their very masters ! The Brahmanas have appointed the Ksatriya as their door-keeper. How, then can he who has been posted at the gate enter the house (of his master) and eat out of the latter's pot ? Now that Lord Sri Krsna, the chastiser of those who have strayed from the path of virtue, has departed, I shall presently correct those that have violated the rules of decorum. Just see how powerful I am !" Having thus spoken (to his playmates), the young sage sipped water from the Kausiki and, his eyes turning crimson with anger, he hurled a thunderbolt in the form of the following curse :- "Impelled by me, Taksaka (a chief of the serpents) shall, on the seventh day hence, bite that bane of his race, who has so openly transgressed the bounds of propriety by his hostile behaviour towards my father." The boy then returned to his hermitage and, distressed to see his father with a snake about his neck, wept aloud. On hearing the laments of his son, O Saunaka, the sage Samika (a scion of Angira) gradually opened his eyes; and throwing off the dead serpent,which he saw lying across his shoulder, enquired: "Child, wherefore do you weep? Who has wronged you ?" Thus asked, the boy told him (all that had happened). The Brahmana (Samika) did not applaud his son when he heard of the execration uttered against the king, who did not deserve it, but said, "Alas ! foolish child, you have committed a great sin in that you have visited his trivial offence with such a heavy punishment. It does not behove you to judge a king, who bears the name of Visnu, by the standard of ordinary men, O child of unripe wisdom ! Protected by his formidable strength, the people are rid of all fear and secure blessings of all sorts.