Pareekshita/parikshita symbolizes such a human consciousness which is pure and sharp in all fields of senses and mind but is bound with his ego at intellectual level. As a king, such type of consciousness establishes virture(Dharma) in his entire territory(body) inspite of the presence of Kali - a creator of injustice(adharma). But is unable to attain bliss which is residing within self. Ego is a stumble stone which covers the bliss, but by God's grace, an inner higher consciousness comes forth and alarms the human consciousness to destroy this covering to uncover the bliss. This uncovering is possible and appreciable through a positive approach named Bhakti. Bhakti means accepting good and bad all equally or surrendering ones's self at the feet of almighty or joining oneself with the entire enitty or experiencing oneself as a mere part of the whole or seeing the supreme consciousness playing or dancing everywhere or loving everyone everywhere.
Proceeding to the forest for hunting symbolizes the search within. The effort for going within self increases day by day. This has been symbolized by development of thirst and hunger in the king during hunting. Meeting with a sage symbolizes meeting with a higher self. But this higher self is not awake, or inactive. That is why the king gets no reply from him. The serpent in the story is symbolic of ego. Putting this serpent in the neck of the sage means to cover the silent consciousness within oneself with the ego present at intellectual level. The son of the sage is symbolic of still higher self which tries to put the king at higher level of consciousness. Cursing in puraanic literature is not for bad purposes. It is just like beating by parents for good cause. The higher self wants to cut the ego, which has been symbolized by serpent Takshaka.
First published : 14-8-2008(Shraavana shukla chaturdashee, Vikram samvat 2065)
परीक्षित कथा का रहस्यार्थ
- राधा गुप्ता
परीक्षित की कथा का संक्षिप्त स्वरूप
महाभारत युद्ध के पश्चात् एक दिन अश्वत्थामा ने पाण्डवों के वंश को निर्बीज करने के लिए उत्तरा के गर्भ पर ब्रह्मास्त्र का प्रयोग किया । कृष्ण ने गर्भ को अपने माया कवच से आवृत्त करके उसकी रक्षा की । उपयुक्त समय आने पर उत्तरा ने बालक को जन्म दिया जो परीक्षित नाम से प्रसिद्ध हुआ । श्रीकृष्ण के स्वधाम सिधार जाने तथा पाण्डवों के महाप्रयाण के पश्चात् परीक्षित राजा बने और पृथ्वी का शासन करने लगे । श्रीकृष्ण के स्वलोक गमन के पश्चात् परीक्षित के राज्य - शासन के समय में यद्यपि अधर्म के कारण रूप कलियुग का प्रवेश हो गया था, परन्तु परीक्षित ने बुद्धिमत्तापूर्वक कलियुग का दमन किया । भयभीत कलि ने परीक्षित की शरण ग्रहण की और परीक्षित ने भी शरणागत कलि को निवास हेतु पांच स्थान प्रदान करके अपने राज्य