SB 1.12.30 (1964)

SB (1964) Twelfth Chapter - Birth of Emperor Parikshit

SB 1.12.29 (1964) - SB 1.12.31 (1964)

Compare Versions: SB 1964 with SB 1972-77

His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

TEXT No. 30

Sa esha loke vikhyatah parikshit iti yat prabhu. Purvan dristam anudhyayan pariksheta naresu iha.

ENGLISH SYNONYMS

Sa-he, esha—in this. Lock—world, Vikhyatah—famous, Parikshit—one who examines, Iti—thus, Yat—what, Prabhu—oh my king, Pnrvam—before, Dristam—seen, Anudhyayan—constantly contemplating, Pariksheta—shall examine, Naresu—unto every man, Iha—here.

TRANSLATION

He should become famous in this world as Parikshit (examiner) on account of his examining all human beings whether he is that personality whom he saw before his birth and thus constantly contemplating on Him.

PURPORT

Maharaj Parikshit fortunate as he was got impression of the Lord even from the womb of his mother and thus his contemplation on the Lord was constantly with him. Once the impression of the transcendental Form of the Lord is fixed up in one's mind he can ever forget him in any circumstances. Child Parikshit after coming out from the abdomen of his mother was in the habit of examining every body whether he was the same personality whom he saw first within the womb. But nobody could be equally or more attractive than the Lord and therefore he never accepted anyone as compared with the Lord. But the Lord was constantly with him by such examination and thus Maharaj Parikshit was always engaged in the devotional service of the Lord by remembrance.

Srila Jiva Goswami remarks in this connection that every child if he is given impression of the Lord from the very childhood certainly he becomes a great devotee of the Lord like Maharaj Parikshit. One may not be as fortunate as Maharaj Parikshit to have the opportunity of seeing the Lord in the womb of his mother but even he is not so much fortunate, he can be made so if the parents of the child desires him to be so. There is a practical example in my personal life in this connection. My father was a pure devotee of the Lord and when I was only four or five years old, my father gave me a couple of Forms of Radha and Krishna. In playful manner, I used to worship these deities along with my sister and I used to imitate the ways as they were being performed in a neighbourtng temple of Radha Govinda. By constant visit of this neighbouring temple and copying the ceremonies in connection with my own deities of play, I developed a natural affinity for the Lord. My father used to observe all the ceremonies befitting my position. Later on these activities were suspended due to my association in the schools and colleges and I became completely out of the way. But in my youthful days when I met my spiritual master Sri Srimad Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Maharaj, again I revived my old habit and the same play full deities became my worshipful deities in proper regulation. This was followed up till my leaving the family connection and I am pleased that my generous father gave the first impression which developed later into regulative devotional service by His Divine Grace. Maharaj Prahlad also advised that such impression of Godly relation must be inpregnated from the beginning of child hood otherwise one may miss the opportunity of human form of life which is very much valuable although it is temporary like others.

(Compare SB 1.12.30 Current Edition)

SB 1.12.29 (1964) - SB 1.12.31 (1964)