Swami Pushkarini - Kashyapa getting relieved of his sin

(Skanda Purana - Venkatachala Mahatmya - 11)

Sr Venkateswara

• About king Parikshit: King Parikshit was the grandson of Arjuna (of Mahabharata) and the son of Abhimanyu. He was a very righteous king who ruled from Hastinapura.

• King Parikshit committing a wrong act on sage Samika: The king was then sixty years old. One day he went for hunting in the forest. He roamed about afflicted with hunger and thirst. In the course of pursuing a deer the king came to the hermitage of sage Samika. The sage was then engrossed in meditation and was also observing a vow of silence. The king enquired the sage about the deer (repeatedly) but did not get any reply. Overcome by anger the king lifted a dead snake with the tip of his arrow and placed it around the shoulders of the sage. Then the king went away and returned to the city.

• Sringin, the son of the sage cursing the king: Sringin, the son of the sage came to know about this incident from a brahmana named Krishna. Sringin became furious and cursed that whoever had placed the dead snake around the shoulders of his father will die within seven days by being bitten by serpent Takshaka.

• Sage Samika scolding his son for his rash behaviour: Sage Samika knew that Parikshit was a very righteous king and his act was only due to his momentary anger. He scolded his son for his rash behaviour and said that patience and forbearance which dispels anger are the means of obtaining supreme happiness. A person endowed with these can attain the greatest good.

• Sage Samika informing king Parikshit about the curse: Then sage Samika sent his disciple named Gauramukha to inform king Parikshit about this curse. Gauramukha met the king and informed him accordingly. The king was grief-stricken.

• King Parikshit preparing for his final days: King Parikshit built a very high mandapa on the middle of river Ganga which was supported by a single pillar. He invited many physicians who knew about medicinal herbs to quell the poison of snakes. The king sat on that lofty mandapa accompanied by sages, brahmanas and saintly kings.

• Kashyapa going to save the king; Takshaka making him return back: Kashyapa, a very poor brahmana, who was expert in the use of mantras to quell the poison of serpents, was going to save the king from the poison of Takshaka. It was the seventh day. Takshaka, in the guise of a brahmana met Kashyapa on the way and came to know of his intentions. Takshaka then revealed his identity and challenged Kashyapa to revive a tree which he was going to burn down with his poison. Kashyapa accepted the challenge. Takshaka selected a lofty tree and with his poison reduced it to ashes. A man had climbed that tree and he too was reduced to ashes. Kashyapa then chanted his mantras and with the power of his mantras revived the burnt tree. He also revived the man who was burnt down along with the tree. Seeing the power of Kashyapa, Takshaka then tried to dissuade him from going to the king by other means. He told Kashyapa that he should not turn the word of a sage false by reviving the king. He also lured Kashyapa wih the gifts of valuable gems, much more than what the king will give him as a reward. Hearing the arguments of Takshaka, Kashyapa was then convinced that the king was destined to live only for a short period. Also lured by the gifts of valuable gems, he returned back.

• Takshaka killing king Parikshit: Takshaka then made the other serpents assume the guise of brahmanas and go to the king with fruits. Takshaka hid inside one of those fruits by taking the form of a small worm. At the appropriate time he came out of the fruit, enlarged his form, and coiled round the king. All those who were around fled out of fear. Takshaka then reduced the king to ashes along with the entire mandapa. Then the last rites of king Parikshit was performed and his son Janamejaya was crowned as the next king.

• Kashyapa becoming an object of censure: After this incident Kashyapa became an object of censure of the people (because he did not save a very righteous king even though he was capable). He did not get any place to stay in any land or hermitage. He was driven out from all places by the people.

• Kashyapa taking refuge of sage Sakalya: Being driven out from every place, and becoming an object of censure of the people, Kashyapa led a very miserable life. He could not understand his sin. At last he took refuge of sage Sakalya. He bowed to the sage and asked the reason why he was censured by the world even though he has not committed any grave sin. Sage Sakalya through his yogic vision came to know the reason. He told Kashyapa that a person who has the ability but does not save another person from poison or ailments is a grave sinner. He has been afflicted by that sin.

• Sage Sakalya telling Kashyapa to bathe in Swami Pushkarini to dispel his sin: Knowing about his sin Kashyapa asked about the remedy. Sage Sakalya told Kashyapa to go to Venkatadri and bathe in Swami Pushkarini which is the dispeller of all sins. Thereafter visit Lord Varaha and Lord Srinivasa who are abiding there.

• Kashyapa taking bath in Swami Pushkarini and regaining his honour: Kashyapa then went to Venkatadri and took bath in that holy Swami Pushkarini following all requisite observances. His sin was dispelled and he again became worthy of honour of all kinsmen and people.

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