King Parikshit's Curse and the Arrival of Shukdev

Parikshit was Arjuna's grandson and Abhimanyu's son. While he was still in his mother Uttara's womb, Krishna had protected him from Ashwatthama's Brahmastra. He grew up to be a righteous king. Once, while touring his kingdom, he saw Kali Yug beating a bull and a cow. The bull was Dharma and the cow was Mother Earth.

The king raised his sword to kill Kali, but Kali fell at his feet. Parikshit would not kill someone who had surrendered, but he allowed him only a few places to live: gambling, intoxication, illicit relationships, violence and gold. It is said that Kali even slipped into the king's golden crown.

One day, while hunting, the king grew very thirsty and reached the ashram of the sage Shamik. The sage was in deep meditation and gave no answer. The king felt insulted and placed a dead snake around the sage's neck. When the sage's young son Shringi heard of it, he cursed in anger: on the seventh day from today, the serpent Takshak will bite this king.

Back at his palace, Parikshit deeply regretted his mistake. When he heard of the curse he was not afraid; he saw it as the Lord's grace. He handed the kingdom to his son Janamejaya and sat on the bank of the Ganga, giving up food and water. Great sages gathered around him.

The king asked them all: what should a person do when death is near? Just then Shukdev arrived, radiant and looking only sixteen years old. All the sages rose to honour him. Shukdev said that hearing the Lord's stories and taking His name is the greatest path. Then, for seven days, he recited the Shrimad Bhagwat to Parikshit.