Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c8.1985

c8.1985

The sage had a son named Gavijāta (In many places the name Śṛṅgi is used for Gavijāta). He was playing with the sons of other sages. One munikumāra (son of a sage) said, “Oh Gavijāta, your father is equal to Śiva. Both have a serpent round their necks. But there is only one difference. The serpent round your father’s neck is a dead one.” Gavijāta was greatly disturbed by this jeer and he immediately went to the āśrama to make enquiries. When he knew that an unknown person had done that foul deed he took water in his hand and said “Whoever be the person who put this dead snake round the neck of my father will die being bitten by the fierce cobra Takṣaka within seven days.” Only after pronouncing this horrible curse did he find out that the perpetrator of that crime was none other than the most noble and charitable king, Parīkṣit. Gavijāta repented greatly and immediately sent word to the king about his curse through Gauramukha, a munikumāra. The king was a bit frightened first but then he started thinking about the way to escape from the curse. (Chapter 40, Ādi Parva, and 2nd Skandha, Bhāgavata).