Annihilation of Pariksit’s Body

Chapter 5, 6

Sukadeva Goswami reminded Maharaja Pariksit that everything is transitory and everyone will have to experience the death of the material body, though the soul remains eternally untouched. He further explained how meditation on transcendental knowledge dissolves the subtle, mental covering, and thus, by this sustained practice, the elements of the body gradually merge back into their origin, and the soul is freed for eternal existence.

Maharaja Pariksit expressed his gratitude at having heard so many wonderful instructions. Sukadeva Goswami departed, and the King focused His sensory and mental faculties upon the Lord. Disguised as a brahmana, Taksaka approached the banks where Maharaja Pariksit sat in serene meditation, and lethally bit him. Maharaja Pariksit’s body turned to flames, and though the onlookers were horrified by the sight, the demigods showered flowers of glorification.

In angry retaliation, Janamejaya, Maharaja Pariksit’s son, commenced a sacrifice to kill all the snakes in the world. Taksaka was being protected by Indra, and when Janamejaya captured them both by mantra, Brhaspati convinced him to terminate the entire sacrifice.