“Sauti continued, ’And having thus cursed (the king) from anger, Sringin went to his father, and saw the sage sitting in the cow-pen, bearing the dead snake.  And seeing his parent in that plight, he was again inflamed with ire.  And he shed tears of grief, and addressed his sire, saying, ’Father, having been informed of this thy disgrace at the hands of that wicked wretch, king Parikshit, I have from anger even cursed him; and that worst of Kurus hath richly deserved my potent curse.  Seven days hence, Takshaka, the lord of snakes, shall take the sinful king to the horrible abode of Death.’  And the father said to the enraged son, ’Child, I am not pleased with thee.  Ascetics should not act thus.  We live in the domains of that great king.  We are protected by him righteously.  In all he does, the reigning king should by the like of us forgiven.  If thou destroy Dharma, verily Dharma will destroy thee.  If the king do not properly protect us, we fare very ill; we cannot perform our religious rites according to our desire.  But protected by righteous sovereigns, we attain immense merit, and they are entitled to a share thereof.  Therefore, reigning royalty is by all means to be forgiven.  And Parikshit like unto his great-grandsire, protecteth us as a king should protect his subjects.  That penance-practising monarch was fatigued and oppressed with hunger.  Ignorant of my vow (of silence) he did this.  A kingless country always suffereth from evils.  The king punisheth offenders, and fear of punishments conducteth to peace; and people do their duties and perform their rites undisturbed.  The king establisheth religion—­establisheth the kingdom of heaven.  The king protecteth sacrifices from disturbance, and sacrifices to please the gods.  The gods cause rain, and rain produceth grains and herbs, which are always useful to man.  Manu sayeth, a ruler of the destinies of men is equal (in dignity) to ten Veda-studying priests.  Fatigued and oppressed with hunger, that penance-practising prince hath done this through ignorance of my vow.  Why then hast thou rashly done this unrighteous action through childishness?  O son, in no way doth the king deserve a curse from us.’”

SECTION XLII

(Astika Parva continued)

“Sauti said, ’And Sringin then replied to his father, saying, ’Whether this be an act of rashness, O father, or an improper act that I have done, whether thou likest it or dislikest it, the words spoken by me shall never be in vain.  O father, I tell thee (a curse) can never be otherwise.  I have never spoken a lie even in jest.’