Vyasa said, “Do then this.  Do not, however, entertain any other purpose, O sinless one!  Throwing this weapon into the wombs of the Pandava women, stop thyself.”

Vaishampayana continued, “The son of Drona, having heard these words of the island-born, threw that uplifted weapon into the wombs of the Pandava women.”

16

Vaishampayana said, “Understanding that that weapon was thrown (into the wombs of the Pandava women) by Drona’s son of sinful deeds, Hrishikesha, with a cheerful heart, said these words unto him:  A certain brahmana of pious vows, beholding Virata’s daughter who is now daughter-in-law to Arjuna, while she was at Upaplavya, said, “While the Kuru line will become extinct, a son will be born to thee.  This thy son for that reason, will be called by the name of Parikshit.”  The words of that pious man shall become true:  the Pandavas shall have a son called Parikshit.  Unto Govinda, that foremost one of the Satvata race, while he was saying these words, Drona’s son, filled with wrath, replied, saying, This, O Keshava, that thou sayest from thy partiality for the Pandavas, shall not happen.  O thou of eyes like lotus-petals, my words cannot but be fulfilled.  Uplifted by me, this weapon of mine shall fall on the foetus that is in the womb of Virata’s daughter, upon that foetus which thou, O Krishna, art desirous of protecting.’

The holy one said, “The fall of this mighty weapon will not be fruitless.  The foetus will die.  But being dead, it will live again and have a long life!  As regards thyself, all wise men know thee for a coward and a sinful wretch!  Always engaged in sinful acts, thou art the slayer of children.  For this reason, thou must have to bear the fruit of these thy sins.  For 3,000 years thou shalt wander over this earth, without a companion and without being able to talk with anyone.  Alone and without anybody by thy side, thou shalt wander through diverse countries, O wretch, thou shalt have no place in the midst of men.  The stench of pus and blood shall emanate from thee, and inaccessible forests and dreary moors shall be thy abode!  Thou shalt wander over the Earth, O thou of sinful soul, with the weight of all diseases on thee.

The heroic Parikshit, attaining to age and a knowledge of the Vedas and the practice of pious vows, shall obtain all weapons from the son of Sharadvata.  Having obtained a knowledge of all high weapons, and observant of all kshatriya duties, that righteous-souled king shall rule the earth for sixty years.  More than this, that boy shall become the mighty-armed king of the Kurus, known by the name of Parikshit, before thy very eyes, O thou of wicked soul!  Though burnt by the energy of thy weapon’s fire, I shall revive him.  O lowest of men, behold the energy of my austerities and my truth.”

Vyasa said, “Since, disregarding us, thou hast perpetrated this exceedingly cruel act, and since thy behaviour is such although thou art a good brahmana (by birth), therefore, those excellent words that Devaki’s son has said, will, without doubt, be realised in thy case, an adopter as thou hast been of kshatriya usages!”