Pareekshit was Abhimanyu'sson. He was ruling over Hastinapur. Once he went to a forest for hunting. In the forest he insulted sage Shamik who was lost in deep samadhi, by putting a dead snake around his neck. The son of the sage noticed the misconduct. He cursed, ?Whosoever has insulted my father will die of a snakebite within a week from now.?
The news of the curse reached the ears of Pareekshit. He was frightened. He lost his sleep and hunger. With a view to stave the snake-bite, Pareekshit constructed a sturdy pillar in the midst of a pond full of water, built a safe room over the top of the pillar and started staying in the room.
Shukadeo who was Bhagawan Vedavyasa'sson narrated Bhagwat Purana to Pareekshit during the week full of fear of death. This world famous Purana is full of stories of valour of the ancestors of Pareekshit. Besides the Purana contains sweet biography of Shri Krishna and it is a treasure house of immortal philosophy.
Shukadeo in the course of narration said, ?Oh Pareekshit, here is a story of a king who went for hunting and who lost his way into the jungle. All the efforts on the part of the king to trace the way home proved of no avail. Soon there was nightfall. The king did not know how and where he should pass the night.? The king happened to see a glowing point of light situated at a long distance. He hastened his pace in that direction.
As the king went near the source of light a foul odour made him uneasy. As he proceeded further, he witnessed a strange site. The king saw it was all a broken hut. Bones, flesh, stools and urine were all scattered therein making it impossible to wait there for a moment. An old fellow almost a skeleton of bones, having a brown beard was sitting inside the hut. The old fellow started looking at the king with red-hot eyes.
The hut was stinking and the foul smell was unbearable. But the king did not have shelter anywhere else. So out of compelling circumstances the king beseeched the permission of the strange old fellow for overnight halt inside the dirtiest hut.
The old person was rude and rough. He flatly turned down the request of the king. Even the lure of reward did not make the old person budge an inch.
When asked why? The strange looking person said, ?Here before a king just like you, having lost his way in the forest had approached me for a shelter in this stinking hut. I acceded to his request. But I repent for having granted the request. The king passed his restless night in this stinking hut. After the turn of the night, the very king who abhorred this place developed sudden attraction for this hut. He wanted possession of this hut. The king went to the extent of dual with me over the issue. I had really a very difficult time to deal with him and drive him away. I don'twant to undergo the same experience again.?
After hearing the narration so far Pareekshit exclaimed ?strange, surprising. I pity that king.?
?Not strange, not surprising,? said Shukadeo.
?Do you know who that king was?? asked Shukadeo.
?No, certainly not,? replied Pareekshit.?
?It is you and you only who has developed irrepressible attraction for your body which is nothing but a conglomeration of bones, flesh, stools, urine, perspiration?a standing stinking hut,? said Shukadeo.
Shukadeo further added, ?Each man has got a pious, blissful and everlasting existence beyond this physical existence. Hanker for such blissful and everlasting existence.
