The magnanimous war of epic proportions carried out to wipe out the evil had its share of loss. in the fight for the right, good, and evil all must suffer the consequences which are their Karma. Mahabharata was such a tale of human emotions – of greed, acceptance, sacrifice and ultimately death.
The laws of Dharma and righteousness are constantly bent throughout the epic to suit the purpose/need of the moment. All women are exploited, hurt and used to satisfy the male ego, men struggle against their individual ambitions, abilities, and birth. Even the righteous Bhishma never intended to harm anybody but his acts to find brides for his brother and later nephew led to the great injustice being done to women in question.
The Great War of Kurukshetra
The Kurukshetra war took lives but none was heart-wrenching as the death of Abhimanyu – son of Arjuna and Subhadra. While Arjuna was distracted by Susharma and Bhagdataa, Drona made a Chakravyuh formation which no one save Arjuna knew how to enter and exit, but Abhimanyu only knew how to enter. Once inside Jayadrath made sure no one would follow him and thus the massacre began.
While Karna snapped his bow from behind as Abhimanyu managed to kill Brihadbala and injure Duryodhana, while Drona attacked from the front. The attack from the Kauravas was simultaneous while the fatal hit was provided by Dushashana’s son with a mace. Such was his bravery and stubbornness that Abhimanyu managed to kill him with the same mace.
As revenge, Bhima beheaded an elephant named Ashwathama and convinced Drona of the loss of his son’s life. Drona dropped his arms and was killed by Dhristdyumna. Aswasthama after hearing of the treacherous death of his father along with Kripacharya and Kirtvarma slew all the sons of the Pandavas while they slept at night.
Asvatthama discharged the Brahmashira simply to kill the Paṇḍavas and their only grandson (all the others perished in the war), who was lying within the womb of Uttara. Lord Krishna entered within the womb of Uttara to save her embryo from the attack of Asvatthama’s Brahmashira. Hence named Parikshit. Parikshit’s name came from the Sanskrit verb root परि-क्षि pari-kṣi = “around-possess” (or, less likely here, “around-destroy”).
The lineage after King Parikshit
The chief priest Dhaumya predicted to King Yudhishthira after Parikshit’s birth that he would be a great devotee of the Supreme Lord Vishnu, and since he was saved by Krishna, he will be known as Vishnurata (“One who is always protected by the Lord”). Dhaumya Rishi predicts that Parikshit would be ever-devoted to virtue, religious principles, and the truth and would be a wise monarch, exactly as Ikshvaku and Lord Rama of Ayodhya. He would be as exemplary as a warrior like Arjuna, his own grandfather, and would expand the fame of his family. He is given the name Parikshit as he would search and test for the Supreme Lord, whom he had witnessed as an unborn child, across the world, and within every human being.
King of Hastinapur Upon the commencement of the Kali Yuga, the dark age of sin, and the departure of Krishna Avatar from the world, the five Pandava brothers retire. Young Parikshit is duly invested as king, with Kripa as his counselor. He performed three Aswamedha yajnas under the guidance of Kripa.
Once Parikshit went hunting in the forest, the demon Kali, the embodiment of Kali Yuga, appeared before him and asked permission to enter his kingdom, which the king denied. Upon insisting, Parikshit allowed him five places to reside: where there is gambling, alcohol consumption, prostitution, animal slaughter, and gold. Kali smartly entered into Parikshit’s golden crown and spoiled his thoughts.
Parikshit, Takshaka, and Janamejaya
Since Kali had entered the gold and thus created man’s desire for gold. Parikshit had gone hunting into the forest. He stops at one point and gets into the lake for a bath. He removes his crown and keeps it on the bank of the river. Takshaka, a naga king sees the crown and desires to get it. He steals the crown, but he was got by Parikshit guards. Parikshit jails him. On his release, Takshaka avenges Parikshit and kills him mercilessly. On hearing this, Parikshit’s son Janamejaya vows to kill Takshaka within a week.
He starts the Sharpamedha Yajna, which forces each and every snake of the entire universe was forced to fall into the hawankund. But one snake got stuck around God Sun rath and because of the force of Yajna, the Ratha was also pulled inside the Hawankund which could have ended up taking the God Sun rath in Hawankund and ending the regime of God Sun from this universe. This resulted in a plea from all god to stop the Yajna. When Takshaka arrived then this Yajna was stopped from doing so by Astika Muni, as a result of which Takshaka lives.
Vyasa and his prophecy
According to the prophecy, “The present monarch, Paríkshit, will have four sons, Janamejaya, Śrutasena, Ugrasena, and Bhímasena. The son of Janamejaya will be Śatáníka , who will study the Vedas under Yájnyawalkya, and military science with Kripa; but becoming dissatisfied with sensual enjoyments, he will acquire spiritual knowledge from the instructions of Śaunaka, and ultimately obtain salvation. His son will be Aswamedhadatta (a son given by the gods in reward for the sacrifice of a horse ); his son will be Asíma-krishńa ; his son will be Nichakra , who will remove the capital to Kauśámbí, in consequence of Hastinápura being washed away by the Ganges; his son will be Ushńa ; his son will be Chitraratha; his son will be Vrishńimat ; his son will be Susheńa; his son will be Sunítha ; his son will be Richa ; his son will be Nrichakshu ; his son will be Sukhíhala ; his son will be Pariplava; his son will be Sunaya ; his son will be Medhávin; his son will be Nripanjaya ; his son will be Mridu ; his son will be Tigma ; his son will be Vrihadratha; his son will be Vasudána ; and his son will be another Śatáníka; his son will be Udayana ; his son will be Ahínara ; his son will be Khańd́apáni ; his son will be Niramitra ; his son will be Kshemaka : of him this verse is recited; “The race which gave origin to Brahmans and Kshatriyas, and which was purified by regal sages, terminated with Kshemaka; in the Kali age .”