Did Maharaja Parikshit Go To The Banks Of Yamuna Instead Of Ganga

Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 1.19.6

yā vai lasac-chrī-tulasī-vimiśra-

kṛṣṇāńghri-reṇv-abhyadhikāmbu-netrī

punāti lokān ubhayatra seśān

kas tāḿ na seveta mariṣyamāṇaḥ

SYNONYMS

yā — the river which; vai — always; lasat — floating with; śrī-tulasī — tulasī leaves; vimiśra — mixed; kṛṣṇa-ańghri — the lotus feet of the Lord, Śrī Kṛṣṇa; reṇu— dust; abhyadhika — auspicious; ambu — water; netrī — that which is carrying; punāti — sanctifies; lokān — planets; ubhayatra — both the upper and lower or inside and outside; sa-īśān — along with Lord Śiva; kaḥ — who else; tām — that river; na — does not; seveta — worship; mariṣyamāṇaḥ — one who is to die at any moment.

TRANSLATION

The river [Ganges, by which the King sat to fast] carries the most auspicious water, which is mixed with the dust of the lotus feet of the Lord and tulasīleaves. Therefore that water sanctifies the three worlds inside and outside and even sanctifies Lord Śiva and other demigods. Consequently everyone who is destined to die must take shelter of this river.

PURPORT

Mahārāja Parīkṣit, just after receiving the news of his death within seven days, at once retired from family life and shifted himself to the sacred bank of theYamunā River. Generally it is said that the King took shelter on the bank of the Ganges, but according to Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī, the King took shelter on the bank of the Yamunā. Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī's statement appears to be more accurate because of the geographical situation. Mahārāja Parīkṣit resided in his capital Hastināpura, situated near present Delhi, and the River Yamunā flows down past the city. Naturally the King would take shelter of the River Yamunā because she was flowing past his palace door. And as far as sanctity is concerned, the River Yamunā is more directly connected with Lord Kṛṣṇa than the Ganges. The Lord sanctified the River Yamunā from the beginning of His transcendental pastimes in the world. While His father Vasudeva was crossing the Yamunā with the baby Lord Kṛṣṇa for a safe place at Gokula on the other bank of the river from Mathurā, the Lord fell down in the river, and by the dust of His lotus feet the river at once became sanctified. It is especially mentioned herein that Mahārāja Parīkṣit took shelter of that particular river which is beautifully flowing, carrying the dust of the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa, mixed with tulasī leaves. Lord Kṛṣṇa's lotus feet are always besmeared with the tulasī leaves, and thus as soon as His lotus feet contact the water of the Ganges and the Yamunā, the rivers become at once sanctified. The Lord, however, contacted the River Yamunā more than the Ganges. According to the Varāha Purāṇa, as quoted by Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī, there is no difference between the water of the Ganges and the Yamunā, but when the water of the Ganges is sanctified one hundred times, it is called the Yamunā. Similarly, it is said in the scriptures that one thousand names of Viṣṇuare equal to one name of Rāma, and three names of Lord Rāma are equal to one name of Kṛṣṇa.

http://vedabase.net/sb/1/19/en

Uddhava

Shrila Suta Gosvami said: Seeing everyone engaged in glorifying Lord Krishna, Shri Uddhava offered his respects and embraced them. He spoke with Maharaja Parikshit.

Shri Uddhava said: O King, you are certainly glorious. Your desire has been fulfilled by your undivided devotional service to Lord Krishna, because your mind is absorbed in this sankirtanafestival. It is your great fortune that you have such incomparable affection for Vajranabha and Krishna's queens. This is quite proper because Lord Krishna has given you this body and power. Among the residents of Dvaraka, they are the most glorious. There is no doubt about it. Lord Krishna ordered Arjuna to escort them to Vraja so that they could reside there. Illuminated by the effulgence of Shrimati Radharani's face, the moonlike mind of Lord Krishna constantly illuminates Shri Vrindavana, the site of Radha's pastimes. Shri Krishnacandra is eternally complete. Thousands of spiritual sparks oscillate in all directions from His sixty-four qualities. The full moonlike Krishna, who possesses sixty-four prominent qualities, is constantly illuminating this land of Vraja. O King, the right foot of Lord Krishna is the residence of Vajranabha, who destroys the fear of his subordinates. In this incarnation, Lord Shri Krishna has bewildered everyone through Yogamaya. By her influence, they have forgotten their constitutional position and they appear miserable. There is no doubt about it. Without Krishna manifesting in one's heart, no one can realise his constitutional position. Krishna's manifestation within the hearts of the living entities has been covered by Maya. When Lord Hari personally appears at the end of Dvapara-yuga in the twenty-eighth yuga cycle and lifts the covering of Maya, then He becomes manifest. O Maharaja Parikshit, the time of those manifest pastimes has recently ended. Therefore I will now tell you the means of having Krishna manifest within one's heart. When Lord Krishna is unmanifest, He will appear from Shrimad-Bhagavatam. Whenever and wherever the devotee Bhagavata hears and recites the book Bhagavata, at that time and at that place Lord Krishna personally appears. Wherever a verse of Shrimad-Bhagavatam, or even a half-verse of Shrimad-Bhagavatam, is recited, Lord Krishna and His beloved gopis manifest there. After attaining a human birth in the land of Bharata, those who do not hear Shrimad-Bhagavatam due to sinful activities are committing suicide. A person who regularly hears or recites Shrimad-Bhagavatam delivers the forefathers of his wife, mother, and father.

By studying and hearing Shrimad-Bhagavatam, brahmanas are enlightened with knowledge, kshatriyas achieve victory over their enemies, vaishyas acquire wealth, and shudras are freed from disease. Women and lower class people all achieve the fulfillment of their desires. Therefore what fortunate person will not regularly hear and chant the Shrimad-Bhagavatam?

After many lifetimes of performing pious activities, when a person achieves full perfection then he obtains the Shrimad-Bhagavatam. By reading Shrimad-Bhagavatam one's devotional sentiments are awakened and Lord Krishna manifests within the heart.

Long ago, Brihaspati, the spiritual master of the demigods, heard the Shrimad-Bhagavatam by the mercy of Sankhyayana Rishi, and Brihaspati has narrated the same to me. I was therefore able to become the dear friend of Lord Krishna. O Maharaja Parikshit, Brihaspati has told me one story. Please hear it from me. From this story one can know the method of hearing Shrimad-Bhagavatam from the proper authorities.

Brihaspati said: O Uddhava, when Lord Krishna accepted the purusha incarnations and glanced over material nature to create, then the three personalities-Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva-appeared along with the three modes of material nature-sattva, raja, and tama. Lord Krishna then assigned the work of creation, maintenance, and destruction to the three predominating deities. Lord Brahma appeared from the lotus sprouted from the navel of the Lord.

Lord Brahma said: O Lord! I offer my respectful obeisances unto You. Because You lie in the transcendental water known as nara, You are known as Narayana. And as the original cause of everything You are adi-purusha, the original person. O Lord, although I am sinful and full of the mode of passion, You have engaged me in the work of creation. But I pray for Your blessing that my engagement in the activities of creation will not be an impediment in my remembering Your lotus feet.

Brihaspati said: After Brahma offered these prayers to Lord Narayana, at that time, long ago, the Lord gave Brahma the Shrimad-Bhagavatam and told him: “To achieve fulfillment of your desires, always serve this Shrimad-Bhagavatam.” On receiving Shrimad-Bhagavatam, Lord Brahma was greatly pleased. In order to attain Lord Krishna and penetrate the seven coverings, he recited Shrimad-Bhagavatam for seven days. All Brahma's desires were fulfilled by serving Shrimad-Bhagavatam for that seven day sacrifice. Since then he has always been engaged in expanding the creation and repeatedly reciting the Shrimad-Bhagavatam. As done by Brahma, Lord Vishnu also prayed for the fulfillment of His desires so that He could engage in maintaining the creation.

Lord Vishnu said: O Lord, I will accept the paths of pravritti and nirvritti due to the need for fruitive activities and philosophical knowledge. Following Your order, I will duly maintain the living entities. In due course of time, whenever there is a decline in religious principles, I will accept various incarnations in order to reestablish the principles of religion. I will certainly award the fruits of their sacrifice to those who desire material enjoyment, and I will award five kinds of liberation, beginning with salokya, to those who are renounced and desirous to achieve liberation. But please tell Me how to maintain My dear Lakshmi and those who have no desire for the five kinds of liberation.

After hearing Vishnu's prayers, the primeval Lord, Narayana, told Him: “In order to achieve the fulfillment of all Your desires, just recite Shrimad-Bhagavatam.” Lord Vishnu was very pleased to receive this instruction from Lord Narayana. He engaged every month along with Lakshmidevi in the recitation of Shrimad-Bhagavatam. Thus He was able to maintain the creation. Whenever Lord Vishnu recites Shrimad-Bhagavatam, Lakshmidevi listens. This takes one full month. And whenever Lakshmidevi speaks Shrimad-Bhagavatam and Vishnu listens, it takes two months to relish the mellows of the Shrimad-Bhagavatam. At that time the taste of those topics become extremely palatable. The reason for this is that Vishnu is engaged in maintaining the creation, therefore He is preoccupied with many thoughts. But this is not the case with Lakshmidevi, who is fully peaceful. The topics of Shrimad-Bhagavatam are therefore more elaborately manifested in her heart.

Thereafter the Lord engaged Shiva in the work of annihilation. In order to expand his own ability, Shiva also prayed to the Lord.

Shri Rudra said: O Lord of lords, I have the power to engage in three types of destruction-perpetual, occasional, and partial. But, O Lord, I have no power at all for the final destruction. For this reason I am very unhappy. I am therefore praying to You.

Brihaspati said: Hearing the prayers of Rudra, Lord Narayana also instructed him on the topics of Shrimad-Bhagavatam. Shri Rudradeva then conquered the mode of ignorance just by serving Shrimad-Bhagavatam. Sadashiva Rudra then recited Shrimad-Bhagavatam over a period of one year. He thus attained the power of final destruction.

Shri Uddhava said: I have heard these glories of Shrimad-Bhagavatam from the mouth of  Shri Brihaspati, my spiritual master. Now I offer my respectful obeisances to him for I have become happy by hearing the instructions of Shrimad-Bhagavatam. According to the Vaishnava tradition, I served Shrimad-Bhagavatam for just one month. Due to the influence of this service, I have become the dear friend of Lord Krishna, and He therefore sent me to Vrindavana to serve his beloved gopis. Although Krishna eternally enjoys pastimes in Vrindavana, His beloved gopiswere afflicted by feelings of separation. He therefore sent me here to impart the teachings of Shrimad-Bhagavatam to the gopis. The gopis of Vraja were thus freed from the pains of separation by accepting the teachings of Shrimad-Bhagavatam according to their own intelligence. Even though I do not understand the mystery of Shrimad-Bhagavatam, still I have experienced the wonder of this great literature. When the demigods, headed by Lord Brahma, prayed to Lord Krishna that He shall return to His own abode, at that time, under a banyan tree, the Lord personally taught me the mystery of Shrimad-Bhagavatam. As a result of that instruction my intelligence became fixed and I proceeded to Badarikashrama and attained perfection. Since then I am living here in Vraja as a creeper.

O Parikshit, I am therefore living here at Narada-kunda. The devotees will realise Lord Krishna by serving Shrimad-Bhagavatam. Therefore I will explain Shrimad-Bhagavatam for the benefit of the devotees of the Lord. This will be possible only with your help.

Shrila Suta Gosvami said: After hearing this, Maharaja Parikshit offered his obeisances to Uddhava and said to him: O Uddhava, servant of Lord Hari! You should certainly narrate Shrimad-Bhagavatam.  Whatever is necessary for me to do in this regard, please order me.

Uddhava was most pleased on hearing Parikshit Maharaja speak in this way and said: O King! Since Lord Krishna has left this world, the influence of Kali-yuga has become very prominent. Whenever auspicious activities are being performed Kali certainly creates disturbances. Therefore you should go out and subdue the influence of Kali everywhere. I will remain here by your arrangement and recite Shrimad-Bhagavatam for one month according to Vaishnava tradition. The audience will thus relish the mellows of Shrimad-Bhagavatam and attain the Lord's eternal abode.

Hearing Shri Uddhava's instructions, Maharaja Parikshit was pleased by the thought of subduing Kali, but somewhat in anxiety he disclosed his mind to Uddhava.

Maharaja Parikshit said: O Prabhu! I am eager to bring Kali-yuga under my control as you have instructed, but then how will I hear the Shrimad-Bhagavatam? I have also come to take shelter at your feet, so you should also be merciful to me.

Hearing the king's words, Uddhava said: O King, there is no need for you to be worried, for you are the most eligible candidate to receive the Shrimad-Bhagavatam. People in this world are always engaged in various kinds of fruitive activities and they do not even know the importance of hearing Shrimad-Bhagavatam. O King, by your mercy many people in this land of Bharata-varsa will achieve eternal happiness by hearing Shrimad-Bhagavatam. The great sage Shrila Shukadeva Gosvami, who is the representative of Lord Krishna, the son of Nanda Maharaja, will recite Shrimad-Bhagavatam to you. There is no doubt about it. O King, you will attain the eternal abode of Lord Krishna, the king of Vraja, by hearing Shrimad-Bhagavatam, and Shrimad-Bhagavatam will then later be propagated throughout the world.

Therefore, O King, prepare yourself to subdue Kali.

After Uddhava spoke in this way, Maharaja Parikshit offered obeisances to Uddhava and circumambulated him, and he then left to eradicate Kali's influence in all directions.

Vajranabha then installed his son, Pratibahu, as the king of Mathura. He stayed with his grandmothers simply for the purpose of hearing Shrimad-Bhagavatam. Then at that place near Govardhana, Shri Uddhava recited Shrimad-Bhagavatam for one month. While relishing the topics of Shrimad-Bhagavatam the listeners saw Krishna manifest everywhere along with His transcendental pastimes. The listeners could see themselves taking part in those transcendental pastimes. Vajranabha saw himself situated at the right lotus foot of Lord Krishna, and thus felt relief from the pains of separation and pleased with the beauty of that scene. All his grandmothers, headed by Rohini, were most surprised to see themselves situated as the effulgence and portion of the moonlike Krishna, who inaugurates the night of the rasa dance. Being cured of the disease of separation from their beloved life and soul, they entered their supreme destination.

Other people who were present there also disappeared and entered the Lord's eternal pastimes. They all enjoy pastimes with Krishna in the kunjas of Govardhana, the pasturing grounds and forest of Vrindavana. The devotees who are greedy for attaining the mellows of transcendental love can always see these pastimes.

Shrila Suta Gosvami said: Whoever chants or hears these pastimes of attaining the Lord's lotus feet will certainly attain those lotus feet, and all his miseries from time immemorial will be destroyed forever.

http://nitaaiveda.com/Compiled_and_Imp_Scriptures/Shrimad_Bhagavatam/Bhagavata_Mahatmya.htm

Shandilya

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandilya_(Rishi)
https://archive.org/details/ShandilyaBhaktiSutra

Shri Vyasadeva said: In order to relish the mellows of devotional service, we continually offer our obeisances unto Lord Shri Krishna, whose eternal form is full of knowledge and bliss. He is supremely enchanting and the essence of all that is beautiful. He always showers unlimited happiness on the living entities by attracting them with the qualities of His beauty and sweetness. He is the cause of the creation, maintenance, and annihilation of innumerable universes.

The sages of Naimisharanya headed by Shaunaka, who are expert in relishing the nectarean topics of Shrimad-Bhagavatam, offered obeisances and asked the following question to Shri Suta Gosvami, who possesses all knowledge.

Shaunaka said: O best of the sages, after the great King Yudhishthira installed Shri Vajranabha  (the grandson of Pradyumna) at Mathura, and Parikshit (his own grandson) at Hastinapura and then left to go back to Godhead, what did King Vajranabha and Maharaja Parikshit do?

Shrila Suta Gosvami said: Before reciting this Shrimad-Bhagavatam, which is the very means of conquest, one should offer respectful obeisances unto the Personality of Godhead, Narayana, unto Nara-narayana Rishi, the supermost human being, unto mother Sarasvati, the goddess of learning, and unto Shrila Vyasadeva, the author.

O great sages headed by Shaunaka, after Yudhishthira went back to Godhead, Maharaja Parikshit, desiring to see Vajranabha, went to Mathura one day.

Vajranabha's heart was filled with affection when he heard that Maharaja Parikshit, who was equal to his own father, was coming to see him. He went out of the city, fell at Maharaja Parikshit's feet, and then brought him to his palace.

The great hero Maharaja Parikshit, who was always absorbed in thoughts of Lord Krishna, lovingly embraced Vajranabha. They entered the inner palace and offered obeisances to Rohini, the chief of Lord Krishna's one hundred and eight wives.

The wives welcomed the King according to custom. Maharaja Parikshit then happily sat on a comfortable seat, and after resting a while he spoke to Vajranabha.

Maharaja Parikshit said: Dear Vajranabha! Your father and grandfather saved my father and grandfather from great dangers. I was also fully protected by your great-grandfather, Lord Krishna. Even if I wanted to repay their kindness, I would never be able to. Therefore I humbly request you to happily engage your subordinates in the affairs of the state. You should never worry about protecting your treasury, expanding your army, or subduing your enemies. Simply engage yourself in the service of your mothers.

Please tell me what is the cause of your distress and rest assured that I will dispel all your troubles.

Hearing Maharaja Parikshit's words, Vajranabha was greatly pleased and he replied:

Maharaja! Whatever you have told me is quite proper. Your father has greatly obliged me by instructing me in the science of archery. Therefore I have not even the slightest worry. By his mercy I have become expert in the military science of the kshatriyas. I have only one problem.  Please consider it.

Although I've been installed as the King of Mathura, I feel like I am living in a secluded forest. The happiness of a kingdom is due to the people that live there, and I have no idea where the residents of this place have gone.

Hearing Vajranabha's words, Maharaja Parikshit called for Shandilya Rishi in order to clear Vajranabha's doubts. Shandilya Rishi had previously acted as the priest for Nanda Maharaja and the cowherd men. When Shandilya Rishi received the message from Parikshit Maharaja, he left his ashrama and came before the kings. Vajranabha welcomed the best of sages with the proper ceremonies and had sit him on an elevated seat. Parikshit Maharaja told Shandilya Rishi everything that Vajranabha had just said. The sage affectionately comforted them with the following words.

Shandilya Rishi said: Dear Parikshit and Vajranabha! I will tell you the secret of Vrajabhumi. Listen carefully. The meaning of the word “Vraja” is all-pervasive. According to ancient opinions, this land is named Vraja because it is all-pervasive. This land is an all-pervasive spiritual manifestation, situated beyond the three modes of material nature. Therefore this is called Vraja. This land is ever-blissful, effulgent, indestructible, and the abode of liberated souls. Dear kings, in this land of Vraja the self-realized souls and devotees, who relish love of God, constantly experience Krishna, whose form is sac-cid-ananda. Shrimati Radhika, the daughter of Maharaja Vrishabhanu, is like the atma of Lord Shri Krishna, the son of Nanda Maharaja. She eternally enjoys pastimes with Krishna, and therefore the devotees expert in enjoying transcendental mellows call Krishna atmarama. The meaning of the word kama is desire. In Vraja, Krishna's only desire is to engage in pastimes with the cows, and the cowherd boys and girls. Because He always achieves the fulfillment of this desire, He is called aptakama. These pastimes of the Lord are beyond material nature. Whenever the Lord enjoys His pastimes in this world, even ordinary people are benefited. The creation, maintenance, and annihilation of the material world are carried out respectively by the qualities of passion, goodness, and ignorance. In this way, two types of pastimes of Govinda-transcendental and ordinary-are manifested. His transcendental pastimes are self-evident. This means that these pastimes are relished in Vraja by Shri Krishna, the topmost expert in loving exchanges. The ordinary pastimes consist of delivering the fallen souls and minimizing the burden of the earth in Vraja, Mathura, and Dvaraka. There cannot be ordinary pastimes without transcendental pastimes. Ordinary pastimes have no entrance into the transcendental pastimes. The pastimes experienced by the two of you are ordinary pastimes. The jurisdiction of the ordinary pastimes stretches from this planet up to the heavenly planets, and Mathura-mandala is situated within this planet. The famous Vrajabhumi is situated in this area, and the Lord's confidential pastimes are enacted here. Sometimes these pastimes are manifest to the devotees whose hearts are filled with devotion. At the end of the Dvapara-yuga in the twenty-eighth yuga cycle, when the Lord's associates who are qualified in the conjugal relationship assemble together, the Lord and His intimate associates descend, just as He recently enacted here. In this way the Lord incarnates who He desires to relish His pastimes with His intimate associates. At that time all the demigods and other devotees also incarnate with the Lord.

In these pastimes there were three kinds of devotees present. There is no doubt about it. Of these three kinds of devotees, 

1. the first are the Lord's intimate eternal associates, 
2. the second are those aspiring to become eternal associates, and the 
3. third are the demigods and their expansions whom the Lord has previously already sent to Dvaraka.

Now the demigods who had appeared as Yadavas have been sent by the Lord back to their duties in the heavenly planets through the brahmana's curse in the Lord's mausala-lila. And the Lord awarded spiritual forms to the devotees who aspired to become His eternal associates. The Lord then brought these devotees together with His intimate eternal associates of the vastavi, spiritual pastimes and they thus disappeared from the vision of the ordinary people.

Therefore, common people, who are situated in the vyavaharika pastimes, are unqualified to enter the Lord's eternal pastimes and see the eternal associates of the vastavi pastimes. That is why this place appears to be devoid of people.

Therefore Vajranabha, you should not worry in the least. By following my instructions and establishing many towns here, you will fulfill all your desires. Wherever Lord Krishna has performed His pastimes you should establish towns named after the particular pastime that was performed at that place. In this way you can render very nice service to the transcendental land of Vraja.

Establish your domain at 

1. Govardhana, 
2. Dirghapura (Deeg), 
3. Mathura, 
4. Mahavana, 
5. Nandagrama (Nandagaon), and 
6. Brihatsanu (Varshana). 

Reside in these pastime sites of Lord Krishna and engage in the service of the 

1. rivers, 
2. mountains, 
3. kundas, 
4. lakes, and 
5. kunjas of Vraja, 

for by doing so you will be happy and the citizens of your kingdom will prosper. This 

1. eternal, 
2. cognizant, 
3. blissful land of Vraja should be served by you by all efforts. 

By my blessings you will properly identify all of the places of Lord Krishna's pastimes. O Vajranabha, by continually serving Vraja in this way, one day you will meet Shri Uddhava.  Then he will instruct you and your mothers in the mysteries of Vraja and the pastimes of the Lord.”

After instructing Vajranabha and Parikshit in this way, Shandilya, the best of the rishis, returned to his ashrama while remembering Lord Krishna. Parikshit and Vajranabha felt great ecstasy after hearing his instructions. 

The sages said: O Suta Gosvami, please tell us what Maharaja Parikshit and King Vajranabha did after the best of the munis, Shandilya, returned to his ashrama.

Shrila Suta Gosvami said: Maharaja Parikshit brought thousands of                        prominent brahmanas and kshatriyas from Indraprastha and repopulated Mathura.

Maharaja Parikshit gave respect to the brahmanas and monkeys who were already residing there because he understood they are dear to the Lord. With the help of Maharaja Parikshit and by the mercy of Shandilya Rishi, Vajranabha gradually searched out the sites where Krishna had enjoyed pastimes with His beloved cowherd boyfriends and girlfriends. After properly ascertaining the pastime site, he named the site according to the pastime that was performed there. He thus established and named various towns, kundas, wells, kunjas, and gardens, and he established many Shiva temples. He established Deities of the Lord such as Govindadeva and Harideva, and his entire kingdom became blissful because devotion to Lord Krishna was preached everywhere. The citizens always engaged in glorifying Lord Krishna and thus merged in an ocean of bliss, they praised the rule of King Vajranabha.

1. http://nitaaiveda.com/Compiled_and_Imp_Scriptures/Shrimad_Bhagavatam/Bhagavata_Mahatmya.htm
2. http://holydham.com/category/vraj-mandal/shandila-muni/