SB 1.12.13 (1964)
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
TEXT No. 13
Tasya pritamana raja viprair dhoumya kripadibhih. Jatakam karayamasa vachayitwa cha mangalam.
ENGLISH SYNONYMS
Tasya—his, Pritamana—satisfied, Raja—the King Yudhisthir, Viprair—by the learned Brahmins, Dhoumya—of the name, Kripa—of the name, Adibhih—and others also, Jakatam—one of the purificatory process performed just after the birth of the child, Karayamasa—got them performed, Vachayitwa—by recitation, Cha—also, Mangalam—auspice.
TRANSLATION
The King Yudhisthir who was very much satisfied by the birth of Maharaj Parikshit got performed the purificatory process of birth and recitation of auspicious hymns by the learned Brahmins headed by Dhoumya and Kripa.
PURPORT
There is need of good and intelligent class of Brahmins who are expert in the matter of performing the purificatory processes prescribed in the system of Varnashram Dharma. Unless such purificatory processes are performed, there is no possibility of good population and in the age of Kali the population all over the world is of the Sudra quality or lower than them for want of this purificatory process. It is not possible however to revive the Vedic process of purification in this age for want of proper facilities and good Brahmins: but there is the Pancharatric system also recommended for this age. The Panchratric system acts on the Sudra class of men supposed to be the population of the Kaliyuga and it is the prescribed purificatory process suitable to the age and time. Such purificatory process is allowed only in the matter of spiritual upliftment and not for any other purpose. Spiritual upliftment is never conditioned by higher or lower parentage.
After the Garbhahdan purificatory process there are certain other Samskaras like Simantanayanam, Sadhbhksanam etc. during the period of pregnancy and when the child is born the first purificatory process is Jatakam and this was performed duly by Maharaj Yudhisthir with the help of good and learned Brahmins like Dhoumya the royal priest (see page 494) and Kripacharya who was not only a priest but also a great general. Both these learned and perfect priests assisted by other good Brahmins were employed by Maharaj Yudhisthir to perform the ceremony. Therefore all the Samskaras or purificatory processes are not mere formalities or social functions only, but they are all for practical purposes and can be successfully performed by expert Brahmins like Dhoumya and Kripa. Such Brahmins are not only rare but also not available in this age; and therefore the Goswamins prefer the purificatory processes under Pancharatric formulas than the Vedic rites, for the purpose of spiritual upliftment in the fallen age.
Kripacharya is the son of the great Rishi known as Sardban born in the family of Goutma. The birth is said to be accidental. By chance the great Rishi Sardban met Janapadi a famous society girl of the heaven and the Rishi Sardban discharged semina in two parts. By one part immediately a male child and by the other part a female child were born as twins. The male child was later on known as Kripa and the female child was known as Kripi as brother and sister. Maharaj Santanu while engaged in chase in the jungle picked up the children in the forest and brought them up to the Brahminical status by proper purificatory process. Kripacharya later on became a great general like Dronacharya and his sister was married with Dronacharya. Kripacharya later on took part in the battle of Kurukshetra and joined the party of Duryodhana. Kripacharya helped the killing of Abhimanyu the father of Maharaj Parikshit but still he was held in esteem by the family of the Pandavas on account of his becoming a great Brahmin as good as Dronacharya. While the Pandavas were sent to the forest after being defeated in the gambling game with Duryodhona, Dhritarastra entrusted the Pandavas with Kripacharya for guidance. After the end of the battle Kripacharya again became the member of the royal assembly and he was called during the birth of Maharaj Parikshit for recitation of auspicious Vedic hymns to make the ceremony successful. Maharaj Yudhisthir also while quitting the palace for the great departure to the Himalayas, entrusted Kripacharya with Maharaj Parikshit as his disciple and he left home satisfied on account of Kripacharya taking charge of the King Maharaj Parikshit. The great administrators, kings and emperors were always under the guidance of learned Brahmins like Kripacharya and thus were able to act properly in the discharge of political responsibilities.