Text 13] Birth of Emperor Pariksit 623

Pajicaratric system acts on the Sidra class of men, supposedly the popula-
tion of the Kali-yuga, and it is the prescribed purificatory process suitable
to the age and time. Such a purificatory process is allowed only for
spiritual upliftment and not for any other purpose. Spiritual upliftment is
never conditioned by higher or lower parentage.

After the Garbhadhana purificatory process, there are certain other
samskaras like Simantonnayana, Sadhabhaksanam, etc., during the period
of pregnancy, and when the child is born the first purificatory process is
jatakarman. This was performed duly by Maharaja Yudhisthira with the help
of good and learned brahmanas like Dhaumya, the royal priest, and
Krpacarya, who was not only a priest but also a great general. Both these
learned and perfect priests assisted by other good brahmanas were em-
ployed. by Maharaja Yudhisthira 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 success-
fully performed by expert brahmanas like Dhaumya and Krpa. Such
brahmanas are not only rare but also not available in this age, and there-
fore, for the purpose of spiritual upliftment in this fallen age, the Go-
svamis prefer the purificatory processes under Paficaratrika formulas to the
Vedic rites.

Krpacarya is the son of the great Rsi Sardban and was born in the
family of Gautama. The birth is said to be accidental. By chance, the great
Rsi Sardban met Janapadi, a famous society girl of heaven, and the Rsi
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 Krpa, and the female child was known as Krpi.
Maharaja Santanu, while engaged in chase in the jungle, picked up the
children and brought them up to the brahminical status by the proper
purificatory process. Krpacarya later on became a great general like
Dronacarya, and his sister was married to Dronacarya. Krpacarya later on
took part in the Battle of Kuruksetra and joined the party of Duryodhana.
Krpacarya helped kill Abhimanyu, the father of Maharaja Pariksit, but he
was still held in esteem by the family of the Pandavas due to his becoming
as great a brahmana as Dronacarya. When the Pandavas were sent to the
forest after being defeated in the gambling game with Duryodhana,
Dhrtaristra entrusted the Pandavas to Krpacarya for guidance. After the
end of the battle, Krpacarya again became a member of the royal assembly,
and he was called during the birth of Maharaja Pariksit for recitation of
auspicious Vedic hymns to make the ceremony successful. Maharaja
Yudhisthira, while quitting the palace for his great departure to the
