Arjuna's grandson, killed in the womb by Ashvatthama's weapon and revived by Krishna, whose own death starts the telling of the epic.
Appears in
The serpent sacrifice — The Mahabharata is first recited at a king's rite of revenge, while snakes fall into the fire for his father's death.
The child born dead — Abhimanyu's son is born lifeless from Ashvatthama's weapon, and Krishna stakes the truth of his whole life on one child
The great journey — Six walk toward Meru and five fall, and at heaven's door Yudhishthira refuses Indra's chariot unless the dog that followed him may come
Embodies
Curse and consequence — A word spoken in anger by a sage, a mother or a wronged woman, and the generations it takes to run its course
Questions to explore
How does Krishna bring Parikshit back to life?
Why does Parikshit's death lead to Janamejaya's snake sacrifice and the telling of the epic?
