Shringi insists his curse on Parikshit is irrevocable
Shringi's father expresses displeasure at his son's rash curse on the king. Shringi declares his words, even spoken in anger, can never be false. Shamika, acknowledging his son's power, accepts the curse is irrevocable but decides to warn the king out of compassion.
After Shringi uttered his curse, his father Shamika expressed his displeasure. The act was rash, improper. But Shringi’s response was absolute.
“O father,” he said. “Whether my act was rash and improper, whether it brings you pleasure or displeasure, the words that I have spoken will not be in vain. It can never be otherwise. I tell you I never lie, even in jest, and certainly not in a curse.”
Shamika heard the finality in his son’s voice. He said, “O son, I know that you are greatly powerful and always truthful. You have not uttered a lie in your life. Therefore, this curse of yours will not be false.”
But a father’s duty remained. “Even if he is grown up, a son must be advised by his father, so that he attains all the good qualities and becomes immensely famous. You are yet a child. Therefore, you need advice much more.” He warned Shringi that the anger of powerful, great-souled ones increases with their powers. Seeing his son’s rashness, he felt compelled to advise him.
“Live on whatever food can be obtained from the forest and lead a life of tranquillity. Give up your anger. Otherwise, you will not be able to follow the path of dharma.” He explained that anger destroys the merits ascetics obtain after great pain, and there is no hope for those deprived of merits. Tranquillity alone gives success to ascetics who are forgiving. Good accrues to the forgiving, in this world and the next.
“Therefore, you must always control your senses and lead a life that is forgiving. By being forgiving, you will attain worlds that cannot even be reached by Brahma.”
Having offered this advice for living, Shamika turned to the immediate problem. “O son, having achieved tranquillity, I shall do whatever is in my power.” He would not try to break the unbreakable. Instead, he would send word to the king. He would explain that the curse came from his son, who was yet immature, whose intelligence wasn’t fully developed, and who acted in anger when he couldn’t condone the disrespect shown to his father. It was an act of compassion, within the bounds of a truth that could not be changed.