| Shuka | |
|---|---|
 Shuka preaching to Parikshit and the sages | |
| Personal Information | |
| Family | Parents
|
| Spouses | |
| Children | Sons[1]
|
| Relatives | Dhritarashtra,Pandu,Vidura (half brothers) |
Shuka[2][3] (Sanskrit:शुकIAST:Śuka, alsoShukadevaŚuka-deva) is arishi (sage) inHinduism. He is the son of the sageVyasa and the main narrator of the scriptureBhagavata Purana. Most of theBhagavata Purana consists of Shuka reciting the story to the kingParikshit in his final days. Shuka is depicted as asannyasi, renouncing the world in pursuit ofmoksha (liberation), which most narratives assert that he achieved.[4]
According to the Hindu epicMahabharata, after one hundred years of austerity by Vyasa, Shuka was churned out of a stick of fire, born with ascetic power and with theVedas dwelling inside him, just like his father. As perSkanda Purana, Vyasa had a wife, Vatikā (also known by the name Pinjalā), daughter of a sage named Jābāli. Their union produced a son, who repeated everything what he heard, thus receiving the name Shuka (lit. Parrot).[5][6][7]
Other texts including theDevi Bhagavata Purana also narrate the birth of Shuka but with drastic differences. Vyasa was desiring an heir, when anapsara (celestial damsel) namedGhritachi flew in front of him in the form of a beautiful parrot. He discharges his semen, which fell on some sticks and a son developed. This time, he was named Shuka because of the role of the celestial parrot.[8]
A slightly different story is told in other scriptures. One day, the godShiva prepares to narrate the secret of immortality to his consort-goddessParvati, at her behest. He orders all other beings in the vicinity to leave. Shiva closes his eyes and instructs Parvati to make ahumming sound to indicate her attention. At the very moment of Shiva's instruction, a parrot is born from its egg and becomes an audience to the secret divine conversation. Shiva starts his narrative and Parvati makes the sound, but mid-way falls asleep. The parrot, however, continues to make the humming sound so Shiva continues. After completely revealing the secret, Shiva finds Parvati asleep and realizes that another being has eavesdropped. He notices the parrot and chases to kill him. The tiny parrot flies into a nearby forest and enters into the womb of Vyasa’s wife through her mouth when she was yawning. Shiva arrives and demands that the parrot comes out, but Vyasa persuades him to leave the parrot as if he truly knew the secret, it was no use killing it as it would be immortal. Then Vyasa asks the parrot to come out, but it refuses, stating that if he comes out, he will be termed as Vyasa’s son and he does not want anyattachment, and wants onlymoksha. This continues for 12 years and it makes Vyasa’s wife bear the pain, as the parrot is growing in her womb as a child for all those years. Vyasa prays to the godVishnu to help his wife. Vishnu, who was present on the earth asKrishna, arrives. Krishna assures the parrot that no one would kill him and he would be incapable of attachment and eligible for moksha. The parrot then comes out in a human form and is named “Shuka” (Sanskrit for “parrot”).
The Mahabharata also recounts how Shuka was sent by Vyasa for training to KingJanaka, who was considered to be aJivanmukta or one who is liberated while still in a body. Shuka studied under theguru of the gods (Brihaspati) and Vyasa. Shuka asked Janaka about the way to liberation, with Janaka recommending the traditional progression of the fourashramas, which included the householder stage. After expressing contempt for the householder's life, Shuka questioned Janaka about the real need for following the householder's path. Seeing Shuka's advanced state of realization, Janaka told him that there was no need in his case.[9]
Stories recount how Shuka surpassed his father in spiritual attainment. Once, when following his son, Vyasa encountered a group of celestial nymphs who were bathing. Shuka's purity was such that the nymphs did not consider him to be a distraction, even though they were naked, but covered themselves when faced with his father.[10][11] Shuka is sometimes portrayed as wandering about naked, due to his complete lack of body consciousness.[12]
Shuka told a brief version of theBhagavata Purana to the Kuru kingParikshit, who was destined to die after seven days due to a curse.
A place calledShukachari is believed to be the cave of Shuka, where he disappeared in cave stones as per local traditions. Shuka in Sanskrit means parrot and thus the name is derived from the large number of parrots found around the Shukachari hills. Shukachari literally means abode of parrots in the Sanskrit language.
