PURPORT

Maharaj Parikshit just after receiving the news of his death within seven days, he at once retired from family life and shifted himself on the sacred bank of Yamuna river. Generally it is said that the king took shelter on the bank of the Ganges but according to Srila Jiva Goswami the king took shelter on the bank of the Yamuna. Srila Jiva Goswami's statement appears to be more accurate on account of geographical situation. Maharaj Parikishit resided in his capital Hastinapur situated near present Delhi and the river Yamuna flows down the city is geographical truth. Naturally the king was to take shelter of the river Yamuna because she was flowing just near his palace door and so far santcity is concerned, the river Yamuna is directly connected with Lord Krishna than the Ganges. The Lord sanctified river Yamuna from the beginning of His transcendental pastimes in the world. While his father Vasudeva was crossing the Yamuna with the baby Lord Krishna for safety place at Gokula on the other bank of the river from Mathura, the Lord fell down in the river and by the dust of His Lotus Feet the river at once became sanctified. It is specially mentioned herein that Maharaj Parikshit took shelter of that particular river which is beautifully flowing carrying the dust of the Lotus feet of Lord Krishna mixed up with tulsi leaves. Lord Krishna's Lotus feet is always besmeared with the Tulasi leaves and thus as soon as His Lotus Feet is contacted with the water of the Ganges and the Yamuna they become at once sanctified. The Lord, however, contacted more with the river Yamuna than the Ganges. According to Varaha Puranam as quoted by Srila Jiva Goswami, there is no differnce between the water of the Ganges and the Yamuna; but when the water of the Ganges is sanctified one hundred times it is called Yamuna as much as it is said in the scriptures that one thousand names of Lord Vishnu is equal to one name of Rama and three Names of Lord Rama are equal to one Name of Krishna. Therefore, there is no factual difference if Maharaj Parikshit set down on the bank of the river Yamuna as supported by Srila Jiva Goswami on the strength of Varaha Puranam.