We saw that Janamejeya and his brothers were doing yajna in Kurukshetra and they got cursed by the dog of Swargaloka, Sarama because the brothers of Janamejaya assaulted her son Sarameya who had come to the yaga vedi.

Without any reason, they assaulted the poor dog.

After the yaga, Janamejaya returned to Hastinapura.

Why did he go to Kurukshetra to perform yaga?

Because Kurukshetra is a punya bhumi, already made a punya bhumi by Parasurama.
And also because of the Kurukshetra war.

Doing satkarma in a punya bhumi is even more meritorious.

In Hastinapura, Janamejaya started searching for a powerful purohita who through remedies would get him released from Sarama’s curse.

The curse is very dangerous.
Nobody knows what form it will take.

She had only said: just like how you attacked my son unexpectedly, in the same way some danger will befall upon you unexpectedly.

You know what happens when someone powerful curses?

The curse gives birth to something called Kritya.
You can say kritya is some sort of a demoness.

You will find this term in so many Atharva Veda mantras.

For example, in Pratyangira mantra.

अनयाहमोषध्या सर्वाः कृत्या अदूदुषम्

कृत्यादूषिरयं मणिः अथो अरातिदूषिः

In Rigveda also comes-

यां कल्पयन्ति नोऽरयः क्रूरां कृत्यां वधूमिव

This is like what happens when someone does brahmahatya, when someone does a grave sin such as brahmahatya.
A demon comes into existence.

The demon or demoness becomes a constant companion of that person.
Goes with him wherever he goes.
Looks for opportunities to harm him.
Causes obstacles in everything, everywhere.

So, it is not even like the evil deed will be written in some account book and will give result much later.

Grave sins, curse from powerful people they work like this.
They start working almost instantaneously.

Janamejaya knew that Sarama was powerful, a Kritya or demoness has come into existence which has got attached to him.

How he will be affected?

He doesn’t know; it might affect his power and strength, it might affect his longevity, it might even kill him.

He should find someone who can save him now.

So, one thing is clear, he had returned from a big yaga, it is a satra, long elaborate yaga.

There must have been many scholars there, acharyas there, purohits there.

He knew that none of them could help him.
Otherwise, he would have got it sorted out there itself.
He would have done remedies there itself.

Or he would have brought one of them or some of them to Hastinapura and got remedies done.

So doing a remedy is not a small thing.

Janamejaya is searching.
He couldn’t find anyone.

Karma and papa are very strong.
Getting out is not easy.

You see advertisements: Come to me, I will solve all your problems, guaranteed results, this upasaka, that upasaka, 100% guaranteed results, these advertisements keep on coming.

Janamejaya, a king, couldn't find someone in spite of searching.

And we have people here who would advertise and promise you guaranteed results.

After some time, Janamejaya still searching to rid himself of the curse once went hunting.

He found an ashrama somewhere.
Ashrama of a Maharshi called Shrutashrava.

Maharshi had a son called Somashrava.
Somashrava was fully immersed in tapas.

Janamejaya saw this.

He thought Somashrava looks very powerful.
He should be able to save me from the curse.

So Janamejaya went to the Maharshi Shrutashrava and requested him: can I please have your son Somashrava as my purohita.

Shrutashrava said: my son was not born in the normal way.

He is the son of a female serpent.

Once a female serpent happened to consume my veerya and this boy was born out of her.

What the Rishi intends to convey is that he is powerful because of his unusual birth itself.

Plus he is a tapaswi.

He is powerful enough to remove any curse except a Shiva-shapa.
Except for the curse from Mahadeva.

But, he has one rule, my son has one rule.

If you are ready to follow that then you can take him with you.

If any brahmin comes, brahmin means someone who is in the noble path, who is dedicated to the path of attainment of Brahma, Parabrahma, if he comes and asks my son for anything, then he gives it.

This is a rule that he follows.

If you are taking him with you, you have to make sure that this happens without fail.

He should never be disappointed.

You have to facilitate this.

You have to make sure that whatever is required for Somashrava to observe this rule is made available to him.

Take him only if you are sure that you can do this.

Janamejaya said: absolutely.
I will make sure that all his needs are taken care of.

He brought Somashrava to Hastinapura and told his brothers, he is our new purohit, make sure that whatever he asks for is provided.

Accordingly, the brothers of Janamejaya waited for any demand coming from Somashrava.

In the meantime, Janamejaya went to Takshashila with his army and conquered Takshasila.