Word

Suka

Sanskrit

सुक

IAST

śuka

In General

Sage Suka was son of revered Sage Vyasa and his wife Pinjala. Mother of Vyasa, Pingala was also called Vatika. She was the daughter of sage Jabali. It is also said that his mother is Gartaci, an apsara. Suka was a Brahmajnani by birth and was free from evil passion and had no illusion of His eternal nature. He was always in contemplative mood, and was not aware of the outside world, so didn’t bother to wear any dress. He was an Avadhuta and does not stay at any place for more than a few days. Suka is considered as a very wise person and his name is counted together with 11 other most wise people: Bhisma, Narada, Subramonya, Janaka, Bali, Yama, Manu, Kapila, Brahma, Siva and Prahlada

Purana

Sage Suka is famous as the story teller in ‘Bhagavata Purana’. While King Parikshith was under the shadow of death because of a mistake committed by him and the curse that followed the act, Suka Maharshi, the renowned Sage arrived at the palace to the luck of King. In a continuous seven days’ discourse Suka merited the king with Atmajna by way of several stories about Vishnu and Sri Krisha that he learned from his father Vyasa.

There was an interesting story about Suka’s conduct and habits. Once, Suka passed a river where beautiful and pretty Apsarus were taking their bath. They didn’t care about him and played in the water, nude. Few seconds later Vyasa reached the river searching for the young absent minded Suka. On finding Vyasa, the Apsarus ran to shore and get dressed up. The Old man Vyasa asked the Apsarus why they didn’t cared about the young naked Suka but against him. To his surprise they replied, "Your son knows no male or female. We are sure he never noticed us. Even if he sees us naked that would not make any disturbance in his tranquil mind which is always in the blissful state. There is an ocean of difference between you and your son"

The word Suka means Parrot. The Suka Maharshi was very handsome and his voice goes very sweetly from his lips, hence the name was very appropriate. It says that Sri Krishna named him as Sukabrahman for his knowledge in Yogavidya even while he was at the womb of his mother.