Durvasa Muni's Life Spared

Verse 1 (bhagavata.9.5.1)

श्रीशुक उवाच एवं भगवतादिष्टो दुर्वासाश्चक्रतापितः । अम्बरीषमुपावृत्य तत्पादौ दुःखितोऽग्रहीत् ॥ 5.1 ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca evaṁ bhagavatādiṣṭo durvāsāś cakra-tāpitaḥ ambarīṣam upāvṛtya tat-pādau duḥkhito ’grahīt

Shukadeva said: Thus instructed by the Lord, Durvasa Muni, grievously afflicted by the discus, at once returned to Ambarisha and, overcome with anguish, clasped his feet.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.9.5.2)

तस्य सोद्यममावीक्ष्य पादस्पर्शविलज्जितः । अस्तावीत् तद्धरेरस्त्रं कृपया पीडितो भृशम् ॥ 5.2 ॥

tasya sodyamam āvīkṣya pāda-sparśa-vilajjitaḥ astāvīt tad dharer astraṁ kṛpayā pīḍito bhṛśam

Ashamed at the sage touching his feet, and moved with compassion at his plight, the King, deeply pained, at once began to offer prayers to the Lord's own weapon.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.9.5.3)

अम्बरीष उवाच त्वमग्निर्भगवान् सूर्यस्त्वं सोमो ज्योतिषां पतिः । त्वमापस्त्वं क्षितिर्व्योम वायुर्मात्रेन्द्रियाणि च ॥ 5.3 ॥

ambarīṣa uvāca tvam agnir bhagavān sūryas tvaṁ somo jyotiṣāṁ patiḥ tvam āpas tvaṁ kṣitir vyoma vāyur mātrendriyāṇi ca

Ambarisha said: You are fire, you are the illustrious sun, you are Soma, lord of the luminaries. You are water, you are earth, you are sky, you are wind, you are the five subtle elements and the senses themselves.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.9.5.4)

सुदर्शन नमस्तुभ्यं सहस्राराच्युतप्रिय । सर्वास्त्रघातिन् विप्राय स्वस्ति भूया इडस्पते ॥ 5.4 ॥

sudarśana namas tubhyaṁ sahasrārācyuta-priya sarvāstra-ghātin viprāya svasti bhūyā iḍaspate

O Sudarshana, O thousand-spoked one, most cherished of Achyuta, obeisances to you! O sustainer of the world, destroyer of every weapon — let this brahmana find well-being.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.9.5.5)

त्वं धर्मस्त्वमृतं सत्यं त्वं यज्ञोऽखिलयज्ञभुक् । त्वं लोकपालः सर्वात्मा त्वं तेजः पौरुषं परम् ॥ 5.5 ॥

tvaṁ dharmas tvam ṛtaṁ satyaṁ tvaṁ yajño ’khila-yajña-bhuk tvaṁ loka-pālaḥ sarvātmā tvaṁ tejaḥ pauruṣaṁ param

You are dharma, you are the nectar of immortality, you are truth, you are sacrifice, and you are the enjoyer of every sacrifice. You are the guardian of all worlds, the Self of all, the supreme power of the Lord.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.9.5.6)

नमः सुनाभाखिलधर्मसेतवे ह्यधर्मशीलासुरधूमकेतवे । त्रैलोक्यगोपाय विशुद्धवर्चसे मनोजवायाद्भुतकर्मणे गृणे ॥ 5.6 ॥

namaḥ sunābhākhila-dharma-setave hy adharma-śīlāsura-dhūma-ketave trailokya-gopāya viśuddha-varcase mano-javāyādbhuta-karmaṇe gṛṇe

O you of the fair hub, you are the very bridge of all dharma, and to unrighteous demons a portent of doom. O guardian of the three worlds, of pure radiance, swift as the mind, worker of wonders — I offer you my obeisance.

Verse 7 (bhagavata.9.5.7)

त्वत्तेजसा धर्ममयेन संहृतं तमः प्रकाशश्च दृशो महात्मनाम् । दुरत्ययस्ते महिमा गिरां पते त्वद्रूपमेतत् सदसत् परावरम् ॥ 5.7 ॥

tvat-tejasā dharma-mayena saṁhṛtaṁ tamaḥ prakāśaś ca dṛśo mahātmanām duratyayas te mahimā girāṁ pate tvad-rūpam etat sad-asat parāvaram

By your dharma-filled radiance the darkness clouding the sight of great souls is dispersed and light shines forth. O lord of speech, your glory cannot be surpassed — all this, existent and non-existent, gross and subtle, is but your own form.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.9.5.8)

यदा विसृष्टस्त्वमनञ्जनेन वै बलं प्रविष्टोऽजित दैत्यदानवम् । बाहूदरोर्वङ्घ्रिशिरोधराणि वृश्चन्नजस्रं प्रधने विराजसे ॥ 5.8 ॥

yadā visṛṣṭas tvam anañjanena vai balaṁ praviṣṭo ’jita daitya-dānavam bāhūdarorv-aṅghri-śirodharāṇi vṛścann ajasraṁ pradhane virājase

O unconquered one, when sent forth by the flawless Lord to enter the ranks of the Daityas and Danavas, you shine upon the battlefield, ceaselessly severing their arms, bellies, thighs, legs and heads.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.9.5.9)

स त्वं जगत् त्राण खलप्रहाणये निरूपितः सर्वसहो गदाभृता । विप्रस्य चास्मत्कुलदैवहेतवे विधेहि भद्रं तदनुग्रहो हि नः ॥ 5.9 ॥

sa tvaṁ jagat-trāṇa khala-prahāṇaye nirūpitaḥ sarva-saho gadā-bhṛtā viprasya cāsmat-kula-daiva-hetave vidhehi bhadraṁ tad anugraho hi naḥ

You it is who have been appointed by the mace-bearing Lord, all-capable, to protect the world and destroy the wicked. Grant well-being also to this brahmana, the deity of our own lineage — that alone would be your grace upon us.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.9.5.10)

यद्यस्ति दत्तमिष्टं वा स्वधर्मो वा स्वनुष्ठितः । कुलं नो विप्रदैवं चेद् द्विजो भवतु विज्वरः ॥ 5.10 ॥

yady asti dattam iṣṭaṁ vā sva-dharmo vā svanuṣṭhitaḥ kulaṁ no vipra-daivaṁ ced dvijo bhavatu vijvaraḥ

If ever we have given charity to the worthy, performed sacrifice, faithfully kept our own prescribed duty, or if our lineage has ever held the brahmana as its very deity — then in return for that, let this twice-born be free of his torment.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.9.5.11)

यदि नो भगवान् प्रीत एकः सर्वगुणाश्रयः । सर्वभूतात्मभावेन द्विजो भवतु विज्वरः ॥ 5.11 ॥

yadi no bhagavān prīta ekaḥ sarva-guṇāśrayaḥ sarva-bhūtātma-bhāvena dvijo bhavatu vijvaraḥ

If the Supreme Lord, one without a second, the abode of every excellence, who is the very Self within all beings, is pleased with us, then let this twice-born be free of his torment.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.9.5.12)

श्रीशुक उवाच इति संस्तुवतो राज्ञो विष्णुचक्रं सुदर्शनम् । अशाम्यत् सर्वतो विप्रं प्रदहद् राजयाञ्चया ॥ 5.12 ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca iti saṁstuvato rājño viṣṇu-cakraṁ sudarśanam aśāmyat sarvato vipraṁ pradahad rāja-yācñayā

Shukadeva said: At the King's supplication, Vishnu's discus Sudarshana, which had been burning the brahmana on every side, grew still — stilled by the King's own prayer.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.9.5.13)

स मुक्तोऽस्त्राग्नितापेन दुर्वासाः स्वस्तिमांस्ततः । प्रशशंस तमुर्वीशं युञ्जानः परमाशिषः ॥ 5.13 ॥

sa mukto ’strāgni-tāpena durvāsāḥ svastimāṁs tataḥ praśaśaṁsa tam urvīśaṁ yuñjānaḥ paramāśiṣaḥ

Freed from the torment of that weapon's fire, and now at peace, Durvasa praised that king and began to bestow upon him the finest of blessings.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.9.5.14)

दुर्वासा उवाच अहो अनन्तदासानां महत्त्वं दृष्टमद्य मे । कृतागसोऽपि यद् राजन् मङ्गलानि समीहसे ॥ 5.14 ॥

durvāsā uvāca aho ananta-dāsānāṁ mahattvaṁ dṛṣṭam adya me kṛtāgaso ’pi yad rājan maṅgalāni samīhase

Durvasa said: O King, today I have witnessed with my own eyes the greatness of the Lord's devoted servants — for even though I had wronged you, you sought only my well-being.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.9.5.15)

दुष्करः को नु साधूनां दुस्त्यजो वा महात्मनाम् । यैः संगृहीतो भगवान् सात्वतामृषभो हरिः ॥ 5.15 ॥

duṣkaraḥ ko nu sādhūnāṁ dustyajo vā mahātmanām yaiḥ saṅgṛhīto bhagavān sātvatām ṛṣabho hariḥ

For those saintly great souls who have taken into their hearts Lord Hari, master of the Satvatas, what indeed is hard to do, or impossible to give up?

Verse 16 (bhagavata.9.5.16)

यन्नामश्रुतिमात्रेण पुमान् भवति निर्मलः । तस्य तीर्थपदः किं वा दासानामवशिष्यते ॥ 5.16 ॥

yan-nāma-śruti-mātreṇa pumān bhavati nirmalaḥ tasya tīrtha-padaḥ kiṁ vā dāsānām avaśiṣyate

Whose very name, merely heard, makes a man pure — for the servants of the Lord whose feet are themselves a place of pilgrimage, what then remains beyond reach?

Verse 17 (bhagavata.9.5.17)

राजन्ननुगृहीतोऽहं त्वयातिकरुणात्मना । मदघं पृष्ठतः कृत्वा प्राणा यन्मेऽभिरक्षिताः ॥ 5.17 ॥

rājann anugṛhīto ’haṁ tvayātikaruṇātmanā mad-aghaṁ pṛṣṭhataḥ kṛtvā prāṇā yan me ’bhirakṣitāḥ

O King, you are compassion itself — setting aside my offense, you have saved my very life; for this I am forever in your debt.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.9.5.18)

राजा तमकृताहारः प्रत्यागमनकाङ्क्षया । चरणावुपसङ्गृह्य प्रसाद्य समभोजयत् ॥ 5.18 ॥

rājā tam akṛtāhāraḥ pratyāgamana-kāṅkṣayā caraṇāv upasaṅgṛhya prasādya samabhojayat

Awaiting the sage's return, the King had not himself eaten. So when he returned, the King clasped his feet, pleased him well, and fed him sumptuously.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.9.5.19)

सोऽशित्वादृतमानीतमातिथ्यं सार्वकामिकम् । तृप्तात्मा नृपतिं प्राह भुज्यतामिति सादरम् ॥ 5.19 ॥

so ’śitvādṛtam ānītam ātithyaṁ sārva-kāmikam tṛptātmā nṛpatiṁ prāha bhujyatām iti sādaram

Having eaten food to his heart's content and now fully satisfied, the sage said to the King with affection: "Now you too must eat."

Verse 20 (bhagavata.9.5.20)

प्रीतोऽस्म्यनुगृहीतोऽस्मि तव भागवतस्य वै । दर्शनस्पर्शनालापैरातिथ्येनात्ममेधसा ॥ 5.20 ॥

prīto ’smy anugṛhīto ’smi tava bhāgavatasya vai darśana-sparśanālāpair ātithyenātma-medhasā

Durvasa said: O devotee, by the mere sight of you, by your touch, by conversing with you, and by this hospitality shown with such discerning care, I am deeply pleased and deeply obliged.

Verse 21 (bhagavata.9.5.21)

कर्मावदातमेतत् ते गायन्ति स्वःस्त्रियो मुहुः । कीर्तिं परमपुण्यां च कीर्तयिष्यति भूरियम् ॥ 5.21 ॥

karmāvadātam etat te gāyanti svaḥ-striyo muhuḥ kīrtiṁ parama-puṇyāṁ ca kīrtayiṣyati bhūr iyam

The very women of heaven will forever sing of this spotless deed of yours and of your most sacred renown, and this earth too shall ceaselessly proclaim your glory.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.9.5.22)

श्रीशुक उवाच एवं सङ्कीर्त्य राजानं दुर्वासाः परितोषितः । ययौ विहायसामन्त्र्य ब्रह्मलोकमहैतुकम् ॥ 5.22 ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca evaṁ saṅkīrtya rājānaṁ durvāsāḥ paritoṣitaḥ yayau vihāyasāmantrya brahmalokam ahaitukam

Shukadeva said: Thus glorifying the King, and now fully content, Durvasa took his leave and departed through the sky to that untainted realm of Brahma.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.9.5.23)

संवत्सरोऽत्यगात् तावद् यावता नागतो गतः । मुनिस्तद्दर्शनाकाङ्क्षो राजाब्भक्षो बभूव ह ॥ 5.23 ॥

saṁvatsaro ’tyagāt tāvad yāvatā nāgato gataḥ munis tad-darśanākāṅkṣo rājāb-bhakṣo babhūva ha

For the whole of that year, until the sage returned, the King took no food, subsisting on water alone, awaiting only the sight of him.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.9.5.24)

गतेऽथ दुर्वाससि सोऽम्बरीषो द्विजोपयोगातिपवित्रमाहरत् । ऋषेर्विमोक्षं व्यसनं च वीक्ष्य मेने स्ववीर्यं च परानुभावम् ॥ 5.24 ॥

gate ’tha durvāsasi so ’mbarīṣo dvijopayogātipavitram āharat ṛṣer vimokṣaṁ vyasanaṁ ca vīkṣya mene sva-vīryaṁ ca parānubhāvam

When Durvasa returned, Ambarisha fed him the most pure of foods fit for a brahmana; and seeing the sage now freed from that great danger, he understood it as both the Lord's own power and, humbly, something of his own strength as well.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.9.5.25)

एवं विधानेकगुणः स राजा परात्मनि ब्रह्मणि वासुदेवे । क्रियाकलापैः समुवाह भक्तिं ययाविरिञ्च्यान् निरयांश्चकार ॥ 5.25 ॥

evaṁ vidhāneka-guṇaḥ sa rājā parātmani brahmaṇi vāsudeve kriyā-kalāpaiḥ samuvāha bhaktiṁ yayāviriñcyān nirayāṁś cakāra

Thus that king, endowed with manifold virtues, offered devotion through the sum of his every act to the Supreme Absolute, Lord Vasudeva — by which even the realm of Brahma came to seem to him no better than the hells.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.9.5.26)

श्रीशुक उवाच अथाम्बरीषस्तनयेषु राज्यं समानशीलेषु विसृज्य धीरः । वनं विवेशात्मनि वासुदेवे मनो दधद् ध्वस्तगुणप्रवाहः ॥ 5.26 ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca athāmbarīṣas tanayeṣu rājyaṁ samāna-śīleṣu visṛjya dhīraḥ vanaṁ viveśātmani vāsudeve mano dadhad dhvasta-guṇa-pravāhaḥ

Shukadeva said: Thereafter, that steadfast Ambarisha divided the kingdom among his sons, each as worthy as himself, and, freed now from the current of the material qualities, entered the forest, fixing his mind wholly upon Lord Vasudeva.

Verse 27 (bhagavata.9.5.27)

इत्येतत् पुण्यमाख्यानमम्बरीषस्य भूपते । सङ्कीर्तयन्ननुध्यायन् भक्तो भगवतो भवेत् ॥ 5.27 ॥

ity etat puṇyam ākhyānam ambarīṣasya bhūpate saṅkīrtayann anudhyāyan bhakto bhagavato bhavet

O King, whoever recites or even meditates upon this sacred account of Ambarisha becomes, by that alone, a devotee of the Lord.

Verse 28 (bhagavata.9.5.28)

अम्बरीषस्यचरितं येशृण्वन्तिमहात्मनः । मुक्तिं प्रयान्तितेसर्वेभक्त्याविष्णोः प्रसादतः ॥ 5.28 ॥

ambarīṣasya caritaṁ ye śṛṇvanti mahātmanaḥ muktiṁ prayānti te sarve bhaktyā viṣṇoḥ prasādataḥ

All those who hear of the deeds of that great soul Ambarisha attain liberation through devotion, by the grace of Lord Vishnu.