Srimad Bhagavatam · Canto 9 · Chapter 5
श्रीशुक उवाच एवं भगवतादिष्टो दुर्वासश्चक्रतापित: । अम्बरीषमुपावृत्य तत्पादौ दु:खितोऽग्रहीत् ॥ १ ॥
sri-suka uvaca evam bhagavatadisto durvasas cakra-tapitah ambarisam upavrtya tat-padau duhkhito ’grahit
Sukadeva Gosvami said: When thus advised by Lord Visnu, Durvasa Muni, who was very much harassed by the Sudarsana cakra, immediately approached Maharaja Ambarisa. Being very much aggrieved, the muni fell down and clasped the King’s lotus feet.
तस्य सोद्यममावीक्ष्य पादस्पर्शविलज्जित: । अस्तावीत् तद्धरेरस्त्रं कृपया पीडितो भृशम् ॥ २ ॥
tasya sodyamam aviksya pada-sparsa-vilajjitah astavit tad dharer astram krpaya pidito bhrsam
When Durvasa touched his lotus feet, Maharaja Ambarisa was very much ashamed, and when he saw Durvasa attempting to offer prayers, because of mercy he was aggrieved even more. Thus he immediately began offering prayers to the great weapon of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
अम्बरीष उवाच त्वमग्निर्भगवान् सूर्यस्त्वं सोमो ज्योतिषां पति: । त्वमापस्त्वं क्षितिर्व्योम वायुर्मात्रेन्द्रियाणि च ॥ ३ ॥
ambarisa uvaca tvam agnir bhagavan suryas tvam somo jyotisam patih tvam apas tvam ksitir vyoma vayur matrendriyani ca
Maharaja Ambarisa said: O Sudarsana cakra, you are fire, you are the most powerful sun, and you are the moon, the master of all luminaries. You are water, earth and sky, you are the air, you are the five sense objects (sound, touch, form, taste and smell), and you are the senses also.
सुदर्शन नमस्तुभ्यं सहस्राराच्युतप्रिय । सर्वास्त्रघातिन् विप्राय स्वस्ति भूया इडस्पते ॥ ४ ॥
sudarsana namas tubhyam sahasraracyuta-priya sarvastra-ghatin vipraya svasti bhuya idaspate
O most favorite of Acyuta, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, you have thousands of spokes. O master of the material world, destroyer of all weapons, original vision of the Personality of Godhead, I offer my respectful obeisances unto you. Kindly give shelter and be auspicious to this brahmana.
त्वं धर्मस्त्वमृतं सत्यं त्वं यज्ञोऽखिलयज्ञभुक् । त्वं लोकपाल: सर्वात्मा त्वं तेज: पौरुषं परम् ॥ ५ ॥
tvam dharmas tvam rtam satyam tvam yajno ’khila-yajna-bhuk tvam loka-palah sarvatma tvam tejah paurusam param
O Sudarsana wheel, you are religion, you are truth, you are encouraging statements, you are sacrifice, and you are the enjoyer of the fruits of sacrifice. You are the maintainer of the entire universe, and you are the supreme transcendental prowess in the hands of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. You are the original vision of the Lord, and therefore you are known as Sudarsana. Everything has been created by your activities, and therefore you are all-pervading.
नम: सुनाभाखिलधर्मसेतवे ह्यधर्मशीलासुरधूमकेतवे । त्रैलोक्यगोपाय विशुद्धवर्चसे मनोजवायाद्भुतकर्मणे गृणे ॥ ६ ॥
namah sunabhakhila-dharma-setave hy adharma-silasura-dhuma-ketave trailokya-gopaya visuddha-varcase mano-javayadbhuta-karmane grne
O Sudarsana, you have a very auspicious hub, and therefore you are the upholder of all religion. You are just like an inauspicious comet for the irreligious demons. Indeed, you are the maintainer of the three worlds, you are full of transcendental effulgence, you are as quick as the mind, and you are able to work wonders. I can simply utter the word namah, offering all obeisances unto you.
त्वत्तेजसा धर्ममयेन संहृतं तम: प्रकाशश्च दृशो महात्मनाम् । दुरत्ययस्ते महिमा गिरां पते त्वद्रूपमेतत् सदसत् परावरम् ॥ ७ ॥
tvat-tejasa dharma-mayena samhrtam tamah prakasas ca drso mahatmanam duratyayas te mahima giram pate tvad-rupam etat sad-asat paravaram
O master of speech, by your effulgence, full of religious principles, the darkness of the world is dissipated, and the knowledge of learned persons or great souls is manifested. Indeed, no one can surpass your effulgence, for all things, manifested and unmanifested, gross and subtle, superior and inferior, are but various forms of you that are manifested by your effulgence.
यदा विसृष्टस्त्वमनञ्जनेन वै बलं प्रविष्टोऽजित दैत्यदानवम् । बाहूदरोर्वङ्घ्रिशिरोधराणि वृश्चन्नजस्रं प्रधने विराजसे ॥ ८ ॥
yada visrstas tvam ananjanena vai balam pravisto ’jita daitya-danavam bahudarorv-anghri-sirodharani vrscann ajasram pradhane virajase
O indefatigable one, when you are sent by the Supreme Personality of Godhead to enter among the soldiers of the Daityas and the Danavas, you stay on the battlefield and unendingly separate their arms, bellies, thighs, legs and heads.
स त्वं जगत् त्राण खलप्रहाणये निरूपित: सर्वसहो गदाभृता । विप्रस्य चास्मत्कुलदैवहेतवे विधेहि भद्रं तदनुग्रहो हि न: ॥ ९ ॥
sa tvam jagat-trana khala-prahanaye nirupitah sarva-saho gada-bhrta viprasya casmat-kula-daiva-hetave vidhehi bhadram tad anugraho hi nah
O protector of the universe, you are engaged by the Supreme Personality of Godhead as His all-powerful weapon in killing the envious enemies. For the benefit of our entire dynasty, kindly favor this poor brahmana. This will certainly be a favor for all of us.
यद्यस्ति दत्तमिष्टं वा स्वधर्मो वा स्वनुष्ठित: । कुलं नो विप्रदैवं चेद् द्विजो भवतु विज्वर: ॥ १० ॥
yady asti dattam istam va sva-dharmo va svanusthitah kulam no vipra-daivam ced dvijo bhavatu vijvarah
If our family has given charity to the proper persons, if we have performed ritualistic ceremonies and sacrifices, if we have properly carried out our occupational duties, and if we have been guided by learned brahmanas, I wish, in exchange, that this brahmana be freed from the burning caused by the Sudarsana cakra.
यदि नो भगवान् प्रीत एक: सर्वगुणाश्रय: । सर्वभूतात्मभावेन द्विजो भवतु विज्वर: ॥ ११ ॥
yadi no bhagavan prita ekah sarva-gunasrayah sarva-bhutatma-bhavena dvijo bhavatu vijvarah
If the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is one without a second, who is the reservoir of all transcendental qualities, and who is the life and soul of all living entities, is pleased with us, we wish that this brahmana, Durvasa Muni, be freed from the pain of being burned.
श्रीशुक उवाच इति संस्तुवतो राज्ञो विष्णुचक्रं सुदर्शनम् । अशाम्यत् सर्वतो विप्रं प्रदहद् राजयाञ्चया ॥ १२ ॥
sri-suka uvaca iti samstuvato rajno visnu-cakram sudarsanam asamyat sarvato vipram pradahad raja-yacnaya
Sukadeva Gosvami continued: When the King offered prayers to the Sudarsana cakra and Lord Visnu, because of his prayers the Sudarsana cakra became peaceful and stopped burning the brahmana known as Durvasa Muni.
स मुक्तोऽस्त्राग्नितापेन दुर्वास: स्वस्तिमांस्तत: । प्रशशंस तमुर्वीशं युञ्जान: परमाशिष: ॥ १३ ॥
sa mukto ’stragni-tapena durvasah svastimams tatah prasasamsa tam urvisam yunjanah paramasisah
Durvasa Muni, the greatly powerful mystic, was indeed satisfied when freed from the fire of the Sudarsana cakra. Thus he praised the qualities of Maharaja Ambarisa and offered him the highest benedictions.
दुर्वासा उवाच अहो अनन्तदासानां महत्त्वं दृष्टमद्य मे । कृतागसोऽपि यद् राजन् मङ्गलानि समीहसे ॥ १४ ॥
durvasa uvaca aho ananta-dasanam mahattvam drstam adya me krtagaso ’pi yad rajan mangalani samihase
Durvasa Muni said: My dear King, today I have experienced the greatness of devotees of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, for although I have committed an offense, you have prayed for my good fortune.
दुष्कर: को नु साधूनां दुस्त्यजो वा महात्मनाम् । यै: संगृहीतो भगवान् सात्वतामृषभो हरि: ॥ १५ ॥
duskarah ko nu sadhunam dustyajo va mahatmanam yaih sangrhito bhagavan satvatam rsabho harih
For those who have achieved the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the master of the pure devotees, what is impossible to do, and what is impossible to give up?
यन्नामश्रुतिमात्रेण पुमान् भवति निर्मल: । तस्य तीर्थपद: किं वा दासानामवशिष्यते ॥ १६ ॥
yan-nama-sruti-matrena puman bhavati nirmalah tasya tirtha-padah kim va dasanam avasisyate
What is impossible for the servants of the Lord? By the very hearing of His holy name one is purified.
राजन्ननुगृहीतोऽहं त्वयातिकरुणात्मना । मदघं पृष्ठत: कृत्वा प्राणा यन्मेऽभिरक्षिता: ॥ १७ ॥
rajann anugrhito ’ham tvayatikarunatmana mad-agham prsthatah krtva prana yan me ’bhiraksitah
O King, overlooking my offenses, you have saved my life. Thus I am very much obliged to you because you are so merciful.
राजा तमकृताहार: प्रत्यागमनकाङ्क्षuया । चरणावुपसङ्गृह्य प्रसाद्य समभोजयत् ॥ १८ ॥
raja tam akrtaharah pratyagamana-kanksaya caranav upasangrhya prasadya samabhojayat
Expecting the return of Durvasa Muni, the King had not taken his food. Therefore, when the sage returned, the King fell at his lotus feet, pleasing him in all respects, and fed him sumptuously.
सोऽशित्वादृतमानीतमातिथ्यं सार्वकामिकम् । तृप्तात्मा नृपतिं प्राह भुज्यतामिति सादरम् ॥ १९ ॥
so ’sitvadrtam anitam atithyam sarva-kamikam trptatma nrpatim praha bhujyatam iti sadaram
Thus the King respectfully received Durvasa Muni, who after eating varieties of palatable food was so satisfied that with great affection he requested the King to eat also, saying, “Please take your meal.”
प्रीतोऽस्म्यनुगृहीतोऽस्मि तव भागवतस्य वै । दर्शनस्पर्शनालापैरातिथ्येनात्ममेधसा ॥ २० ॥
prito ’smy anugrhito ’smi tava bhagavatasya vai darsana-sparsanalapair atithyenatma-medhasa
Durvasa Muni said: I am very pleased with you, my dear King. At first I thought of you as an ordinary human being and accepted your hospitality, but later I could understand, by my own intelligence, that you are the most exalted devotee of the Lord. Therefore, simply by seeing you, touching your feet and talking with you, I have been pleased and have become obliged to you.
कर्मावदातमेतत् ते गायन्ति स्व:स्त्रियो मुहु: । कीर्तिं परमपुण्यां च कीर्तयिष्यति भूरियम् ॥ २१ ॥
karmavadatam etat te gayanti svah-striyo muhuh kirtim parama-punyam ca kirtayisyati bhur iyam
All the blessed women in the heavenly planes will continuously chant about your spotless character at every moment, and the people of this world will also chant your glories continuously.
श्रीशुक उवाच एवं सङ्कीर्त्य राजानं दुर्वास: परितोषित: । ययौ विहायसामन्त्र्य ब्रह्मलोकमहैतुकम् ॥ २२ ॥
sri-suka uvaca evam sankirtya rajanam durvasah paritositah yayau vihayasamantrya brahmalokam ahaitukam
Sri Sukadeva Gosvami continued: Thus being satisfied in all respects, the great mystic yogi Durvasa took permission and left, continuously glorifying the King. Through the skyways, he went to Brahmaloka, which is devoid of agnostics and dry philosophical speculators.
संवत्सरोऽत्यगात् तावद् यावता नागतो गत: । मुनिस्तद्दर्शनाकाङ्क्षोत राजाब्भक्षो बभूव ह ॥ २३ ॥
samvatsaro ’tyagat tavad yavata nagato gatah munis tad-darsanakankso rajab-bhakso babhuva ha
Durvasa Muni had left the place of Maharaja Ambarisa, and as long as he had not returned—for one complete year—the King had fasted, maintaining himself simply by drinking water.
गतेऽथ दुर्वाससि सोऽम्बरीषो द्विजोपयोगातिपवित्रमाहरत् । ऋषेर्विमोक्षं व्यसनं च वीक्ष्य मेने स्ववीर्यं च परानुभावम् ॥ २४ ॥
gate ’tha durvasasi so ’mbariso dvijopayogatipavitram aharat rser vimoksam vyasanam ca viksya mene sva-viryam ca paranubhavam
After one year, when Durvasa Muni had returned, King Ambarisa sumptuously fed him all varieties of pure food, and then he himself also ate. When the King saw that the brahmana Durvasa had been released from the great danger of being burned, he could understand that by the grace of the Lord he himself was also powerful, but he did not take any credit, for everything had been done by the Lord.
एवं विधानेकगुण: स राजा परात्मनि ब्रह्मणि वासुदेवे । क्रियाकलापै: समुवाह भक्तिं ययाविरिञ्च्यान् निरयांश्चकार ॥ २५ ॥
evam vidhaneka-gunah sa raja paratmani brahmani vasudeve kriya-kalapaih samuvaha bhaktim yayavirincyan nirayams cakara
In this way, because of devotional service, Maharaja Ambarisa, who was endowed with varieties of transcendental qualities, was completely aware of Brahman, Paramatma and the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and thus he executed devotional service perfectly. Because of his devotion, he thought even the topmost plane of this material world no better than the hellish planes.
श्रीशुक उवाच अथाम्बरीषस्तनयेषु राज्यं समानशीलेषु विसृज्य धीर: । वनं विवेशात्मनि वासुदेवे मनो दधद् ध्वस्तगुणप्रवाह: ॥ २६ ॥
sri-suka uvaca athambarisas tanayesu rajyam samana-silesu visrjya dhirah vanam vivesatmani vasudeve mano dadhad dhvasta-guna-pravahah
Srila Sukadeva Gosvami continued: Thereafter, because of his advanced position in devotional life, Maharaja Ambarisa, who no longer desired to live with material things, retired from active family life. He divided his property among his sons, who were equally as qualified, and he himself took the order of vanaprastha and went to the forest to concentrate his mind fully upon Lord Vasudeva.
इत्येतत् पुण्यमाख्यानमम्बरीषस्य भूपते । सङ्कीर्तयन्ननुध्यायन् भक्तो भगवतो भवेत् ॥ २७ ॥
ity etat punyam akhyanam ambarisasya bhupate sankirtayann anudhyayan bhakto bhagavato bhavet
Anyone who chants this narration or even thinks of this narration about the activities of Maharaja Ambarisa certainly becomes a pure devotee of the Lord.
अम्बरीषस्यचरितं येशृण्वन्तिमहात्मन: । मुक्तिं प्रयान्तितेसर्वेभक्त्याविष्णो: प्रसादत: ॥ २८ ॥
ambarisasya caritam ye srnvanti mahatmanah muktim prayanti te sarve bhaktya visnoh prasadatah
By the grace of the Lord, those who hear about the activities of Maharaja Ambarisa, the great devotee, certainly become liberated or become devotees without delay.
