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Skandha 9, adhyaya 4 · Saptah day 4
An emperor who uses every sense for Krishna is caught between breaking a sacred fast and disrespecting the hot-tempered guest Durvasa.
Near the opening of the ninth skandha (`9.1–4`), the sage Shukadeva begins recounting to King Parikshit the ancient lineages descended from Vaivasvata Manu—the very king who had once ridden the ark as Satyavrata during the cosmic flood (`8.24.58`). Among Manu's ten sons was Nabhaga, a truthful prince consecrated by his brothers (`9.4.1–12`). To Nabhaga was born a son of unmatched spiritual fortune: Emperor Ambarisha (`9.4.13`). So pure was Ambarisha's devotion (`bhakti`) that even the irresistible curse of a great brahmana sage could not touch him (`na pratihanyatah shapah`, `9.4.13–14`). Immediately Parikshit asks (`9.4.14`): "O Blessed Teacher, I wish to hear of that wise royal sage Ambarisha! How was it that even an inescapable brahmana curse launched against him failed to strike?"
Shukadeva begins (`9.4.15–17`) by showing the sheer scale of what Ambarisha possessed—and how lightly he held it. Ambarisha inherited sole sovereignty over the entire earth with its seven islands (`sapta-dvipavatim mahim`), inexhaustible treasuries, and undying royal splendor (`9.4.15`). Yet although he possessed wealth beyond the reach of ordinary mortals, the emperor knew that every material opulence ends in destruction (`vibhavam loka-durlabham`, `9.4.16`). Understanding how rapidly men who chase worldly pleasures fall into spiritual darkness, he regarded all his vast riches as no more substantial than a dream (`svapna-samsthitam`) or a mirage (`9.4.16`). His deepest love rested solely in the Supreme Lord Vasudeva and in the saintly devotees who worship him (`sadhu-shu`), and by virtue of that love, the entire material universe seemed to him worth no more than a clod of dirt (`loshtavat`, `9.4.17`).
Then, in three famous verses treasured across the Bhagavatam tradition (`9.4.18–20`), Shukadeva paints a portrait of Ambarisha's daily life—showing how an emperor on a throne engaged every single cognitive and active sense in the service of Krishna:
> "He fixed his mind upon the lotus feet of Krishna (`sa vai manah krishna-padaravindayoh`); his words upon describing the qualities of Vaikuntha (`vacamsi vaikuntha-gunanuvarnane`); his hands upon sweeping and cleansing the temple of Hari (`karau harer mandira-marjanadisu`); and his ears upon hearing the purifying stories of Acyuta (`shrutim cakara acyuta-sat-kathodaye`, `9.4.18`). He engaged his eyes in gazing upon the sanctuaries and sacred forms of Mukunda (`mukunda-lingalaya-darshane drishau`); his limbs in touching the bodies of the Lord's servants (`tad-bhritya-gatra-sparshane 'nga-sangamam`); his nostrils in breathing the fragrance of the tulasi leaves placed at the lotus feet of the Lord (`ghranam ca tat-pada-saroja-saurabhe`); and his tongue in tasting food offered to him (`shrimat-tulasyah rasanam tad-arpite`, `9.4.19`). His feet walked on pilgrimage to the holy places of Hari (`padau hareh kshetra-padanusarpane`), his head bowed to the feet of Hrishikesha (`shiro hrishikesha-padabhivandane`), and he turned all his desires toward serving the Lord—not toward winning heaven or sense enjoyment (`kamam ca dasye na tu kama-kamyaya`),just as the foremost devotees attached to Uttamashloka do (`9.4.20`)."
Because Ambarisha offered every action, sacrifice, and royal duty to Adhokshaja under the guidance of sage counselors like Vasishtha, Asita, and Gautama (`9.4.21–23`), even the ordinary citizens of his realm lost all envy for heaven as they sang and heard the stories of Uttamashloka (`9.4.23`). Pleased by the emperor's unalloyed love (`9.4.26–28`), Lord Hari voluntarily appointed his own weapon—the blazing Sudarshana discus (`cakra`), which terrifies the enemies of the gods and protects the devoted—to stand constant guard over Ambarisha (`9.4.28`).
Desiring solely to worship Krishna (`9.4.29`), King Ambarisha and his queen—who matched him in character, vows, and devotion (`tulya-shilaya`)—undertook the sacred *Dvadashi-vrata* (observing the Ekadashi fast and breaking it on Dvadashi) for a full year (`samvatsaram`, `9.4.29`). When the year ended in the autumn month of Kartika (`9.4.30`), the king observed a strict three-night fast (`tri-ratram uposhitah`). Bathing one morning in the Yamuna River inside the sacred grove of Madhuvana (`kalindyam madhuvane`, at Mathura, `9.4.30`), he worshipped Hari with the full *mahabhisheka* bathing ritual (`9.4.30–31`). With his heart overflowing with devotion, he gifted clothes, ornaments, and fragrance, and then bestowed upon the brahmanas sixty crore young, gentle milch cows with gilded horns and silver-plated hooves, after first feeding those brahmanas delicious, high-quality meals (`9.4.31–32`).
Having satisfied the priests and received their permission, the fasting emperor prepared to break his three-day fast (`parana`, `9.4.33`). At that exact moment, the formidable yogi Durvasa—son of Atri and brother of Soma and Dattatreya, renowned across the worlds for his austere power and volcanic temper—walked into the camp as an unannounced guest (`atithih`, `9.4.33–34`).
Ambarisha immediately rose from his seat (`9.4.34–35`), greeted the great sage with bowed head, offered him a seat and worship (`arghya`), and bowing at his feet, begged him to dine (`bhunkshva` iti, `9.4.35`). Durvasa graciously accepted the king's invitation (`pratinandya`, `9.4.35`). Then, wishing to perform his obligatory midday rites (`madhyahnikam`), the sage walked down to the Yamuna River, plunged into the sacred waters, and sat absorbed in deep meditation on Brahman (`9.4.36`).
Back at the sacrificial pavilion (`9.4.36–37`), the minutes ticked away. Durvasa did not return from the river, and only half a *muhurta* (barely twenty-four minutes) of the twelfth lunar day (`Dvadashi`) remained (`9.4.37`). Faced with an acute dharmic dilemma (`dharma-sankata`, `9.4.37–38`), King Ambarisha summoned the learned brahmana scholars to consult with them (`9.4.38`).
"To transgress a brahmana guest by eating before him," the king laid out the crisis (`9.4.39–40`), "and to fail to break the fast (`a-parana`) before the Dvadashi lunar phase expires are both grave offenses! Wait—if I let the Dvadashi window pass without breaking the fast, my entire year-long vow collapses (`vyatikrame doshah`); yet if I eat before my invited brahmana guest has eaten, I commit an unpardonable sin against hospitality (`9.4.39–40`). Right now, please show me an auspicious middle course so that neither sin touches me (`9.4.40`)."
Consulting the Vedic injunctions, the brahmanas pointed out a precise scriptural solution (`9.4.41–42`): "O King, the ancient sages declare that drinking a sip of water counts simultaneously as eating and as not eating (`ashitam capy anashitam kevalam vari-panatah`, `9.4.42`)." By sipping pure water (`abbhih paranam`), the fast of Dvadashi would be technically broken on time, while no solid meal would be taken ahead of the guest!
Meditating on Acyuta in his heart (`cintayann acyutam`), the royal sage Ambarisha sipped a single palmful of water (`papa apah`) with the brahmanas' consent, and then stood waiting solely for the sage's return (`9.4.41–43`).
Moments later, Durvasa finished his bath and rites at the Yamuna and walked back (`9.4.43–44`). As the king stepped forward to bow and welcome him, the yogi instantly perceived through his mystic intuition (`dhiya`) what Ambarisha had done (`9.4.44`). Hungry and furious, his body trembling, his face twisted in a scowl (`bhrubhanga-vikrita-ananah`), Durvasa lashed out at the emperor (`9.4.45–46`) as the king stood before him with folded palms:
> "Look at the insolence of this cruel man intoxicated by his riches (`aho asya nrishamsasya shriya unmatta-cetasah`, `9.4.45`)! Though he bears no real devotion to Vishnu and considers himself an independent lord, he has transgressed dharma! Having invited me as a guest, he has eaten first without feeding me—wait now, I shall show him the fruit of his deed (`9.4.46`)!"
Even as he spoke (`9.4.47`), his eyes red with fury, Durvasa wrenched out a matted lock of hair (`jatam`) from his head and dashed it down to create a terrifying female fiend (`kritya`), blazing like the fire of cosmic dissolution (`kalanalopamam`) to devour the king (`9.4.47`). Sword in hand (`asi-patra`), shaking the earth under her footsteps and roaring as she charged straight at Ambarisha, the fiery demon bore down upon him (`9.4.48`).
Yet Emperor Ambarisha did not flinch (`na cacala padad nripah`, `9.4.48`). Seeing the demon rushing upon him with raised sword, he did not step back, call his guards, or utter a word of protest—he simply stood where he was, his mind resting peacefully in the Lord (`9.4.48`).
Then the Sudarshana discus—previously appointed by the Supreme Person to protect his servant (`9.4.28`, `9.4.49`)—acted on its own. Just as a raging forest fire instantly incinerates an angry snake (`kruddham ahin pavakah`, `9.4.49`), the spinning discus burned Durvasa's fiery *kritya* to ashes in the blink of an eye (`9.4.49`). Seeing his own deadly creation reduced to dust and the blazing discus now turning directly toward him (`abhidravat`), Durvasa was seized with mortal terror (`bhita-bhitah`) and bolted in every direction to save his life (`9.4.50`).
Like a high-flaming forest fire with snakes of smoke trailing behind it (`9.4.51`), the Lord's discus chased the running yogi wherever he fled (`9.4.51–56`). Looking over his shoulder at the whirling wheel licking at his back, Durvasa ran toward subterranean mountain caves, then soared into the sky, then raced across the earth, into the netherworlds, over the seas, and through the quarters of the celestials and their protectors (`9.4.52`). Everywhere he went, he saw the unbearable Sudarshana right behind him (`9.4.53`). Finding no protector (`alabdha-nathah`), he fled to the creator Brahma (`9.4.53–56`) and cried, "Save me, O Unborn One, from this blazing discus of Ajita!" Brahma replied that at the end of the two *parardhas* of time, a single flick of the Lord's eyebrow burns up Brahma's own world and all who dwell in it (`9.4.55–56`)—what power had he or Shiva or Daksha or Bhrigu against the Lord's command?
Rejected there, the scorched Durvasa fled to Mount Kailasa to seek refuge with his elder brother Shiva (`9.4.57`). And Shiva too told him (`9.4.57–62`) that neither he, nor Sanatkumara, nor Narada, nor great Brahma, nor Kapila could fathom the Maya of the Lord before whom universes rise and vanish like thousands of dust motes (`9.4.57–60`): "This weapon of the Lord of the universe is unbearable to us (`durvishaham`); go directly to Hari himself (`9.4.62`)!" Thus the proud ascetic who had tried to burn a patient king over a sip of water was driven across the entire cosmos right to the gates of Vaikuntha, where he would soon learn who actually owns the heart of God.
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