Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam: Canto 9: “Liberation”
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Chapter Five
Durvāsā Muni’s Life Spared
SB9.5Summary
In this chapter we find Mahārāja Ambarīṣa offering prayers to the Sudarśana cakra and we find how the Sudarśana cakra became merciful to Durvāsā Muni.
By the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu, Durvāsā Muni immediately went to Mahārāja Ambarīṣa and fell at his lotus feet. Mahārāja Ambarīṣa, being naturally very humble and meek, felt shy and ashamed because Durvāsā Muni had fallen at his feet, and thus he began to offer prayers to the Sudarśana cakra just to save Durvāsā. What is this Sudarśana cakra? The Sudarśana cakra is the glance of the Supreme Personality of Godhead by which He creates the entire material world. Sa aikṣata, sa asṛjata. This is the Vedic version. The Sudarśana cakra, which is the origin of creation and is most dear to the Lord, has thousands of spokes. This Sudarśana cakra is the killer of the prowess of all other weapons, the killer of darkness, and the manifester of the prowess of devotional service; it is the means of establishing religious principles, and it is the killer of all irreligious activities. Without his mercy, the universe cannot be maintained, and therefore the Sudarśana cakra is employed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. When Mahārāja Ambarīṣa thus prayed that the Sudarśana cakra be merciful, the Sudarśana cakra, being appeased, refrained from killing Durvāsā Muni, who thus achieved the Sudarśana cakra’s mercy. Durvāsā Muni thus learned to give up the nasty idea of considering a Vaiṣṇava an ordinary person (vaiṣṇave jāti-buddhi). Mahārāja Ambarīṣa belonged to the kṣatriya group, and therefore Durvāsā Muni considered him lower than the brāhmaṇas and wanted to exercise brahminical power against him. By this incident, everyone should learn how to stop mischievous ideas of neglecting Vaiṣṇavas. After this incident, Mahārāja Ambarīṣa gave Durvāsā Muni sumptuous food to eat, and then the King, who had been standing in the same place for one year without eating anything, also took prasāda. Mahārāja Ambarīṣa later divided his property among his sons and went to the bank of the Mānasa-sarovara to execute devotional meditation.
SB9.5.1 TEXT 1 śrī-śuka uvāca evaṁ bhagavatādiṣṭo durvāsāś cakra-tāpitaḥ ambarīṣam upāvṛtya tat-pādau duḥkhito ’grahīt SYNONYMS śrī-śukaḥ uvāca—Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; evam—in this way; bhagavatā ādiṣṭaḥ—being ordered by the Supreme Personality of Godhead; durvāsāḥ—the great mystic yogī named Durvāsā; cakra-tāpitaḥ—being very much harassed by the Sudarśana cakra; ambarīṣam—unto Mahārāja Ambarīṣa; upāvṛtya—approaching; tat-pādau—at his lotus feet; duḥkhitaḥ—being very much aggrieved; agrahīt—he caught.
TRANSLATION Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: When thus advised by Lord Viṣṇu, Durvāsā Muni, who was very much harassed by the Sudarśana cakra, immediately approached Mahārāja Ambarīṣa. Being very much aggrieved, the muni fell down and clasped the King’s lotus feet. SB9.5.2 TEXT 2 tasya sodyamam āvīkṣya pāda-sparśa-vilajjitaḥ astāvīt tad dharer astraṁ kṛpayā pīḍito bhṛśam SYNONYMS tasya—of Durvāsā; saḥ—he, Mahārāja Ambarīṣa; udyamam—the endeavor; āvīkṣya—after seeing; pāda-sparśa-vilajjitaḥ—being ashamed because Durvāsā was touching his lotus feet; astāvīt—offered prayers; tat—to that; hareḥ astram—weapon of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; kṛpayā—with mercy; pīḍitaḥ—aggrieved; bhṛśam—very much.
TRANSLATION When Durvāsā touched his lotus feet, Mahārāja Ambarīṣa was very much ashamed, and when he saw Durvāsā 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. SB9.5.3 TEXT 3 ambarīṣa uvāca tvam agnir bhagavān sūryas tvaṁ somo jyotiṣāṁ patiḥ tvam āpas tvaṁ kṣitir vyoma vāyur mātrendriyāṇi ca SYNONYMS ambarīṣaḥ—Mahārāja Ambarīṣa; uvāca—said; tvam—you (are); agniḥ—the fire; bhagavān—the most powerful; sūryaḥ—the sun; tvam—you (are); somaḥ—the moon; jyotiṣām—of all the luminaries; patiḥ—the master; tvam—you (are); āpaḥ—water; tvam—you (are); kṣitiḥ—earth; vyoma—sky; vāyuḥ—the air; mātra—the objects of the senses; indriyāṇi—and the senses; ca—also.
TRANSLATION Mahārāja Ambarīṣa said: O Sudarśana 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. SB9.5.4 TEXT 4 sudarśana namas tubhyaṁ sahasrārācyuta-priya sarvāstra-ghātin viprāya svasti bhūyā iḍaspate SYNONYMS sudarśana—O original vision of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; namaḥ—respectful obeisances; tubhyam—unto you; sahasra-ara—O you who have thousands of spokes; acyuta-priya—O most favorite of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Acyuta; sarva-astra-ghātin—O destroyer of all weapons; viprāya—unto this brāhmaṇa; svasti—very auspicious; bhūyāḥ—just become; iḍaspate—O master of the material world.
TRANSLATION 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 brāhmaṇa. SB9.5.5 TEXT 5 tvaṁ dharmas tvam ṛtaṁ satyaṁ tvaṁ yajño ’khila-yajña-bhuk tvaṁ loka-pālaḥ sarvātmā tvaṁ tejaḥ pauruṣaṁ param SYNONYMS tvam—you; dharmaḥ—religion; tvam—you; ṛtam—encouraging statements; satyam—the ultimate truth; tvam—you; yajñaḥ—sacrifice; akhila—universal; yajña-bhuk—the enjoyer of the fruits resulting from sacrifice; tvam—you; loka-pālaḥ—the maintainer of the various planets; sarva-ātmā—all-pervading; tvam—you; tejaḥ—prowess; pauruṣam—of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; param—transcendental.
TRANSLATION O Sudarśana 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 Sudarśana. Everything has been created by your activities, and therefore you are all-pervading. PURPORT The word sudarśana means “auspicious vision.” From Vedic instructions we understand that this material world is created by the glance of the Supreme Personality of Godhead (sa aikṣata, sa asṛjata). The Supreme Personality of Godhead glanced over the mahat-tattva, or the total material energy, and when it was agitated, everything came into existence. Western philosophers sometimes think that the original cause of creation was a chunk that exploded. If one thinks of this chunk as the total material energy, the mahat-tattva, one can understand that the chunk was agitated by the glance of the Lord, and thus the Lord’s glance is the original cause of material creation.
SB9.5.6 TEXT 6 namaḥ sunābhākhila-dharma-setave hy adharma-śīlāsura-dhūma-ketave trailokya-gopāya viśuddha-varcase mano-javāyādbhuta-karmaṇe gṛṇe SYNONYMS namaḥ—all respectful obeisances unto you; su-nābha—O you who have an auspicious hub; akhila-dharma-setave—whose spokes are considered to be a breech of the entire universe; hi—indeed; adharma-śīla—who are irreligious; asura—for the demons; dhūma-ketave—unto you who are like fire or an inauspicious comet; trailokya—of the three material worlds; gopāya—the maintainer; viśuddha—transcendental; varcase—whose effulgence; manaḥ-javāya—as speedy as the mind; adbhuta—wonderful; karmaṇe—so active; gṛṇe—I simply utter.
TRANSLATION O Sudarśana, 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 namaḥ, offering all obeisances unto you. PURPORT The disc of the Lord is called Sudarśana because he does not discriminate between high and low criminals or demons. Durvāsā Muni was certainly a powerful brāhmaṇa, but his acts against the pure devotee Mahārāja Ambarīṣa were no better than the activities of asuras. As stated in the śāstras, dharmaṁ tu sākṣād bhagavat-praṇītam: [SB 6.3.19] the word dharma refers to the orders or laws given by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja: [Bg. 18.66] real dharma is surrender unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore real dharma means bhakti, or devotional service to the Lord. The Sudarśana cakra is here addressed as dharma-setave, the protector of dharma. Mahārāja Ambarīṣa was a truly religious person, and consequently for his protection the Sudarśana cakra was ready to punish even such a strict brāhmaṇa as Durvāsā Muni because he had acted like a demon. There are demons even in the form of brāhmaṇas. Therefore the Sudarśana cakra does not discriminate between brāhmaṇa demons and śūdra demons. Anyone against the Supreme Personality of Godhead and His devotees is called a demon. In the śāstras we find many brāhmaṇas and kṣatriyas who acted as demons and have been described as demons. According to the verdict of the śāstras, one has to be understood according to his symptoms. If one is born of a brāhmaṇa father but his symptoms are demoniac, he is regarded as a demon. The Sudarśana cakra is always concerned with annihilating the demons. Therefore he is described as adharma-śīlāsura-dhūma-ketave. Those who are not devotees are called adharma-śīla. The Sudarśana cakra is just like an inauspicious comet for all such demons.
SB9.5.7 TEXT 7 tvat-tejasā dharma-mayena saṁhṛtaṁ tamaḥ prakāśaś ca dṛśo mahātmanām duratyayas te mahimā girāṁ pate tvad-rūpam etat sad-asat parāvaram SYNONYMS tvat-tejasā—by your effulgence; dharma-mayena—which is full of religious principles; saṁhṛtam—dissipated; tamaḥ—darkness; prakāśaḥ ca—illumination also; dṛśaḥ—of all directions; mahā-ātmanām—of great, learned personalities; duratyayaḥ—insurmountable; te—your; mahimā—glories; girām pate—O master of speech; tvat-rūpam—your manifestation; etat—this; sat-asat—manifested and unmanifested; para-avaram—superior and inferior.
TRANSLATION 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. PURPORT Without illumination, nothing can be seen, especially in this material world. The illumination in this world emanates from the effulgence of Sudarśana, the original vision of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The illuminating principles of the sun, the moon and fire emanate from Sudarśana. Similarly, illumination by knowledge also comes from Sudarśana because with the illumination of Sudarśana one can distinguish one thing from another, the superior from the inferior. Generally people accept a powerful yogi like Durvāsā Muni as wonderfully superior, but if such a person is chased by the Sudarśana cakra, we can see his real identity and understand how inferior he is because of his dealings with devotees.
SB9.5.8 TEXT 8 yadā visṛṣṭas tvam anañjanena vai balaṁ praviṣṭo ’jita daitya-dānavam bāhūdarorv-aṅghri-śirodharāṇi vṛścann ajasraṁ pradhane virājase SYNONYMS yadā—when; visṛṣṭaḥ—sent; tvam—your good self; anañjanena—by the transcendental Supreme Personality of Godhead; vai—indeed; balam—the soldiers; praviṣṭaḥ—entering among; ajita—O indefatigable and unconquerable one; daitya-dānavam—of the Daityas and Dānavas, the demons; bāhu—arms; udara—bellies; ūru—thighs; aṅghri—legs; śiraḥ-dharāṇi—necks; vṛścan—separating; ajasram—incessantly; pradhane—in the battlefield; virājase—you stay.
TRANSLATION O indefatigable one, when you are sent by the Supreme Personality of Godhead to enter among the soldiers of the Daityas and the Dānavas, you stay on the battlefield and unendingly separate their arms, bellies, thighs, legs and heads. SB9.5.9 TEXT 9 sa tvaṁ jagat-trāṇa khala-prahāṇaye nirūpitaḥ sarva-saho gadā-bhṛtā viprasya cāsmat-kula-daiva-hetave vidhehi bhadraṁ tad anugraho hi naḥ SYNONYMS saḥ—that person; tvam—your good self; jagat-trāṇa—O protector of the whole universe; khala-prahāṇaye—in killing the envious enemies; nirūpitaḥ—are engaged; sarva-sahaḥ—all-powerful; gadā-bhṛtā—by the Supreme Personality of Godhead; viprasya—of this brāhmaṇa; ca—also; asmat—our; kula-daiva-hetave—for the good fortune of the dynasty; vidhehi—kindly do; bhadram—all-good; tat—that; anugrahaḥ—favor; hi—indeed; naḥ—our.
TRANSLATION 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 brāhmaṇa. This will certainly be a favor for all of us. SB9.5.10 TEXT 10 yady asti dattam iṣṭaṁ vā sva-dharmo vā svanuṣṭhitaḥ kulaṁ no vipra-daivaṁ ced dvijo bhavatu vijvaraḥ SYNONYMS yadi—if; asti—there is; dattam—charity; iṣṭam—worshiping the Deity; vā—either; sva-dharmaḥ—occupational duty; vā—either; su-anuṣṭhitaḥ—perfectly performed; kulam—dynasty; naḥ—our; vipra-daivam—favored by the brāhmaṇas; cet—if so; dvijaḥ—this brāhmaṇa; bhavatu—may become; vijvaraḥ—without a burning (from the Sudarśana cakra).
TRANSLATION 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 brāhmaṇas, I wish, in exchange, that this brāhmaṇa be freed from the burning caused by the Sudarśana cakra. SB9.5.11 TEXT 11 yadi no bhagavān prīta ekaḥ sarva-guṇāśrayaḥ sarva-bhūtātma-bhāvena dvijo bhavatu vijvaraḥ SYNONYMS yadi—if; naḥ—unto us; bhagavān—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; prītaḥ—is satisfied; ekaḥ—without any duplicate; sarva-guṇa-āśrayaḥ—the reservoir of all transcendental qualities; sarva-bhūta-ātma-bhāvena—by a merciful attitude toward all living entities; dvijaḥ—this brāhmaṇa; bhavatu—may become; vijvaraḥ—freed from all burning.
TRANSLATION 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 brāhmaṇa, Durvāsā Muni, be freed from the pain of being burned. SB9.5.12 TEXT 12 śrī-śuka uvāca iti saṁstuvato rājño viṣṇu-cakraṁ sudarśanam aśāmyat sarvato vipraṁ pradahad rāja-yācñayā SYNONYMS śrī-śukaḥ uvāca—Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; iti—thus; saṁstuvataḥ—being prayed to; rājñaḥ—by the King; viṣṇu-cakram—the disc weapon of Lord Viṣṇu; sudarśanam—of the name Sudarśana cakra; aśāmyat—became no longer disturbing; sarvataḥ—in every respect; vipram—unto the brāhmaṇa; pradahat—causing to burn; rāja—of the King; yācñayā—by the begging.
TRANSLATION Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: When the King offered prayers to the Sudarśana cakra and Lord Viṣṇu, because of his prayers the Sudarśana cakra became peaceful and stopped burning the brāhmaṇa known as Durvāsā Muni. SB9.5.13 TEXT 13 sa mukto ’strāgni-tāpena durvāsāḥ svastimāṁs tataḥ praśaśaṁsa tam urvīśaṁ yuñjānaḥ paramāśiṣaḥ SYNONYMS saḥ—he, Durvāsā Muni; muktaḥ—being freed; astra-agni-tāpena—from the heat of the fire of the Sudarśana cakra; durvāsāḥ—the great mystic Durvāsā; svastimān—fully satisfied, relieved of the burning; tataḥ—then; praśaśaṁsa—offered praise; tam—unto him; urvī-īśam—the King; yuñjānaḥ—performing; parama-āśiṣaḥ—the highest benedictions.
TRANSLATION Durvāsā Muni, the greatly powerful mystic, was indeed satisfied when freed from the fire of the Sudarśana cakra. Thus he praised the qualities of Mahārāja Ambarīṣa and offered him the highest benedictions. SB9.5.14 TEXT 14 durvāsā uvāca aho ananta-dāsānāṁ mahattvaṁ dṛṣṭam adya me kṛtāgaso ’pi yad rājan maṅgalāni samīhase SYNONYMS durvāsāḥ uvāca—Durvāsā Muni said; aho—alas; ananta-dāsānām—of the servants of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; mahattvam—greatness; dṛṣṭam—seen; adya—today; me—by me; kṛta-āgasaḥ api—although I was an offender; yat—still; rājan—O King; maṅgalāni—good fortune; samīhase—you are praying for.
TRANSLATION Durvāsā 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. SB9.5.15 TEXT 15 duṣkaraḥ ko nu sādhūnāṁ dustyajo vā mahātmanām yaiḥ saṅgṛhīto bhagavān sātvatām ṛṣabho hariḥ SYNONYMS duṣkaraḥ—difficult to do; kaḥ—what; nu—indeed; sādhūnām—of the devotees; dustyajaḥ—impossible to give up; vā—either; mahā-ātmanām—of the great persons; yaiḥ—by which persons; saṅgṛhītaḥ—achieved (by devotional service); bhagavān—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; sātvatām—of the pure devotees; ṛṣabhaḥ—the leader; hariḥ—the Lord.
TRANSLATION 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? SB9.5.16 TEXT 16 yan-nāma-śruti-mātreṇa pumān bhavati nirmalaḥ tasya tīrtha-padaḥ kiṁ vā dāsānām avaśiṣyate SYNONYMS yat-nāma—the holy name of the Lord; śruti-mātreṇa—simply by hearing; pumān—a person; bhavati—becomes; nirmalaḥ—purified; tasya—of Him; tīrtha-padaḥ—the Lord, at whose feet are the holy places; kim vā—what; dāsānām—by the servants; avaśiṣyate—remains to be done.
TRANSLATION What is impossible for the servants of the Lord? By the very hearing of His holy name one is purified. SB9.5.17 TEXT 17 rājann anugṛhīto ’haṁ tvayātikaruṇātmanā mad-aghaṁ pṛṣṭhataḥ kṛtvā prāṇā yan me ’bhirakṣitāḥ SYNONYMS rājan—O King; anugṛhītaḥ—very much favored; aham—I (am); tvayā—by you; ati-karuṇa-ātmanā—because of your being extremely merciful; mat-agham—my offenses; pṛṣṭhataḥ—to the back; kṛtvā—doing so; prāṇāḥ—life; yat—that; me—my; abhirakṣitāḥ—saved.
TRANSLATION O King, overlooking my offenses, you have saved my life. Thus I am very much obliged to you because you are so merciful. SB9.5.18 TEXT 18 rājā tam akṛtāhāraḥ pratyāgamana-kāṅkṣayā caraṇāv upasaṅgṛhya prasādya samabhojayat SYNONYMS rājā—the King; tam—unto him, Durvāsā Muni; akṛta-āhāraḥ—who refrained from taking food; pratyāgamana—returning; kāṅkṣayā—desiring; caraṇau—the feet; upasaṅgṛhya—approaching; prasādya—pleasing in all respects; samabhojayat—fed sumptuously.
TRANSLATION Expecting the return of Durvāsā 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. SB9.5.19 TEXT 19 so ’śitvādṛtam ānītam ātithyaṁ sārva-kāmikam tṛptātmā nṛpatiṁ prāha bhujyatām iti sādaram SYNONYMS saḥ—he (Durvāsā); aśitvā—after eating sumptuously; ādṛtam—with great respect; ānītam—received; ātithyam—offered different varieties of food; sārva-kāmikam—fulfilling all kinds of tastes; tṛpta-ātmā—thus being fully satisfied; nṛpatim—unto the King; prāha—said; bhujyatām—my dear King, you eat also; iti—in this way; sa-ādaram—with great respect.
TRANSLATION Thus the King respectfully received Durvāsā 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.” SB9.5.20 TEXT 20 prīto ’smy anugṛhīto ’smi tava bhāgavatasya vai darśana-sparśanālāpair ātithyenātma-medhasā SYNONYMS prītaḥ—very much satisfied; asmi—I am; anugṛhītaḥ—very much favored; asmi—I am; tava—your; bhāgavatasya—because of your being a pure devotee; vai—indeed; darśana—by seeing you; sparśana—and touching your feet; ālāpaiḥ—by talking with you; ātithyena—by your hospitality; ātma-medhasā—by my own intelligence.
TRANSLATION Durvāsā 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. PURPORT It is said, vaiṣṇavera kriyā mudrā vijñeha nā bujhaya: even a very intelligent man cannot understand the activities of a pure Vaiṣṇava. Therefore, because Durvāsā Muni was a great mystic yogī, he first mistook Mahārāja Ambarīṣa for an ordinary human being and wanted to punish him. Such is the mistaken observation of a Vaiṣṇava. When Durvāsā Muni was persecuted by the Sudarśana cakra, however, his intelligence developed. Therefore the word ātma-medhasā is used to indicate that by his personal experience he would understand how great a Vaiṣṇava the King was. When Durvāsā Muni was chased by the Sudarśana cakra, he wanted to take shelter of Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva, and he was even able to go to the spiritual world, meet the Personality of Godhead and talk with Him face to face, yet he was unable to be rescued from the attack of the Sudarśana cakra. Thus he could understand the influence of a Vaiṣṇava by personal experience. Durvāsā Muni was certainly a great yogī and a very learned brāhmaṇa, but despite his being a real yogī he was unable to understand the influence of a Vaiṣṇava. Therefore it is said, vaiṣṇavera kriyā mudrā vijñeha nā bujhaya: even the most learned person cannot understand the value of a Vaiṣṇava. There is always a possibility for so-called jñānīs and yogīs to be mistaken when studying the character of a Vaiṣṇava. A Vaiṣṇava can be understood by how much he is favored by the Supreme Personality of Godhead in terms of his inconceivable activities.
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