Shloka 20
Ambarīṣa’s Prayers to Sudarśana and the Deliverance of Durvāsā
प्रीतोऽस्म्यनुगृहीतोऽस्मि तव भागवतस्य वै । दर्शनस्पर्शनालापैरातिथ्येनात्ममेधसा ॥ २० ॥
prīto ’smy anugṛhīto ’smi tava bhāgavatasya vai darśana-sparśanālāpair ātithyenātma-medhasā
Durvāsā Muni said: “My dear King, I am greatly pleased and feel obliged to you, for you are truly a bhāgavata, the Lord’s devotee. By seeing you, touching your feet, speaking with you, and receiving your wise hospitality, I have understood your exalted devotion.”
It is said, vaiṣṇavera kriyā mudrā vijñeha nā bujhaya: even a very intelligent man cannot understand the activities of a pure Vaiṣṇava. Therefore, although 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.
FAQs
This verse praises the devotee’s saintly hospitality—darśana, respectful contact, kind speech, and thoughtful service—showing that honoring a bhāgavata is spiritually potent and deeply pleasing.
After experiencing the consequences of offending a great devotee, Durvāsā acknowledges Ambarīṣa as a true bhāgavata and expresses gratitude for his gracious reception and spiritual maturity.
Practice devotional etiquette: welcome guests with respect, speak gently, offer appropriate service, and cultivate humility—especially toward sincere devotees and spiritually minded people.