Shloka 24
Ambarīṣa’s Prayers to Sudarśana and the Deliverance of Durvāsā
गतेऽथ दुर्वाससि सोऽम्बरीषो द्विजोपयोगातिपवित्रमाहरत् । ऋषेर्विमोक्षं व्यसनं च वीक्ष्य मेने स्ववीर्यं च परानुभावम् ॥ २४ ॥
gate ’tha durvāsasi so ’mbarīṣo dvijopayogātipavitram āharat ṛṣer vimokṣaṁ vyasanaṁ ca vīkṣya mene sva-vīryaṁ ca parānubhāvam
After one year, when Durvāsā Muni returned, King Ambarīṣa respectfully satisfied him with many kinds of supremely pure foods, and then ate himself. Seeing the brāhmaṇa freed from the great danger of being burned, the King understood that everything had been accomplished by the Lord’s grace, and he took no credit for himself.
A devotee like Mahārāja Ambarīṣa is certainly always busy in many activities. Of course, this material world is full of dangers that one has to meet, but a devotee, because of his full dependence on the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is never disturbed. The vivid example is Mahārāja Ambarīṣa. He was the emperor of the entire world and had many duties to perform, and in the course of these duties there were many disturbances created by persons like Durvāsā Muni, but the King tolerated everything, patiently depending fully on the mercy of the Lord. The Lord, however, is situated in everyone’s heart ( sarvasya cāhaṁ hṛdi sanniviṣṭaḥ ), and He manages things as He desires. Thus although Mahārāja Ambarīṣa was faced with many disturbances, the Lord, being merciful to him, managed things so nicely that in the end Durvāsā Muni and Mahārāja Ambarīṣa became great friends and parted cordially on the basis of bhakti-yoga. After all, Durvāsā Muni was convinced of the power of bhakti-yoga, although he himself was a great mystic yogī. Therefore, as stated by Lord Kṛṣṇa in Bhagavad-gītā (6.47) :
FAQs
This verse shows that Ambarīṣa recognized that his “strength” came from devotion, and that the Lord’s superior potency ultimately protects and delivers the devotee even amid great danger.
After the crisis ended, Ambarīṣa continued his dharmic, purifying duty—serving and honoring brāhmaṇas—demonstrating steady devotion and proper conduct rather than pride or retaliation.
Remain steady in devotional principles and respectful conduct, avoid offense, and remember that true protection comes from the Lord’s grace rather than ego-driven “victory.”