Shloka 44
Nābhāga’s Inheritance, Śiva’s Verdict, and the Rise of Ambarīṣa—Prelude to Durvāsā’s Offense
अहो अस्य नृशंसस्य श्रियोन्मत्तस्य पश्यत । धर्मव्यतिक्रमं विष्णोरभक्तस्येशमानिन: ॥ ४४ ॥
aho asya nṛ-śaṁsasya śriyonmattasya paśyata dharma-vyatikramaṁ viṣṇor abhaktasyeśa-māninaḥ
അയ്യോ, ഈ ക്രൂരനും ശ്രീവൈഭവത്തിൽ മദിച്ചവനും ആയവന്റെ പെരുമാറ്റം നോക്കുക. അവൻ വിഷ്ണുഭക്തനല്ല; ഐശ്വര്യവും പദഗർവവും കൊണ്ട് താനേ ഈശ്വരനെന്ന് കരുതി ധർമ്മം ലംഘിക്കുന്നു.
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura has diverted the entire meaning of this verse as spoken by Durvāsā Muni. Durvāsā Muni used the word nṛ-śaṁsasya to indicate that the King was cruel, but Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura interprets it to mean that the King’s character was glorified by all the local people. He says that the word nṛ means “by all the local people” and that śaṁsasya means “of he (Ambarīṣa) whose character was glorified.” Similarly, one who is very rich becomes mad because of his wealth and is therefore called śriyā-unmattasya, but Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura interprets these words to mean that although Mahārāja Ambarīṣa was such an opulent king, he was not mad after money, for he had already surpassed the madness of material opulence. Similarly, the word īśa-māninaḥ is interpreted to mean that he was so respectful to the Supreme Personality of Godhead that he did not transgress the laws for observing Ekādaśī-pāraṇa, despite the thinking of Durvāsā Muni, for he only took water. In this way, Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura has supported Ambarīṣa Mahārāja and all his activities.
FAQs
This verse warns that opulence can intoxicate a person, making him cruel and self-important, leading to violations of dharma—especially when devotion to Viṣṇu is absent.
In this narrative, Durvāsā’s sense of superiority and lack of humility toward a Viṣṇu-bhakta is portrayed as a dharmic transgression—an offense rooted in pride.
Treat prosperity as a responsibility, not an entitlement; cultivate humility and devotion, and avoid harming or disrespecting sincere devotees—since pride easily turns success into adharma.