King Ambareesha – A story from Srimad Bhagavatham

This is a story from Srimad Bhagavatha Purana. It is said that after Rishi Veda Vyasa composed the great epic Mahabharata, his mind was not at peace. He was then advised by Rishi Narada to write on Bhakti (devotion)  which would calm his restless mind. And the best way was to write about the stories of glory of Sriman Narayana. Heeding to Rishi Narada’s advice Vyasa composed the Srimad Bhagavatham – a compilation of stories of devotion to Sriman Narayana. This is a story from Srimad Bhagavatham.

In ancient days, there was a king named Ambareesha, son of King Naabhaaka. Even at a young age, he was very wise. He had realized that all material things were illusory and that only the name of Lord Narayana could give one salvation. Being dispassionate about materialistic belongings, he was able to rule extremely well. He was an ardent devotee of  Sriman Narayana and worshipped him in his mind always. In his royal duties, he was ably assisted by Rishis Vasishta, Gautama and Asita. All the subjects were happy and there was peace everywhere.

Ambareesha’s Bhakti was so sincere that Sriman Narayana had assigned the duty of protecting Ambareesha to His personal weapon, the mighty Sudarshana Chakra.

Once, a learned Rishi had, in the court of Ambareesha , extolled the greatness of a vow called ‘Dvadashi Vrata’ which was dedicated to Lord Narayana. He described the merit one could accrue by performing this vow especially during the Indic month of Kartika.  Ambareesha and his wife were determined to observe this vow. This meant that they would fast on every Ekadashi Tithi* and break the fast on the Dwadashi Tithi* after worshipping Sri Narayana and doing  lot of charity. So they started observing this ‘Vrata’ and continued it throughout the year. On completion of a year, in the month of Kartika, Ambareesha fasted from three days prior to Dvadashi. On the Dvadashi Tithi, Ambareesha and his wife woke up early and finished their bath and went to the temple of Sriman Narayana. There after conducting a grand Pooja and worshipping the Lord, they donated  lot of gold, lands, clothes and cows to needy people.

Very much satisfied with the way the Vrata had been observed, they were eager to conclude the Vrata by taking food before the Dvadashi Tithi got over. As they sat down to break the fast,  Ambareesha saw someone entering the hall. And it was the revered Rishi Durvasa. Durvasa was a very senior and learned Rishi and also notorious for his terrible anger.

On seeing Rishi Durvasa, King Ambareesha and his queen immediately stood up , honoured and welcomed him by washing his feet and doing Pada Pooja and offering  him water etc.  Offering him a seat and requesting him to have food, the king said “O Rishi! As part of fulfilling the ‘Dvadashi Vrata’  I am extremely blessed and delighted to serve you food in my house. Please grace us by accepting my invite”.

Rishi Durvasa was happy. “Thank you O King! I accept your invitation. But I would like to go to the river and perform my ablutions and be back” he said.  Accordingly he went to have a bath. At the river, the Rishi took bath for an extraordinarily long time.

Ambareesha was worried because the Dvadashi Tithi was coming to an end and as a part of the Vrata, he had to finish his fast by having food during Dvadashi Tithi. Only then the ‘Vrata’ was deemed successful. But having invited the Rishi he would have to wait for him to have food.

Ambareesha, therefore consulted his Gurus and advisers. Understanding the king’s predicament, they unanimously gave him a solution. They told him that drinking few drops of water with few Tulasi leaves could be considered as food for breaking the fast. This way, he would have complied with the conditions of the ‘Vrata’ as well as not dishonoured the Rishi.  Ambareesha agreed and took a few drops of water with a Tulsi leaf and broke the fast. He waited for the Rishi.

Rishi Durvasa came back and was traditionally welcomed and offered a seat by the King. But by the might of his spiritual advancement he could see  with his intuition as to what had transpired. He was furious, known as he was, for his short temper. His eyes red with rage, he started abusing Ambareesha. “You are the most arrogant fellow I have come across. The power of your wealth and fame has made you forget how to treat an ‘Athithi’ (guest).  You have ignored me and broken your fast before I could return. You will see the result of your slighting me. Here is the punishment!”

Saying thus, he pulled out one of the locks of his matted hair and dashed it to the ground. Out from the hair rose a fearful  demoniac being. This demon, manifesting a sword in its hand,  rushed towards Ambareesha. Ambareesha, stood still and calm with his mind on Lord Narayana.

In  a split second, there was a whirring sound and there appeared the flaming Sudarshana Chakra (as it was the guardian deity of Ambareesha). The next moment the demon was burnt to ashes. Before Rishi Durvasa could react, the Chakra darted towards him. The Rishi started running and the Chakra was floating mid-air and chasing him. Wherever he ran, into the forests, or deserts or caves, the Chakra was in hot pursuit. Not able to find respite on the earth, the Rishi, with his powers ran to the other realms, first to Indra, then to Brahma and then to Lord Mahadeva. All of them expressed their inability to ‘interfere’ in the matter. However Lord Mahadeva suggested to Durvasa to go to Sriman Narayana himself and  surrender to Him.

The Rishi ran to Sriman Narayana and fell at his feet. “O Bhagavan, please save me from your Sudarshana Chakra which is chasing me!” he said. Sriman Narayana, as if unaware of what had happened asked him innocently, “My Sudarshana chasing you? Why and how did it happen?? Tell me …”

An extremely ashamed Durvasa described the incident which had happened due to his behaviour at Ambareesha’s palace. With his eyes downcast he said, “O Lord! Sudarshana is yours. Please command him to stop. He will listen only to you. I am extremely sorry for what I did!”

Lord Narayana smiled.  “O Durvasa!” he said. “I am completely helpless in this matter.  Maybe you are not aware that I am always a slave of the Bhakti (devotion) of my devotees. They choose devotion to me over every material comfort which pleases them and always keep me in their thoughts. They offer me so much love and I reciprocate the same and so my sorrow and happiness depends on theirs. My devotees are dearer to me than everything. And when my devotee is abused, it is tantamount to abusing me. So Sudarshana will not listen to me. But I will tell you what to do. Please go back to Ambareesha and ask for forgiveness. Sudarshana being the protector of Ambareesha may listen if he tells him to stop.”

Disappointed,  Durvasa started running back and reached the starting point. He went straight and fell at the feet of the shocked Ambareesha. He begged for forgiveness and pleaded with him to tell Sudarshana Chakra to back off. Ambareesha was extremely embarrassed that such a learned Rishi  was falling at his feet. He lifted him up and bowed to him. Then prostrating to the Sudarshana Chakra, he said, “O Sudarshana! you are the greatest of all weapons and dearest to Lord Narayana! Please accept my obeisance and pardon this Rishi for my sake”. Accepting  his plea Sudarshana vanished.

Rishi Durvasa embraced the king and said, “You are such a pure-hearted soul O Ambareesha! You have treated me without a shred of hatred even though I abused you without reason. You have proven yourself to be a true devotee of Sri Narayana for you have emulated His quality of having your heart full of only love and compassion.”

Ambareesha however could not get over the feeling of unease at this learned Rishi having fallen at his feet. He could well imagine how demeaning it would have been for a person to fall at the feet of someone he initially cursed for ‘disrespecting’ him.

Rishi Durvasa was also dismayed to know that for the period of one year in which he had been running around to the various realms seeking refuge, Ambareesha and his wife had abstained from food. He deeply regretted his action and implored Ambareesha to take food. Ambareesha was still one step ahead as he asked the Rishi to first partake the food as he was the ‘Athithi’.

Durvasa accepted and after he had food, Ambareesha ate with his wife. Rishi Durvasa showered his hearty blessings on the king and said “This incident will be ever remembered in the world. May you live long with great name and fame!”

So to this day we remember the story of Ambareesha – a wonderful devotee of Sriman Narayana.

Other stories from the Bhagavatham written earlier are that of Prince Dhruva, Gajendra Moksham and The Syamantaka Gem.

*Tithi is the lunar day and in a Tithi the moon moves about 12 degrees – Ekadashi and  Dvadashi are the eleventh and twelfth lunar days on the moon’s waxing and waning phases.

Note: The picture for this story is generated by me with AI.