Srimad Bhagavatam – day 504
Keshavaya namah
“Ambarīṣa did not fear the ghostly creature created by Maharishi Durvasa. Instead he remained unperturbed. Previously Lord Srihari had gifted a discus for the eternal protection of Ambarīṣa. This discus now came forth and burnt down completely the blazing ghostly creature that was rushing towards him. Thereafter it began to chase the sage.
The sage realized that his plan had failed and that the discus was instead chasing him at rapid speeds. In order to protect his life he ran in all directions. Nonetheless spitting fiery flames the discus continued to chase him wherever he went. Realizing that the discus was about to engulf him, he ran towards a cave in the Mount Meru. To his dismay the discus too entered the cave.
In order to protect his life Maharishi Durvasa ran in all directions- in the earth, in space, in the lower planetary regions, across all oceans, the residences of Yama and other Guardian-deities and heavens. However at every spot the discus was visible to him. It chased him persistently.
Maharishi Durvasa was petrified and agitated. He was in a great mental turmoil. He was now on the lookout for a saviour who could rescue him from the jaws of death. However there was none to protect him anywhere even though he had travelled all through the creation. At last he ran towards Lord Brahma and addressing him prayed, “O self-originated Lord Brahma. Lord Srihari’s discus can never face defeat. Please save me from its clutches.”
Lord Brahma replied, “O great saint! At the end of two parārthas, when the transcendental pastimes of Lord Srihari known as the creation come to an end, He who is the embodiment of time decides to dissolve this entire creation and with this intent curls up his eyebrows once. With just this action all the planes of existence including my residence vanish completely. Myself, Rudra, Daksha, Bhrigu and other Prajāpatis, the rulers of the living entities, the Devatas along with their leaders abide by the dictates of Lord Srihari with lowered heads. We obey every command of His which is aimed at securing the well-being of the world”. In this way Lord Brahma expressed his helplessness in rescuing Durvasa from the discus.
From here Durvasa ran to Kailasa and sought shelter under Lord Rudra. Rudra said, “My dear son! To Lord Brahma this Universal egg is his body. Innumerable such Universal eggs emerge in that Supreme Lord Srihari at the time of creation and dissolve at the time of annihilation. We rotate within these Universal eggs. Myself, Sanat-kumara, Brahma, Nārada, Kapila, Vyasa, Devala, Dharma, āsuri, Marici and other accomplished saintly omniscient persons who are perfected in Supreme Knowledge are all covered by the Lord’s veil of illusion. We fail to understand the illusionary energy of the Lord. We are helpless in such a situation. Therefore,
tasya viśveśvarasyedaṁ śastraṁ durviṣahaṁ hi naḥ
tam evaṁ śaraṇaṁ yāhi haris te śaṁ vidhāsyati
There is no other alternative than seeking shelter under Lord Srihari, the ruler of the worlds. We are helpless in protecting you from the weapon that belongs to Supreme Lord Srihari. Lord Srihari will bestow auspiciousness upon you”.
Hearing these words Maharishi Durvasa was dejected. Nevertheless he proceeded to Vaikunṭha, the abode of Lord Srihari. Here he saw the Supreme Lord Srinivasa seated along with his consort Sridevi. The fire emanating from the discus, the weapon of Lord Srihari, was causing intolerable suffering to the saint. Trembling in fear Maharishi Durvasa fell at the lotus feet of the Lord and prayed,
“āhācyutānanta sad-īpsita prabho
kṛtāgasaṁ māvahi viśva-bhāvana
O Lord Achyuta! O Lord Ananta! Noble souls eternally seek you alone. I have committed a grave mistake. O protector of the world! Kindly save me.
O Lord, unable to understand Your transcendental glory I foolishly harmed your dearest devotee. Please teach me how I should atone for this sin. Even the worst sinner who lives in hell obtains liberation merely by uttering Your divine name”.
The Supreme Lord replied,
ahaṁ bhakta-parādhīno hy asvatantra iva dvija
sādhubhir grasta-hṛdayo bhaktair bhakta-jana-priyaḥ
O Maharishi! I am under the control of my devotees. As such I do not have any independence in this matter which pertains to devotees. This is because noble devotees have kept my mind under their control. My devotees hold me extremely dear to them. I too love them very dearly.”
Govindaya namah