A king sits among learned men. His face is pale. He has been grieving and fasting.
Suddenly, a figure comes running into the hall. Gasping. Hair wild. It's the great sage Durvasa, the man who cursed him.
He throws himself at the king's feet. "Refuge! Give me refuge!"
And behind him, the sky is on fire. The Sudarshana chakra, the blazing discus of Vishnu, is coming straight at them.
The king rises. He stands between the sage and the wheel of fire.
What can a mortal king say to the weapon of God?
The Story So Far
So far: the sage Durvasa cursed King Ambarisha to ten births, all for a sip of water on Dwadashi. Vishnu took those curses on himself and turned them into his ten avatars. But his chakra kept hunting Durvasa. And Vishnu sent the sage back to the only one who could save him… the king he had cursed.
The King Stands Before the Discus
Durvasa reached the palace with the chakra right on his heels.
Ambarisha was sitting among learned, upright brahmins. His face was drawn. He was still grieving over what had happened on that Dwadashi.
Panting, Durvasa cried out, "Refuge! Refuge! I knew you were a great devotee. And still I acted like a fool. Forgive me. This chakra has chased me through all three worlds. Only you can protect me."
The sage who had kicked him away… was now at his feet.
Ambarisha rose at once. Humbly, he gave Durvasa a seat. "Don't be afraid," he said.
Then he turned to face the blazing discus. And he bowed to it.
"Salutations to you, Sudarshana. You exist to punish the wicked. Chasing a brahmin is not right for you. Forgive this frightened sage."
"You are all-powerful. Nothing in the three worlds is equal to you. Why such fury against people like us? Protect me, who has given him shelter. And protect Durvasa, who has come to me for shelter."
And the chakra… stopped.
The wheel of fire that no god could stop stood still for one devotee's prayer.
The Sudarshana Chakra Speaks
And then it spoke.
First, to the king. "This sage acted foolishly against a great devotee. And he has suffered for it. Once again the world has learned that no one can stand against the weapon of Narayana."
Then it turned to Durvasa.
"You are a perfect sage. You know every dharma. But listen."
"Punishing the wicked and protecting his devotees is the Lord's daily work. He never tolerates a breach of truth or justice. Like a wish-granting vine, he takes his devotees' sufferings on himself."
"You knew all this. And still you acted like a fool. So your curses had to be borne by Narayana himself, the Lord of countless universes. And because you are a brahmin, he will bear them by taking ten avatars that will help the world."
"Your stubbornness cost you your judgement. You abused a great devotee. You trampled on the sacred Dwadashi parana. That's why trouble found you. See how close the Lord's power is to his devotees. Nothing in the three worlds can stand against it."
Then the chakra gave him counsel.
"Never again abuse brahmins or devotees. Never trample on anyone's sacred vow. In Karthika, the worship of lamps and the Dwadashi parana please both Vishnu and Shiva, and they lead to liberation. Hold on to them with faith. And never forget devotion to Vishnu. Those who forget it and harm his devotees meet troubles like these."
Then it turned back to the king. And it said something neither of them expected.
"Ambarisha, Vishnu knew all of this would happen. He sent me to protect you. And to teach this man."
Ambarisha and Durvasa looked at each other in wonder. Then both of them fell before the chakra and praised it with all their hearts.
The chakra was pleased. It blessed them both… and vanished.
Vasishtha turned to King Janaka. "So, Janaka, now you have heard the greatness of the Dwadashi parana. Fast on Ekadashi. And while Dwadashi lasts, feed good brahmins a fine meal of five dishes and sweet rice."
What This Chapter Asks of Us
Notice who Ambarisha protected. This was the man who had cursed him to ten births. Who had kicked him away. And when that man came running, the king's first words were, "Don't be afraid." He didn't ask the chakra to punish him. He begged it to spare him. That is the devotee Vishnu would not let suffer.
The chakra itself names today's practice. In Karthika, the worship of lamps pleases both Vishnu and Shiva. So tonight, as you light your lamp, offer it to both, Hari and Hara.
Read next
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- Why We Light a Lamp (Deepam): Meaning, Oil, Wicks and Rules
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