Srimad Bhagavatam – day 505
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 aspect 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.
O Maharishi! My devotees, who are saintly persons, always seek refuge under Me. Without them I do not seek to enjoy My bliss or even Sridevi (opulence), who is indivisible from Me.
How can I ever give up those devotees who, considering their body, spouse, children, house, relatives, life-force, wealth and even heavenly comforts as insignificant, discard them totally and seek shelter under Me alone? These saintly devotees would have fixed their hearts solely upon Me. They see Me as equally pervading through the creation.
Just as a chaste wife keeps her husband under her control through rendering of her services, these saintly devotees keep me under their control through their devotion.
Those devotees who derive total contentment through offering services to Me, do not even aspire for the four types of liberation known as sālōkya, sāyujya, sāmīpya and sārūpya, that are obtained as a result of these devotional services. This being the case, is there any specific necessity to mention that such devotees will never aspire for heavenly and other comforts that eventually are swallowed by time?
sādhavo hṛdayaṁ mahyaṁ sādhūnāṁ hṛdayaṁ tv aham
mad-anyat te na jānanti nāhaṁ tebhyo manāg api
I am the heart of saintly devotees. I am very dear to them. Such saintly devotees are My heart. They are exceedingly dear to Me. Such devotees do not consider anything as different from Me. I do not like anything apart from them.
O Maharishi! I shall tell you a method by which you can be saved. Please listen. Seek refuge under that person due to whom you have brought this difficulty upon yourself. If any person tries to use his energy to harm a noble, saintly devotee it backfires upon the person who has used it.
Penance and austerities are exceptionally powerful tools employed by saints, who are filled with humility, to obtain liberation. But these very tools cause considerable damage to those aspirants who lack humility and gentleness.
Therefore O Maharishi! Quickly approach King Ambarīṣa, the son of Nābhāga, and beg his forgiveness. May you be blessed with auspiciousness! He is a supremely fortunate person. If he decides to forgive you, then you will be relieved from this suffering”- said Lord Vishnu to Maharishi Durvasa.
With this the fourth chapter of the Ninth Canto comes to an end.
Ninth Canto Chapter Five
In this chapter, Ambarīṣa rescuing Maharishi Durvasa from the discus is explained.
Maharishi Śuka said, “Maharishi Durvasa, who was tormented severely by the Lord’s discus, turned back and approached King Ambarīṣa and fell at his feet. The king was ashamed and embarrassed when a saint fell on his feet. Seeing the Maharishi who was deeply agitated and aggrieved, the compassionate king was deeply pained. He immediately offered obeisance and prayed to the discus, which is a weapon of the Supreme Lord,
Tvam agnir bhagavān sūryas tvaṁ somo jyotiṣāṁ patiḥ
Tvam āpas tvaṁ kṣitir vyoma vāyur mātrendriyāṇi ca
O Lord, the five gross elements such as earth, the five subtle sensory perceptions such as sound, the senses, the venerable Sun-god and the Moon-god who is the ruler for all stars are all your forms.
sudarśana namas tubhyaṁ sahasrārācyuta-priya
sarvāstra-ghātin viprāya svasti bhūyā iḍaspate
O holy discus Sudarshana! Please accept my obeisance. You who are dear to Lord Srihari possess thousand razor-sharp edges. You destroy all weapons in order to protect to earth. Please protect this great saint.
You are the personification of righteousness. You are the pleasant, truthful speech. Yagna is your form. You are the enjoyer of all the results of Yagna. You are the ruler of all universes. You are the essence of every existence. You are the radiance of the all-powerful Lord.
O slender-waisted discus! You uphold righteousness in entirety. You reduce to ashes the demons who are full of demonic tendencies. Like a comet you cause inauspiciousness to them. Your unblemished radiance protects all the three worlds. You accomplish extra-ordinary, wonderous deeds at the speed of mind. I offer obeisance to you.
O leader of my speech! Your effulgence which is virtuous drives away ignorance and difficulties in noble persons while bestowing prosperity and knowledge to them. Your glory is infinite. This world which is the outcome of cause and effectual relationship and which is both true and false in reality is nothing but your form!
O undefeatable discus! When the pure, unblemished Lord Srihari uses you to destroy huge armies of demons known as Daityas and Danavas, you rush forth speedily endlessly separating their heads, shoulders, thighs and stomachs while shining radiantly.
O discus which protects the universe! You are an epitome of patience. The Lord who holds the mace uses you to destroy the wicked and protect this universe. In order to bring auspiciousness to our lineage, please cause auspiciousness to this Maharishi. Protecting this great saint is equivalent of protecting us.
If I have diligently performed Yagnas and engaged in charitable activities, if I have strictly abided by my stipulated righteous duties, if my lineage has always revered Vedic erudite scholars, then may this erudite Vedic scholar be freed from all suffering!
yadi no bhagavān prīta ekaḥ sarva-guṇāśrayaḥ
sarva-bhūtātma-bhāvena dvijo bhavatu vijvaraḥ
Narayana