Śrī Saptaśatī Gurucaritra – Chapter - 3

 

श्री सप्तशती गुरुचरित्र - Śrī Saptaśatī Gurucaritra
अध्याय – Chapter - 3

In this section,  Namadharaka asks why the Bhagavan, who is formless and all-powerful, takes physical incarnations on earth. Siddha Muni answers by narrating the famous story of King Ambarisha and Sage Durvasa.

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ऐसें वेदधर्माख्यान । नामधारक ऐकून ।
पुसे कां हा देव असून । अवतरुन ये येथें ॥१॥

Hearing this sacred chronicle of Sage Vedadharma, Namadharaka asked, "Why does the Supreme Bhagavan, despite being God Himself, descend and incarnate upon this earth?"

कां घे दशावतार हे । सिद्ध म्हणे ऐक तूं हें ।
अंबरीषाकरितां हें । नटन आहे नारायणा ॥२॥

"Why does He assume the ten incarnations (Dashavatara)?" Siddha Muni replied, "Listen attentively to this; this cosmic acting and taking of forms is done by Bhagavan Narayana solely for the sake of His devotee, King Ambarisha."

दुर्वास ऋषी द्वादशीसी । आला अंबरीषापाशीं ।
लावी विलंब कर्मासी । हो मानसीं खिन्न भूप ॥३॥

"On the auspicious day of Dwadashi (the twelfth lunar day), the short-tempered Sage Durvasa came to King Ambarisha's palace [for a ritual feast]. However, the sage delayed completing his mandatory daily rituals, leaving the King deeply anxious in his mind."

टळे वेळा हें जाणून । राजा करी जलपान ।
गर्भवासा जा म्हणून । दे कोपून ऋषी शाप ॥४॥

"Realizing that the sacred time to break his fast (Parana) was fast slipping away, the King took a sip of water [to symbolically break the fast without eating before his guest]. Seeing this, the sage flew into a rage and cursed the King, saying, 'Go and suffer through multiple births in the womb!'"

तेव्हां दयाळु येऊन । स्वयें शाप स्वीकारुन ।
अवतरे नारायण । जो असोन सर्वव्यापी ॥५॥

"At that very moment, the compassionate Bhagavan Narayana appeared and took the burden of that curse upon Himself. Even though He is entirely all-pervading and formless, the Bhagavan accepted the incarnations on earth to protect His devotee."

 

इति श्रीमत्परमहंसपरिव्राजकाचार्य श्रीमद्वासुदेवानंदसरस्वति विरचिते श्री सप्तशती गुरुचरित्रे तृतीयोऽध्यायः