Durvāsa

Seers of the Epics and Purāṇas · Ṛṣis and Ṛṣikās

Atri's son, born of Śiva's portion, quick to curse and quick to bless: he cost Indra the fortune of the worlds, gave Kuntī her mantra, and fled Viṣṇu's discus until Ambarīṣa saved him.

Durvāsa, the son of Atri and Anasūyā, was born of a portion of the god Śiva, and he wandered the earth like a madman, quick to anger and quick to bless. When Indra, king of the gods, let his garland fall to the ground, he cursed the three worlds, earth, sky and heaven, to lose their fortune. He gave the girl Kuntī the mantra that brought her the gods as fathers of her sons. He ate the gleaner Mudgala's food six times and found no anger in him. He sent a blazing being against King Ambarīṣa and fled from Viṣṇu's discus until the king himself saved him. He harnessed Rukmiṇī to a chariot in the city of her husband Kṛṣṇa, the Lord born on earth, and blessed them both. And his coming to the door of Rāma, the king of Ayodhyā, led to Rāma's brother Lakṣmaṇa leaving the world.

Contents

  1. Śiva's Portion
  2. The Garland
  3. Kuntī
  4. The Gleaner
  5. Ambarīṣa
  6. In Kṛṣṇa's House
  7. At Rāma's Door

Beside them