Slokam 5

With sage Durvasa taking his own time to go to the Yamuna and return,  Ambarisha was running out of time to break fast before Dwadashi. On the one hand it would be considered an insult to Durvasa if he took food, on the other, he would be breaking the effort of the fasting and rites that he had undertaken for a year.

Ambarisha, unable to decide which path to take, decides to meet both conflicting requirements, by taking just a tiny sip of water.  This, he felt would meet the requirement of breaking fast, and at the same time,  it should not be considered an insult to Durvasa.

Durvasa returns from his ablutions,  sees Ambarisha,  and realizes,  with his insight,  as to what transpired.  He takes the sipping of water by Ambarisha as an insult.  He considers the sip of water as equivalent to having taken food in his absence.

Durvasa decides to curse king Ambarisha.  The curse is a severe one.  He decides that Ambarisha must be killed.  He unleashes a demoness called Kritya.  Durvasa creates the demoness from a lock of hair from his head.

Creating a demoness from a lock of hair may seem unreal and unbelievable.  The intent of the slokam,  is to convey that the display of unhappiness and anger by Durvasa, is accentuated by him pulling out a lock of hair.  This display of intense anger sets off the demon of alarm and concern and retribution  in the mind of Ambarisha.  It seems like a demon has been let loose.

Given the sensitivity of Ambarisha,  this “demon” in the mind could destroy Ambarisha because he would be plunged in sorrow and moroseness for the rest of his life for having displeased the sage.

A sage, because of his elevated state should never be swayed by or be angered by worldly events,  particularly when there is no intent to show any disrespect or disregard by Ambarisha.

Let us, with the Paramathma always in mind, exercise self control, so we never lose our temper, or even if something upsets us,  we overcome that without passing on its impact to others.