Ambarisha and the Sudarshana Chakra

King Ambarisha was an ideal ruler and a pure devotee of Lord Vishnu. He once observed the rigorous Ekadashi fast for a year. On the final day of the fast (Dvadashi), he had to break his fast at a highly specific auspicious time to reap its spiritual benefits.

Just as he was about to eat, the quick-tempered Sage Durvasa arrived as a guest. Ambarisha welcomed him, and Durvasa said he would go to the river to bathe before eating. However, the sage took a very long time, and the auspicious window for breaking the fast was closing.

On the advice of his priests, Ambarisha sipped a few drops of water, which technically broke the fast but did not constitute a full meal, thus honoring both the religious rule and the guest. When Durvasa returned and realized what happened through his mystic vision, he was furious at the perceived insult.

Durvasa plucked a hair from his head and created a terrifying fire demon to burn Ambarisha to ashes. Ambarisha did not run or fight; he simply folded his hands in prayer.

Instantly, Lord Vishnu's ultimate weapon, the Sudarshana Chakra, manifested. It destroyed the fire demon and then turned toward Durvasa. Terrified, the sage fled. The blazing Chakra chased him across the earth, into the heavens, and to the realms of Brahma and Shiva. Both gods told him they could not interfere with Vishnu's weapon.

Durvasa finally fell at Lord Vishnu's feet in Vaikuntha. Vishnu smiled and said, "I am entirely bound by the love of my devotees. Even I cannot stop the Chakra. You must go back and ask forgiveness from Ambarisha himself." Durvasa returned, fell at the feet of the gentle king, and was saved.