Dambhodbhava

Dambhodbhava, simply known as Dambhodbhava, Sanskrit: दम्भोद्भव, Telugu: దంభోద్భవుడు, Hindi: दंभोद्भव.

Dambhodbhava was an ancient king of great strength in war. He grew very proud after defeating all who stood against him. He then challenged Nara and Nārāyaṇa, the two ṛshis of Badarikāśrama, and was beaten by them. Paraśurāma told his story in the Kaurava sabhā (assembly) during Kṛshṇa’s embassy. This is the Dambhodbhava Upākhyāna of the Udyoga Parva, Chapter 96. Paraśurāma told it as a warning to Duryodhana.

The king who challenged the three worlds

Dambhodbhava was a king of very great skill in battle in an ancient age. His wins piled up until he had defeated every king, commander and divine warrior who faced him. No ordinary opponent was left, and his pride had no limit. He called out a challenge to all three worlds: let anyone who calls himself a warrior come and fight.

No one could defeat him. In the fullness of his pride, Dambhodbhava turned his challenge toward the āśrama (hermitage) of Nara and Nārāyaṇa. These are the two great ṛshis of Badarikāśrama, the eternal divine pair who took human form as ascetics.

The meeting with Nara and Nārāyaṇa

Nara and Nārāyaṇa received the challenge without alarm. They did not care for ordinary combat. Nara bent down and took a handful of kuśa grass from the ground of the āśrama. Through his tapobala (the strength of tapas, built up over countless ages) he filled the blades of grass with great force. They became arrows that struck with the power of divine weapons.

Dambhodbhava, for all his skill in war, was fully overcome. His pride was broken and his armor was shattered. He was helpless before two ṛshis who fought with grass. He fell at their feet and begged forgiveness. Nara and Nārāyaṇa showed him kindness, released him and sent him away. This ended Dambhodbhava’s pride for good.

A warning to Duryodhana

Paraśurāma told this account to Duryodhana as a warning. In this age Kṛshṇa and Arjuna are the embodied forms of the eternal Nara and Nārāyaṇa. Duryodhana, by choosing war against them, was choosing the path of Dambhodbhava. It is a path of great pride that ends in complete ruin. No army, however large, and no weapon, however strong, can win against the eternal pair.

Sources

• Mahābhārata, Udyoga Parva, Chapter 96 (the Dambhodbhava Upākhyāna)