Darpa

Darpa · darpa, “pride”

Grammar: masculine noun; pride, haughtiness.

Meaning: pride, the root of obstacles; the text also uses garva.

In the scriptures: In the Śrī Kṛshṇa Janma Khaṇḍa of the Brahma Vaivarta Purāṇa, Rādhā asks Śrī Kṛshṇa in whom great pride arose and how he broke it, and he tells her. His teaching is: “In all the brahmāṇḍas, growth lasts only until pride arises. Once pride arises there is no more rising.” He is the Parātpara and the ātmā of all. He knows whoever grows proud in the brahmāṇḍas, small or great, and he breaks the darpa of them all in this way. Rādhā says to him, “Breaker of everyone’s pride, you alone are the one who gives pride and the one who gives fear.” In order, the text names those whose darpa he broke: Brahmā, Śaṅkara, Pārvatī, Candra and Sūrya, Agni, Durvāsa Muni and Dhanvantari. Śaṅkara praised Śrī Kṛshṇa again and again, and gave up darpa, the root of obstacles. In all his acts he became nirlipta, untouched by ahaṅkāra and mamakāra, and full of jñāna and ānanda (Chapter 36).

Related terms: Garva · Ahaṅkāra · Vighna

Other meanings

Darpa has more than one meaning in the Purāṇas and Itihāsas. Besides the meaning above, it names those listed here, each with where it is told.

Sources

  • Brahma Vaivarta Purāṇa, Śrī Kṛshṇa Janma Khaṇḍa, Chapter 36