Editing Durvasa (section)

==Ramayana==

In the [[Ramayana#Uttara Kanda|Uttara Kanda]] of [[Valmiki]]'s [[Ramayana]], Durvasa appeared at [[Rama]]'s doorstep and, seeing [[Lakshmana]] guarding the door, demanded an audience with Rama. Meanwhile, Rama was having a private conversation with [[Yama]] (the god of death), disguised as an ascetic. Before the conversation, Yama gave Rama strict instructions that their dialogue is to remain confidential, and anyone who entered the room is to be executed. Rama agreed and entrusted Lakshmana with the duty of guarding his door and fulfilling his promise to Yama.

Hence, when Durvasa made his demand, Lakshmana politely asked the sage to wait until Rama had finished his meeting. Durvasa grew angry, and threatened to curse all of [[Ayodhya (Ramayana)|Ayodhya]] if Lakshmana did not immediately inform Rama of his arrival. Lakshmana, in a dilemma, decided it would be better that he alone die to save all of Ayodhya from falling under Durvasa's curse, and so interrupted Rama's meeting to inform him of the sage's arrival. Rama quickly concluded his meeting with Yama and received the sage with due courtesy. Durvasa told Rama of his desire to be fed, and Rama fulfilled his guest's request, whereupon the satisfied sage went on his way.<ref>Srimad Valmiki-Ramayana (With Sanskrit Text and English Translation) - Part I(9th Edition), Gita Press, Gorakhpur</ref>

Rama is filled with sorrow, for he did not want to kill his beloved brother, Lakshmana. Still, he had given his word to Yama and could not go back on it. He called his advisers to help him resolve this quandary. On [[Vasishta]]'s advice, he ordered Lakshmana to leave him for good, since such abandonment is equivalent to death, as far as the pious were concerned. Lakshmana then went to the banks of the [[Sarayu River (Ayodhya)|Sarayu]], and resolved on giving up the world by drowning himself in the [[Sarayu River (Ayodhya)|Sarayu river]].<ref>Ramayan of Valmiki - translated by [[Ralph T. H. Griffith]], M.A.(1870–1874)</ref>