दंभोद्भव

{ daṁbhodbhava }

Puranic Encyclopaedia

DAṀBHODBHAVA   See Paraśurāma, Para 10, subsection 2.
DAṀBHODBHAVA   An ancient emperor. He was a mighty warrior prince. He brought the whole world under control. At last there was nobody left to fight with. So he walked about challenging everybody he met with. But none dared to fight with him. Then Brahmā advised him to challenge Nara Nārāyaṇas who were doing penance on the northern-most point of the earth. So the emperor went with his mighty army to Gandhamādana and informed Nara and Nārāyaṇa of his desire to fight. They said that they were mere hermits and that they had no power to fight. But Daṁbhodbhava was not satisfied. Finally Nara and Nārāyaṇa took some iṣīkā grass and began to fight the emperor with it. Though the army of the emperor was mighty and vast it could not stand against the grass in the hands of the hermits. Finally the emperor admitted failure and bowed before the hermits. They advised him not to be arrogant in future and to lead a pure life. Hearing the exhortations of the hermits the emperor became a devoted man. He returned to his palace and led a life of righteousness. [M.B. Udyoga Parva, Chapter 96] .

प्राचीन चरित्रकोश

दंभोद्भव n.  एक राजा । यह अपने ऐश्वर्य से मत्त हो कर, हमेशा ब्राह्मणों से पूछता था, ‘मुझे से बढ कर श्रेष्ठ इस पृथ्वी पर कौन है’। ब्राह्मणों ने, इसका प्रश्न सुन कर, इसकी मजाक उडायी । फिर भी यह आदत से बाज न आया । तब ब्राह्मणों ने श्रेष्ठ नरनारायण का नाम इसे बताया । यह सेना सहित नरनारायण के आश्रम में गया । नरनारायण ने इसका पराभव किया, तथा इसका गर्व दूर किया । कृष्णदौत्य के समय परशुराम ने दंभोद्भव की यह कहानी बतायी है [म.उ.९४] ; [म.वि.५१.९१७ पंक्ति ३१] । ‘कौटिल्य के अर्थशास्त्र’ में भी इसकी मदोन्मत्तता तथा नरनारायण के साथ युद्ध का निर्देश है । वहॉं डम्भोद्भव पाठ है [कौटिल्य. पृ.२८] ।