Chapter 3 — Durvas Curses King Ambarish

Literal. Ambarish, a virtuous king, observes the Ekadashi fast. Durvas Rishi visits as a guest. To break the fast in time, Ambarish drinks holy water before Durvas returns from the river. Durvas, enraged at being dined-after, curses Ambarish to be born in many species. Vishnu intervenes, redirects the curse onto himself, and is told by Durvas to descend on Earth ten times — which becomes the Vishnu dashavatara.

Symbolic. A foundational dashavatara origin story embedded in the Guru Charitra's logic. The chapter establishes that avatara is response to a deal struck between displeased Brahmins and forbearing gods.