Puranic Stories · Mudgala Purana
The eighth and final incarnation described in the Mudgala Purana, Dhumravarna, "the smoke-hued," entered the world to confront Abhimanasura, the demon of pride and self-conceit, the last and, in many ways, most encompassing of the eight vices this text addresses.
A Fitting Conclusion
Pride and self-conceit represent, in many respects, the vice underlying all the others already confronted by the previous seven incarnations: envy, arrogance, delusion, greed, anger, and lust each carrying, at their root, some form of excessive self-regard.
A Color Suited to a Subtle Threat
Dhumravarna's ashen, smoke-like complexion reflects the particular nature of the vice he confronts: pride often obscures clear sight the way smoke obscures a flame, present and consuming even when its full shape cannot be clearly seen.
What Devotees Seek
Devotees who have worked to overcome the other vices described throughout this collection often find pride the most persistent and difficult of all, and turn to Dhumravarna specifically for help confronting this final, deeply rooted obstacle.