Srimad Bhagavatam – day 609
Maharishi Narada curses the sons of Kubera
Narayana Krishna
Tenth Canto Chapter Ten
In this chapter, Krishna felling the two gigantic Arjuna trees and granting redemption to the cursed Demi-gods is covered.
We have understood that after Yashoda left Krishna and went in to complete her chores, our little Krishna began his work. The two Arjuna trees were in their past birth, the sons of the Yaksha Kubera. Cursed by Maharishi Nārada, they had transformed into trees.
Emperor Parikshit enquired, “O great venerable saint! Why were the two sons of Kubera cursed by Maharishi Nārada? To incur the wrath of the celestial sage Nārada, these two demi-gods must have angered him severely with their deeds. What was their mistake? Where did they go wrong? I seek to know this story in detail. O revered one, please explain.”
In response, Maharishi Śuka replied, “The two sons of the Demi-god Yaksha Kubera were attendants of Lord Rudra. They bloated with the pride that they were attendants of Lord Rudra”.
Often people turn arrogant when they obtain distinguished titles, to such an extent that barring arrogance nothing is visible in them. They forget the help that others had rendered to them in the past. They forget those who were responsible for their present success. They bloat in their success and look down totally upon others, including those who helped them rise.
“One morning, these two Demi-gods, wandered leisurely in the wonderous gardens in the vicinity of Mount Kailasa, accompanied by many beautiful damsels”.
This bad habit is often noticed in those who rise to distinguished positions. Drinking, abusing others and other such habits, which they now cultivate, lead to their ruin.
“In this garden, which was situated in the vicinity of River Mandakini, these two brothers drank wine made from rice. Intoxicated due to excessive drinking of wine, the two brothers lost coherence of their actions. In this state of drunkenness, they entered into the waters of the river together with all the lovely maidens. Just as male elephants lustily play with the female elephants in water, these two brothers sported with the women-folk, dirtying the water in the process.
Destiny ensured that the revered celestial sage Maharishi Nārada, arrived there exactly at that time. Ashamed at being sparsely dressed in the presence of the great saint and scared that he would curse them, all the maidens quickly rushed to the banks of the river and wore their clothing. The two Yakshas however remained without moving, despite noticing his arrival. Neither did they rush to cover their bodies, nor did they bother to acknowledge his presence. The intoxication caused due to drinking wine had reduced, nevertheless the intoxication caused due to arrogance still persisted”.
It is easy to lessen the intoxication caused to due drinking liquor, nevertheless it is more important to take steps to reduce the original intoxication which arises from arrogance. Only then the person will become pure.
“The pride of wealth had caused blindness in the two Yakshas”.
Here, blindness means they no longer could be cognizant of their actions and their repercussions. This stems from extreme arrogance.
“Maharishi Nārada realized that the two Yakshas were intoxicated due to drinking excessive wine. He, who had originally visited them in order to bless them, now observed their arrogance and instead cursed them, thereby blessing them. He said,
“Arrogance caused due to opulence ruins the intellect of the person who is slave to sensual desires. Neither does pride due to getting birth in an aristocratic family, nor does the pride of education nor the desires that stem from passion, cause as much harm as is caused by the pride of wealth. Pride caused due to wealth is the worst as it drags the person towards sin which exists in the form of lust, liquor and gambling.
Hanyante paśavo yatra nirdayair ajitātmabhiḥ
Manyamānair imaṁ deham ajarāmṛtyu naśvaram
Compassion dries up in the person who is swelled due to pride of wealth. The body and senses of such person cease to remain in his control. Such person believes his body, which in reality is subject to destruction, will remain untouched by old-age and death. He mercilessly kills animals for his food.
Irrespective of whether the person is a renowned emperor or a learned Vedic scholar, upon death his body which is buried necessarily transforms into worms. Thousands of worms eat the sinful body and multiply. This body ultimately transforms into worms. Where the body is discarded, it becomes a food for birds of prey. If the corpse is cremated, it is reduced to ashes.
Only that person who lacks the discrimination between actions which cause his well-being and those which cause him harm, kills and injures other living entities for the purposes of nourishing his body, which in reality is destructible. Falling into hell is the inevitable outcome of harming other animals.”
Krishna. Srihari.