Narayana.

“Saints who are filled with feelings of equal mindedness, seek refuge in the lotus feet of Srihari, the Lord who bestows liberation. To them, the necessity of associating with the wicked, who conceited due to affluence enjoy evil comforts, does not exist. One should always remain indifferent towards the wicked”.

Neglect is the best medicine to bring down arrogance in a person. Arrogant people give up trying to chase the person who maintains a don’t-care attitude towards them. Being in agreement with them or listening to them is akin to adding ghee (clarified butter) to fire.

Maharishi Nārada thus concluded, “Hence I will destroy in these two Yakshas, the arrogance that has emerged due to opulence and which has its roots in spiritual ignorance.

Currently they are under the sway of their sensory needs and are intoxicated due to drinking wine prepared from rice. Overflowing with arrogance, pride and lusty desires, they are deeply inclined to associate with evil people and with women. Self-conceitedness has eroded wisdom and intelligence in them. Although being the sons of Demi-god Kubera, these two brothers are covered with the veil called ignorance and consequently are oblivious that they are standing naked”.

Even after seeing Maharishi Nārada, they remained naked and immobile like statues. This was the outcome of arrogance. Their food was impure (tamasic) and hence they behaved foolishly. Arrogance is the outcome of tamasic food.

Maharishi Nārada therefore cursed, “May these two brothers Nalakubera and Maṇigriva obtain birth as trees! My curse will ensure that they never become impudent in future. May they be blessed with the memory of their past! May they be filled with repentance for their deeds! May it lead to dispassion in them!”

Although they were reborn as trees, the brothers remembered their past arrogance, their mistakes and the insult they had heaped upon Maharishi Nārada. It is a sin to remain without appropriate clothing in front of Mahatmas. Despite being aware of this, due to arrogance the brothers continued to remain naked in the presence of Maharishi Nārada.

“My blessing will ensure that these two brothers who will be reborn as trees, will get a chance to associate with Srikrishna, the son of Vasudeva.”

Thus, Maharishi Nārada cursed them and in addition, he also detailed the expiation of the curse.

“May they, with the grace of Srikrishna, obtain liberation! After the completion of a hundred celestial years, they will once again obtain their position as Devatas, by which time, feelings of devotion would have intensified in them”.

Devotion automatically increases in the person who is reduced to a state of penury. No special efforts are required. Feelings of equal-mindedness automatically arise. A poor person always has firm faith in the Lord. He reveres saintly persons; has pure feelings. Poverty takes them closer to God. The small help that we render to them to tide over their difficulties, leads to increased merit in our account. More importantly, it intensifies their faith in God. They will thank God that He has helped them through some means. They will ask God to bless the person who offered them a few morsels of rice.

In order to eliminate feelings of haughtiness, lust and pride in them forever, Maharishi Nārada ensured that they remembered their past even when they existed as trees. This would fill them with repentance and would pave the way for increased devotion.

“Having cursed the two demi-gods, Maharishi Nārada proceeded to his Nārāyana ashrama. That very instant, Nalakubera and Maṇigriva transformed into two huge Arjuna trees on earth. Maharishi Nārada is the foremost amongst the ardent devotees of the Lord”.

Before beginning to read Bhagavatam, we should necessarily remember the ardent devotees of the Lord beginning from Prahlāda.

“In order to fulfill the promise given by this celestial sage, the foremost among ardent devotees, the Supreme Lord Srihari, who was now tied to the stone mortar, began to slowly inch towards the Arjuna trees. As he walked, He dragged the stone mortar as if it were His chariot”.

It was no ordinary stone mortar. A few able-bodied men alone could lift or drag it- such was its weight. Krishna, who was tied to such heavy mortar, dragged it effortlessly as if it were his chariot.

Krishna Krishna