Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana Book 10 Chapter 10:1-11

Book 10: Tenth Chapter (First Half)

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Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 10: Chapter 10: Verses 1-11
The imprecation pronounced (on Kubera's sons) by Narada (and their consequent redemption)

The king said : That highly reproachful act which was the cause of the imprecation pronounced on them (by Narada) and due to which anger was aroused in the divine sage may (kindly) be pointed out (to me), O holy one ! Sri Suka replied : The two sons of Kubera, who were highly vainglorious despite their being attendants of Lord Rudra, (nay) whose passion was uncontrollable, and who had drunk the wine called Varuni, were strolling with women singing after them in a woodland full of blossoms in the vicinity of the Mandakini[1] flowing through the delightful garden of Kailasa, their eyes rolling on all sides from intoxication. Entering the middle of the Ganga, studded with a series of lotus-beds, they sported with damsels (even) as a pair of elephants would with she-elephants. By the will of Providence, 0 scion of Kuru, the glorious Narada (the celestial sage) saw the two demigods there and perceived them intoxicated. Abashed to see him, uncovered as they were and afraid of a curse, the celestial nymphs hurriedly put on their clothes, but not so the two Yaksas, who remained naked. Seeing the two sons of Kubera inebriate with wine and blind with the pride of wealth, Narada, who felt inclined to pronounce an imprecation for the sake of showering his grace en them. spoke as follows:-

Narada said : Indeed in the case of a man indulging in enjoyable objects no pride other than the pride of wealth, such as that of pedigree (or learning), which is a product of Rajoguna, conduces to loss of reason (as the said pride of wealth does); (for) with pride of wealth woman, gambling and liquor are invariably associated. (Nay,) where there is pride of wealth, animals are killed by merciless men of uncontrolled mind, who regard this perishable body as proof against old age and death. Though styled (while living) as a god*, the (human) body is ultimately designated (after death) as a worm (when buried) or as ordure (when devoured by carnivorous animals or birds) or as ashes (when cremated). Is a man perpetrating violence-from which follows perdition-against living beings for the sake of (pampering) such a body alive to his (own) interest ? Does this body belong to the giver of food (one's employer or the maintainer of one's body) or (both) to one's father (lit., procreator) and mother (who conceived it and nourished it in the womb as well as outside during its infancy and boyhood) or to one's mother's father (who may claim it as his daughter's son or as his adopted son in the event of his stipulating before her marriage that a son born to her would be adopted by him as his own legal heir) or to a powerful man (such as a king who is entitled to take forced service from any able-bodied labourer) or to one who has purchased it or for that matter to a dog (which is going to devour it after death) ?

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References

  1. The holy Ganga, while flowing in the heavenly regions; goes by the name of Mandakini.

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