Shloka 19
The Deliverance of Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva
Yamala-Arjuna Līlā Prelude and Culmination
तदहं मत्तयोर्माध्व्या वारुण्या श्रीमदान्धयो: । तमोमदं हरिष्यामि स्त्रैणयोरजितात्मनो: ॥ १९ ॥
tad ahaṁ mattayor mādhvyā vāruṇyā śrī-madāndhayoḥ tamo-madaṁ hariṣyāmi straiṇayor ajitātmanoḥ
Therefore, since these two are intoxicated by Mādhvī or Vāruṇī liquor, blinded by pride in celestial opulence, unable to control their senses, and attached to women, I shall take away their tamasic drunkenness and their false prestige.
When a sādhu chastises or punishes someone, he does not do so for revenge. Mahārāja Parīkṣit had inquired why Nārada Muni was subject to such a spirit of revenge ( tamaḥ ). But this was not tamaḥ, for Nārada Muni, in full knowledge of what was for the good of the two brothers, wisely thought of how to cure them. Vaiṣṇavas are good physicians. They know how to protect a person from material disease. Thus they are never in tamo-guṇa. Sa guṇān samatītyaitān brahma-bhūyāya kalpate ( Bg. 14.26 ). Vaiṣṇavas are always situated on the transcendental platform, the Brahman platform. They cannot be subject to mistakes or the influence of the modes of material nature. Whatever they do, after full consideration, is meant just to lead everyone back home, back to Godhead.
FAQs
This verse shows that intoxication and opulence can blind a person, leading to lust and loss of self-control; a saintly devotee seeks to remove that ignorance rather than merely condemn the person.
Seeing Nalakuvara and Maṇigrīva degraded by wine, lust, and arrogance, Nārada intended to correct them through a purifying consequence so they could regain spiritual awareness.
Practice sobriety and restraint, reduce pride born of status or money, and seek the guidance of sādhus—using discipline and devotion to replace tamas (ignorance) with clarity and humility.