Shloka 23

Dāmodara-līlā: Mother Yaśodā Binds Kṛṣṇa; the Two-Fingers Mystery; Prelude to the Yamala-Arjuna Deliverance

Devanagari script

पुरा नारदशापेन वृक्षतां प्रापितौ मदात् । नलकूवरमणिग्रीवाविति ख्यातौ श्रियान्वितौ ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

purā nārada-śāpena vṛkṣatāṁ prāpitau madāt nalakūvara-maṇigrīvāv iti khyātau śriyānvitau

Translation

In a former birth, these two—famed as Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva—were endowed with great opulence and fortune; but, intoxicated by pride, they were cursed by Nārada Muni to become trees.

Synonyms

• पुरा: formerly, once
• पुरा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• नारद-शापेन: by Nārada’s curse
• नारद-शापेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक) + शाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (नारदस्य शापः)

• वृक्षताम्: to the state of a tree
• वृक्षताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृक्षता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; भाववाचक-तद्धितान्त (state of being a tree)

• प्रापितौ: (they) were made to attain / were brought to
• प्रापितौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आप् (धातु) → प्रापित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे कर्तृस्थाने (they having been caused to attain)

• मदात्: from intoxication
• मदात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन

• नलकूवर-मणिग्रीवौ: Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva
• नलकूवर-मणिग्रीवौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नलकूवर (प्रातिपदिक) + मणिग्रीव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (two persons)

• इति: thus, as
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/इत्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• ख्यातौ: known, famed
• ख्यातौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ख्या (धातु) → ख्यात (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; विशेषणम् (to the two)

• श्रिया-अन्वितौ: endowed with prosperity
• श्रिया-अन्वितौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्वित (कृदन्त)
• Form: ‘श्रिया’ स्त्रीलिङ्ग तृतीया एकवचन (instrumental: with fortune); ‘अन्वितौ’ भूतकृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग प्रथमा द्विवचन; विशेषणम्

Purport

Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Tenth Canto, Ninth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “Mother Yaśodā Binds Lord Kṛṣṇa.”

Characters & Entities

• Nārada
• Nalakūvara
• Maṇigrīva

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva becoming trees?

This verse states that, because of intoxication, Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva were cursed by Nārada and thus made to take birth as trees, despite being highly opulent.

Why did Nārada Muni curse Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva in the Bhagavatam?

The verse indicates the immediate cause was their madāt—intoxication and pride—leading Nārada to impose a corrective curse that would curb arrogance and ultimately bring them toward grace.

Practical application: What is the modern-life lesson of this shloka?

Opulence without humility can degrade one’s character; spiritual guidance and accountability help transform pride into self-control and devotion.