Shloka 2
Uddhava’s Departure to Badarikāśrama and Vidura’s Turn Toward Maitreya
तेषां मैरेयदोषेण विषमीकृतचेतसाम् । निम्लोचति रवावासीद्वेणूनामिव मर्दनम् ॥ २ ॥
teṣāṁ maireya-doṣeṇa viṣamīkṛta-cetasām nimlocati ravāv āsīd veṇūnām iva mardanam
By the fault of intoxication from maireya, their minds became unbalanced. At sunset, destruction arose among them—just as the friction of bamboos brings about a devastating blaze.
When there is need of fire in the forest, by the will of the Supreme it takes place due to friction among the bamboos. Similarly, the descendants of Yadu were all destroyed by the will of the Lord by the process of self-destruction. Just as there is no possibility of a fire’s occurring deep in the forest due to human effort, so also there was no power in the universe which could vanquish the descendants of Yadu, who were protected by the Lord. The Lord wanted them to be so destroyed, and thus they obeyed His order, as indicated by the word tad-anujñāta.
FAQs
This verse states that intoxication (maireya-doṣa) disturbs the mind and leads to violent conflict, symbolized by the “crushing” clashing among the intoxicated.
Śukadeva Gosvāmī is narrating the events to Mahārāja Parīkṣit, describing how intoxication led to agitation and turmoil among them.
Avoid habits that cloud judgment—especially intoxicants—because a disturbed mind quickly turns small disagreements into destructive conflict.