Shloka 39
नरनारायण-नारदसंवादः
Nara-Nārāyaṇa–Nārada Discourse on Vision, Elements, and Entry into Vāsudeva
ऐश्वर्यमदमत्तांश्ष मत्तान् मद्यमदेन च | अप्रमत्ता: शठान् शूरा विक्रान्ता: पर्युपासते
aiśvaryamadamattāṁś ca mattān madyamadena ca | apramattāḥ śaṭhān śūrā vikrāntāḥ paryupāsate ||
Nārada berkata: “Mereka yang mabuk oleh kuasa dan mereka yang mabuk oleh arak diawasi serta diurus dengan cermat oleh orang-orang yang berjaga—yang licik, yang berani, dan yang gagah—yang mendampingi mereka semata-mata untuk mengambil kesempatan atas kelalaian mereka.”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power and intoxication breed heedlessness; such lapses attract opportunists. Therefore, one should remain apramatta (vigilant) and not become matta through aiśvarya-mada or madyamada, since crafty and bold people may ‘attend’ only to take advantage.
In Narada’s discourse within the Shanti Parva’s instruction on conduct and governance, he observes a social pattern: the intoxicated—whether by authority or by drink—become targets for vigilant yet deceitful and forceful individuals who stay close, watching for openings.