Slokam 4

Seeing Sri Narada’ presence, the women immediately came out of the water and dressed themselves. The two brothers however, completely disregarded his presence and continued their, in their intoxicated state.  Narada seeing their pathetic slavery to the ways of sense pleasures,  and how they blatently ignored him, actually curses them. However, the slokam clarifies that Sri Narada’s curse  was only to put them on the right path to attain the Paramathma.

When wealth is in excess, humility disappears.  No longer is there any consideration or respect for others. Wealth, like all other worldly possessions, bring out the traits hidden deep within us.  Unless these traits are surfaced, like kalakutha, we can never be free of them. These are brought out and we are exposed to their negative consequences, so that we can learn about ourselves and develop the invaluable capability of self control. 

The two brothers under intoxication had lost all self control.  Respect and regard for others, let alone for the celestial beings like Sri Narada is not a matter of choice.  Love, respect and regard for fellow beings is an essential requirement for self advancement.  Regard for others is one of the best indicators of the self respect that we have for ourselves, and most importantly, the indicator of our appreciation of the supreme.  We cannot pretend to be respectful.  Infact we cannot pretend to be something other than what we really feel inside us.  Time and events of this world will, sooner or later, bring out our true nature. Purity within is not attained without undergoing the pains of this existence.

The intoxication exposed the true nature of the brothers to Sri Narada.  He decides to help them subdue their rajasic guna.

Sri Bhattadri points out that Sri Narada’s intent is to enable them to develop peace of mind, without which there can be no happiness.  The happiness that Sri Bhattadri refers to is not the “happiness” coming from intoxication or from playing with the damsels.  Peace of mind that Sri Narada is referring to is unwavering  under any circumstance that life can throw us into. It brings happiness that is eternal and unwavering.

May we strive to attain this eternal unwavering steady state of consciousness.