Hare Krsna,
On seeing that Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva were intoxicated by excessive wealth and pride, desiring to give a curse to destroy their wealth, Sri Narada Muni criticizes wealth in five verses (SB 10.10.8-12).
In a world where material opulence is often equated with success and happiness, the story of Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva serves as a poignant reminder of the pitfalls of possessing excessive wealth. The two demigods, sons of the treasurer of the demigods, Kuvera, were granted immense prosperity and privilege. Yet, their story illustrates how abundance can lead to arrogance, indulgence, and ultimately, downfall.
Excessive wealth has a seductive allure, promising power, pleasure, and prestige. Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva, born into opulence, enjoyed a life of luxury and abundance. Their father’s material opulences knew no bounds, and they themselves were blessed with every comfort and indulgence. However, rather than cultivate gratitude and humility, they became ensnared by the trappings of their wealth. Intoxicated by wine, consumed by desire, they wandered into the garden of Lord Śiva, seeking pleasure and distraction.
This pastime echoes a timeless truth: wealth, when misused, can breed arrogance and moral decay. Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva, blinded by their privilege, lost touch with reality. They reveled in their own excesses, heedless of the consequences. In their pursuit of pleasure, they disregarded the sanctity of their surroundings, desecrating the sacred space of Lord Śiva’s abode. Their actions serve as a cautionary tale, a reminder that unchecked wealth can lead to moral bankruptcy and spiritual impoverishment.
Moreover, excessive wealth often fosters a sense of entitlement and detachment from others. Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva, insulated by their riches, became disconnected from the suffering of those around them. They indulged in their own pleasures, oblivious to the needs of others. Their story highlights the dangers of isolation and selfishness that can accompany wealth. When one’s focus is solely on personal gratification, empathy, and compassion wither away, leaving behind a hollow shell of existence.
Furthermore, excessive wealth can foster a false sense of security and immortality. Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva, intoxicated by their own power and privilege, believed themselves invincible. They reveled in their physical pleasures, heedless of the transient nature of life. However, their story serves as a stark reminder of the impermanence of earthly riches. Like all material possessions, wealth is fleeting, subject to the whims of fate and fortune. In the end, it offers no true refuge from the inevitability of mortality.
Pride in excessive wealth is a product of the mode of passion, which further leads to more material entanglement. If one has pride in wealth, one becomes most bewildered, and it becomes a great cause of lust and anger. Lord Krsna criticizes these two bad qualities in Bhagavad Gita.
“It is lust only, Arjuna, which is born of contact with the material mode of passion and later transformed into wrath, and which is the all-devouring sinful enemy of this world.” (BG 3.37)
“Therefore human life is meant for subduing the modes of passion and ignorance and advancing in the mode of goodness. This is culture: one must subdue the modes of passion and ignorance. In the mode of passion, when one is falsely proud of wealth, one engages his wealth only for three things, namely wine, women and gambling. We can actually see, especially in this age, that those who have unnecessary riches simply try to enjoy these three things.” (SB 10.10.8 Purport)
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Krsna Katha 