PLATE TEN
The two brothers Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva were great devotees of Lord Śiva, but because of material opulence they became so extravagant and senseless that one day they were enjoying with naked girls in a lake and shamelessly walking here and there. Suddenly the great saint Nārada Muni passed by, but the two brothers were so maddened by their wealth and false prestige that even though they saw Nārada, they remained naked and were not even ashamed. Just to show them mercy, Nārada Muni cursed them as follows: “These two young men, Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva, are by fortune the sons of the great demigod Kuvera, but because of false prestige and madness after drinking liquor, they are so fallen that they are naked but cannot understand that they are. Therefore, because they are living like trees (for trees are naked but are not conscious), these two young men should receive the bodies of trees. This will be proper punishment. Nonetheless, after they become trees and until they are released, by my mercy they will have remembrance of their past sinful activities. Moreover, by my special favor, after the expiry of one hundred years by the measurement of the demigods, they will be able to see the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, face to face, and thus revive their real position as devotees.” ( p. 195 )