PLATE TEN

The two brothers Nalakivara and Manigriva were great devotees of
Lord Siva, 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 Narada
Muni passed by, but the two brothers were so maddened by their wealth
and false prestige that even though they saw Narada, they remained
naked and were not even ashamed. Just to show them mercy, Narada
Muni cursed them as follows: “These two young men, Nalakivara and
Manigriva, are by fortune the sons of the great demigod Kuvera, but be-
cause 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 ex-
piry of one hundred years by the measurement of the demigods, they
will be able to see the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, face to
face, and thus revive their real position as devotees.” (p. 195)
