Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.73.20
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
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haihayaḥ
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Kārtavīrya Arjuna of the Haihaya dynasty
Thousand-armed emperor felled by Paraśurāma for theft of the sage Jamadagni's cow. Standing emblem of strength-pride.
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nahuṣaḥ
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King Nahuṣa
Promoted to Indra's post and cursed to fall as a serpent for arrogance. The verse uses him as the demigod-rank example.
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veṇaḥ
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King Vena
Killed by sages for forbidding Viṣṇu-worship. The man-rank example, paired with the canonical Bhāgavata 4.13–14 narrative.
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rāvaṇaḥ narakaḥ
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Rāvaṇa and Naraka
Two demon-rulers, ground by Rāma and Kṛṣṇa respectively. The three pairs cover deva, nara, asura — the verse's point being species-independent.
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śrī-madāt-bhraṁśitāḥ-sthānāt
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made to fall from position by intoxication with opulence
Four consecutive synonym-chunks naming the mechanism Kṛṣṇa diagnosed in v.19 — same compound śrī-mada. Position does not save; only su-dṛḍhā bhakti (v.18) saves position.
As described by Śrīdhara Svāmī, because Haihaya stole the desire cow of Lord Paraśurāma’s father, Jamadagni, Paraśurāma killed him and his impudent sons. Nahuṣa became puffed up when he temporarily assumed the post of Indra. When out of pride Nahuṣa ordered some brāhmaṇas to carry him in a palanquin to an illicit meeting with Lord Indra’s chaste wife, Śacī, the brāhmaṇas made him fall down from his position and become an old man. King Vena was similarly mad, and when he insulted the brāhmaṇas they killed him by loud incantations of the syllable hum. Rāvaṇa was a famous ruler of the Rākṣasas, but out of lust he kidnapped Mother Sītā, and thus her husband, Lord Rāmacandra, killed him. Naraka was a ruler of the Daityas who dared to steal Mother Aditi’s earrings, and for his offense he was also killed. Thus throughout history powerful leaders have fallen from their positions because they became intoxicated with their so-called opulence.
Many fell from their posts (sthanat) because of intoxication with wealth.
Others such as devatās, demons and kings fell.
The order of the persons in the list are increasing intoxicated with wealth and power. These persons were lords of devatās, demons and men. Or others were lords of devatās, demons and men. Indra is lord of the devatās. He was removed from his post by proud Bali. Hiraṇyakaśipu (demon) was pierced by Nṛsiṁha, because of violence to the Lord and devotees. Pauṇḍraka and Jarāsandha are examples of lords of men, who strayed from the path because of pride. I killed them.
- Which historical fall most resembles a temptation I face?
- What lesson from these stories should I post on my own wall?
A list of tombstones along one road: Haihaya, Nahuṣa, Veṇa, Rāvaṇa, Naraka. Demigod, man, demon — three species, one cause of death. The Lord recites the list aloud so the kings, walking back to their thrones, will pass the same tombstones and remember why they did not stop.
Nahuṣa, elevated to Indra's throne for his pious deeds, demanded that the seven ṛṣis carry his palanquin. When Agastya, slow under his load, was kicked, the sage cursed him — 'sarpa bhava' — and Nahuṣa fell as a python.
Kṛṣṇa names him in one breath with Rāvaṇa and Veṇa: post not protecting, position not preserving, only constant remembrance of Bhagavān keeps a king upright on a throne.
My note
Source: vedabase.io