Intoxication to destruction

Devi Bhagavatham.

5.9.41-48: Mahisha's messengers saw Devi in her sublime beauty holding divine weapons, calmly drinking wine. Terrified, they fled & reported back to Mahisha.

5.18.26-70: Mahisha assumes several terrible forms & fiercely attacks Devi who repels the attacks. Then, mocks the Devas for sending a woman to face him.  Devi retorts: "Your end is near. I'll have a drink & destroy you". Drinks the Madya & destroys him.

Durga Saptasati of the Markandeya Purana (shortest MahaPurana).

ततः क्रुद्धा जगन्माता चण्डिका पानमुत्तमम् ।

पापौ पुनः पुनश्चैव जहासारुणलोचना ॥३.३४॥

ननर्द चासुरः सोऽपि बलवीर्यमदोद्धतः ।

विषाणाभ्यां च चिक्षेप चण्डिकां प्रति भूधरान् ॥३.३५॥

सा च तान् प्रहितांस्तेन चूर्णयन्ती शरोत्करैः ।

उवाच तं मदोद्धूतमुखरागाकुलाक्षरम् ॥३.३६॥

देव्युवाच ॥३७॥

गर्ज गर्ज क्षणं मूढ मधु यावत्पिबाम्यहम् ।

मया त्वयि हतेऽत्रैव गर्जिष्यन्त्याशु देवताः ॥३.३८॥

"Exult a few more moments, you fool. Your end is here." Consuming Madya & with terrifying laughter, she slew the one who was intoxicated with his own power & glory.

Time is Kala, another name for Yama (death). MahaKala (Shiva as Bhairava) is great time. Normally in temples, Tulsi water, Karupura (camphor) water, milk, fruits or flowers are served as Prasadam. In Bhairava temples, a little bit of wine is served as a Prasadam. My family had this experience in a Ujjaini Shiva temple two decades back. 

Time is also Kali in its feminine form, also called MahaKali. Kali is also referred to as being fond of wine. 

The divine mother of all had to consume Madya to gain some Tamasa to destroy one of her own. Mahisha as the water buffalo represents Tamas, languid & lazy. The buffalo is also the Vahana of Yama, meaning slowly & surely, the end comes for everyone & everything. The symbol of intoxication of power, wealth & fame is given a literal intoxicant as the opposite.

In history, the most powerful dynasties & empires, systems which ruled with iron fists intoxicated with its own power & glory, that appeared too powerful to fail, all met their end. The most powerful systems that are ruling earth today with similar characteristics will meet their end as well. They only have power as long as she wills it. It is only a matter of time. And time is patient & eternal, coming slowly. Like the buffalo.

References:

https://hritambhara.com/2021/10/08/raudrani-the-fierce-aspect-of-the-mother/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=raudrani-the-fierce-aspect-of-the-mother