Madhava & Madhusudhana are epithets of Lord Krishna. Madhu, in Sanskrit, corresponds to mead in English. The 'Madhu-shala' is the pub. However, high caste Hindus began to avoid alcohol at some early date and so Madhu has the meaning of honey. It is a term of endearment. Since Krishna is beautiful and beloved it is natural that he be called 'the defeater of Honey in the competition of Sweetness' (Madhusudhana) though he can also be called 'scion of sweetness'- in view of his distinguished ancestry- or one married to Good Fortune because of the excellence of his wife.
The scholiasts, however, explain the epithet 'Madhusudhana' by pointing to Vishnu's slaying of two demons who had grown in his ears while he was sleeping. One was named Madhu; the other was Kaitabha.
Thus Vishnu is called both 'slayer of Madhu' and Kaitabhajit -'Victor over Kaitabha.'
We can understand that our ears may become intoxicated by hearing the Veda and that rather than being stirred to greater striving for others' welfare, we may lapse into a blissfully comatose state. Thus to say 'Madu' is distilled in the ear by hearing the Gospel, is also to identify a potential snare in the path of eusebia which reception of Scripture may unwittingly involve.
More generally, drunkenness at a religious sacrifice or other auspicious occasion would be considered repugnant to dharma.
That being said, what on earth does 'Kaitabha'? (कैटभ) represent? Why is this word paired with one for Mead which intoxicates and tempts to acts of hubris- for example challenging God himself?
I think, 'shruti'- lit. 'what is heard'- i.e. the Veda- faces a danger when it is written down rather than lovingly recalled (Smriti). The word kaitabha is used for a class of writing systems which had the look of insects wriggling to ordinary people. However, the term- at least in Buddhist Pali- also has the meaning of ritual texts used by officiating priests as a checklist.
Just as intoxication represents one sort of danger to our reception of Revelation so too does a 'literalist' akrebia, based on the displacement of the living word by a textual availability cascade or a narrow-minded ritualism obsessed with check-lists and protocols, pose another sort of danger. On the one hand, there is a tendency to think one could rise up to God like power, on the other there is an equally corrupting belief that only the text matters- the Lord is otiose. Those of his creatures whom he has commanded us to serve, should instead humble themselves before us because of our supposed expertise in some bookish or ritualistic arcana.
How can those who seek salvation by surrendering themselves to the Word guard against these two dangers?
The answer has to do with recognising a duality within oneself. Marge Simpson is able to defeat the devil who has come to claim Homer's soul, because once she declares that it already belongs to her, Homer too realises it was never his to thoughtlessly barter away.
If a person is devoutly receiving Holy Writ, it must be the case that the better part of themselves already belongs to someone or something higher than themselves. Thus, one can humbly beseech the very obstacles your ears have created to acknowledge this side of oneself and, as the peculiar chivalry of hubristic Thymos demands, graciously grant a boon before battle is rejoined.
It seems even the Lord Almighty does not disdain to work selflessly- i.e. without Thymos- and thus we too have a World in which we may serve. This is the saving 'madhu-vidhya' or Honeyed Knowledge of radical interdependence which humbles pride and wards off ritualistic akrebia.
The online Hindu Encyclopedia says-
In the beginning there was no earth nor any other planet. There was only the Milky Ocean. Mahavisnu slept over the water. From the navel of Mahavisnu the stalk of a lotus grew up and there was a lotus flower at the end of the stalk. Brahma was born in the lotus flower. Brahma stayed in the flower in deep meditation reciting the Vedas. Ear-wax flowed out from both the ears of Mahavisnu. From the ear-wax two Asuras Madhu and Kaitabha were born.
Madhu and Kaitabha learned Vagbija mantra and worshipped Devi for thousand years. They got the boon that they can have death only when they wished. Madhu Kaitabhas saw Brahma lying in the lotus flower reciting the four Vedas. They caught hold of all the Vedas and went to Patala, (the nether world) and hid themselves there. Brahma grew sad at the loss of the Vedas and followed Madhu-Kaitabhas, who began to attack Brahma. At this Brahma became terribly afraid of the Asuras and ran to Mahavisnu for help.
According to the request of Brahma, Mahavisnu fought with Madhu and Kaitabha. The fight went on for a long time and Visnu became tired of continuous fight. So, Visnu began to meditate on Devi, who said "It would never be possible for you to kill Madhu and Kaitabha because of my boon. They could be killed only by some tricks". Hearing these words Mahavisnu approached the Asuras and said to them. "I am much pleased with you. So you may ask for any boon." Hearing this they laughed and said that they were more powerful than Visnu and that he might ask of them any boon. Taking that opportunity Mahavisnu said "Oh ! powerful persons. I ask you to grant me this boon. Give me the boon to kill you." This request shook them. They gave the boon that they are willing to be killed at any place except water. Since everywhere it is water, they thought they will never die. Mahavisnu instantly raised his thighs which were enlarged to a great extent over the water as solid earth seeing which the Asuras enlarged their bodies to the extent of a thousand yojanas. But Mahavisnu enlarged his thighs further, caught hold of Madhu and Kaitabha, laid them on his thighs and cut off their heads with his discus. All the surface of the sea was covered with the medas (fat) of these Asuras. This medas of Madhu and Kaitabha collected itself into a lump and became the earth. So the earth got the name 'Medini'.
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