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Naarad Jee-2
1.
Naarad Jee Gave Shaap to Vishnu
2. Naarad Jee Looks for a Devotee of Naaraayan
3. Naarad is Affected by Maayaa
4.
Naarad Jee and Shani
5.
Why Naarad Jee Wanders Around
6.
Other Stories of Naarad Jee
Naarad Jee Looks for a
Devotee of Naaraayan
Once, Lord
Naaraayan wanted Naarad Jee to search for a true devotee, one who spends
his time in a sacred way. Naarad Jee asked the Lord for the qualifications
of a true devotee. The Lord said, "A true human being is one whose heart
is pure. Whoever chants the Divine Name with a pure heart is a true
devotee. He may involve himself in worldly activities, but he should not
be attached to them. His mind should be constantly focused on God. He is a
fool who does not think of God."
Naarad Jee said, "Swaamee, I chant your name wholeheartedly at all times
and under all circumstances. There is not a single moment when I don't
remember You. Can there be any greater devotee than me?" Naarad became
egoistic with the feeling that he was the greatest devotee.
Lord Naaraayan replied, "Naarad, There are many devotees like you. You
find them in every house and in every place. But this is not true
devotion. Just as the food partaken gets digested in the stomach and its
essence is supplied to all limbs of the body, likewise, when you fill your
heart with the divine Name, its effect should spread to your eyes, ears,
tongue, hands, feet, etc. When the sacred effect of the divine Name
spreads to your eyes, you will develop sacred vision. Likewise, you will
utter sacred words and hear sacred things. Your hands will undertake
sacred deeds and your feet will take you to sacred places. Thus, a true
devotee will sanctify each of his limbs with sacred activity."
So Lord Naaraayan wanted him to search for such a devotee. Naarad Jee went
round the world, but his ego prevented him from accepting anybody as a
devotee greater than himself. As he was returning, he found a tribesman in
a forest. He was sitting under a tree, chanting the divine Name. He was
carrying a big sword in his hand. Naarad Jee out of curiosity asked him,
"May I know who you are?"
He replied, "Sir, I am a hunter and an ardent devotee of the Lord."
Naarad asked, "If you are a devotee, then why should you carry a sword in
your hand? Whom are you going to kill?" The hunter replied, "Sir, I want
to kill four persons. The first of them is Draupadee."
Naarad Jee was startled to hear this. "Don't you know that Draupadee was
constantly chanting the Name of Lord Krishn? Pleased with her devotion and
surrender, Krishn came to her rescue and protected her honor when the
Kaurav tried to disrobe her in the royal court. Why do you want to kill
such a great devotee?"
The hunter said, "No doubt Sir that she was a great devotee, but she
called out to Krishn while He was having His food. Immediately, my Lord
had to leave His food and rush to her rescue. Since she was responsible
for my Lord not having food on that day, I want to kill her."
"Now who is the second person whom you intend to kill.", queried Naarad.
The hunter said, "My Lord could not have proper food and rest because of
Prahlaad, who chanted His Name continuously and time and again sought His
help. When he was being trampled by elephants, he prayed to the Lord for
succor. In order to protect him, the Lord had to take upon himself the
pain of being trampled by elephants. Since he was the cause for my Lord's
suffering, I want to kill him. The third person is Meeraa. She was all the
time chanting the Name of Giridhaaree. As a result, all the blows that
were inflicted on her by her mother-in-law had to be borne by the Lord
Himself. So, she should be killed."
Naarad Jee asked, "Then who is the fourth one?"
"The fourth one is a person called Naarad, who carries a Tambooraa and
always keeps chanting the Name of Naaraayan. His is only a Swaarthee
Bhakti (devotion intended for selfish gains) and not Paraarth Prem Bhakti
(devotion-filled, with pure love for God). So, he also should be killed."
Naarad was afraid hearing his own name in the list of his killings and did
not want to prolong the conversation. He realized that it was his ego that
was responsible for this predicament. He immediately went to Lord
Naaraayan and gave a detailed account of his encounter with the hunter,
and said, "Swaamee, According to him, even those who chant your Name
continuously are wicked."
Lord Naaraayan said, "Naarad, You are mistaken. This incident only
reflects the intense love the hunter has for Me. He is a true devotee, who
considers God's happiness as his own. He always aspires to give happiness
to the Lord and does not want to cause any inconvenience to Him, either
physically or mentally. Only the one who gives happiness to the Lord is a
true devotee."
This incident was an eye-opener for Naarad Jee. He said, "Swaamee,
Now I realize that you enacted this play only to crush my ego."
Naaraayan Kills
Naarad's Ego Again
Naarad Jee was very
proud of his Bhakti towards Vishnu. Once Vishnu thought to kill his ego.
He started praising one man on the Earth that he was His great devotee.
Naarad Jee went to see him but found that he does not take Naaraayan's
name even once a day. He came back to Vishnu and said so. Vishnu said - "Naarad,
How can he take my name, he is too busy in his household jobs." Naarad Jee
said - "Still, Prabhu. He should take your name at least once a day to
thank you." Vishnu said - "I understand your feelings, but he really
doesn't have any time to think about me, but still he is my great
devotee." Naarad was not convinced with this plea.
He asked Naarad - "Naarad,
You consider yourself my great devotee. Can you do one work for me?"
"Anything, Prabhu." Take this pot of oil and go around the world and make
sure that even a drop should not spill from this pot." Naarad agreed
readily and went around the Earth holding that pot full of oil. He was so
engrossed in not letting a drop of oil to fall down as directed by Vishnu
that he could not recite His name even once.
When he came back,
he reported that he had successfully completed the round of the Earth and
even one drop of oil was not spilled during his journey. Vishnu asked him
- "But Naarad, How many times did you take my name during this time?"
Naarad said - "Prabhu, Where was the time to take your name? My whole
attention was to see that the even one drop of oil is not spilled as per
your instructions."
Vishnu said - "That
is what I said, when one is busy in his job, how can one take my name, but
it does not mean that he is not my devotee." Naarad Jee understood and
went away singing Naaraayan's name on his Veenaa.
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