Narada Muni’s Curiosity
Once, Narada Muni, who is a very intimate devotee of the Lord, met Krishna. While they were walking, Narada Muni asked Lord Krishna, “My dear Krishna, can you please show me the power of your maya, your illusory energy? Please explain to me the secret of this magic called maya and how she acts?”
Krishna’s Hesitation
Sri Krishna hesitated to do it. So Krishna asked his dear devotee, “My dear Narada, are you sure you want to see the power of my maya!?”
Narada’s Determination
Narada was very determined and said, “Yes, Krishna, I am sure. I want to see the power of your maya!”
Krishna’s Request
Lord Krishna replied, “Ok, Narada, I will show you. Let’s lie down here in the shade and I shall tell you everything. But first, Narada, it’s terribly hot; would you get me a cool glass of water?”
Narada’s Journey
Narada promised happily to do some service to his beloved Lord Krishna. He set out across the fields. The sun beat down and though he was a good walker, the little line of thatched cottages on the horizon that marked the nearest village seemed no closer as he strode along. The heat grew unbearable. Narada’s throat became parched too; he began to think that he would ask for two glasses of water and drink the second himself.
The Encounter
Finally, he reached the village and ran to the nearest house. The door opened – and there stood the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. She smiled up at Narada through long, dark lashes and something happened to him that had never happened before. All he could do was to look at her beautiful face. Finally, he spoke out, “Will you marry me?” That is the Indian way; you cannot just say, “What are you doing on Saturday night?”
A New Life
The couple settled down to a life of family bliss. After a while, children began to arrive. Narada’s became a very animated household. Somebody was always being bathed or dressed; there were meals to get and people to be provided for. And all these things were filling up their lives. Narada and his wife became engrossed in their private little world, quietly building their dreams. Years passed. The children grew up, went to school, got married; in time, grandchildren arrived. Narada became the patriarch of a great family, respected by the whole village; his lands stretched to the horizon. He and his wife would look at each other fondly and say, “Don’t you think being grandparents is the greatest thing on earth?”
The Calamity
Then a flood came. The village fields became a raging river, and before Narada’s helpless eyes, everything that he loved and lived for – his lands, his cattle, his house, but especially his beloved wife and all their children and grandchildren – were swept away. Of all the village, only he remained. He was trying to save them from all these calamities but was not successful.
The Realization
Unable to watch the destruction, Narada fell to his knees and cried for help from the very depths of his heart. “Krishna! Krishna!” At once, the raging floods disappeared and there was Sri Krishna, standing casually on the fields where they had walked what seemed to be so many years before. “Narada,” the Lord asked gently, “where is my glass of water?”
Moral of the Story
This is the power of maya. She makes us forget the lotus feet of Krishna. She overcomes us and we forget our Lord. We have done this for millions of lives in this material world. It has been our desire to be in maya, as Narada wanted to see her. We are all in a situation similar to the great sage Narada in this story. To be free from this illusion of the Lord, we must cry His holy name:
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare
Teachings from the Bhagavad Gita
Sri Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita 7.14:
daivī hy eṣā guṇa-mayī mama māyā duratyayā mām eva ye prapadyante māyām etāṁ taranti te
“This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome. But those who have surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it.”
PS: I humbly request all the devotees to please forward and share these moral/instructive stories they hear so that everyone can be benefited by hearing about Krishna and His dear devotees
