Saturn and Goddess Lakshmi: A Divine Debate
The Encounter
Once upon a time, Saturn and Goddess Lakshmi were traveling and incidentally met each other on the way. After some initial conversation and exchange of whereabouts, they began to contradict each other with words.
The Argument
Saturn claimed, “I am much better than you, as I am responsible for maintaining justice in the world.”
Lakshmi retorted, “That’s not true. I am better than you. I give happiness, wealth, and prosperity to the world.”
Saturn replied, “By nature itself, you are very volatile. You never stay in a place for long and are always in a state of migration. Also, you don’t discriminate between good and bad souls; you can even stay with bad souls.”
Lakshmi countered, “Stop commenting on my nature and look at yourself first. The whole world is afraid of your malefic aspect; no one wants to invite you. Everyone prays for your departure. You only create a sense of terror.”
Seeking a Solution
As the arguments seemed never-ending, they decided to seek the opinion of Lord Brahma, the creator of the world. They both went to Lord Brahma and asked, “O Lord, who is better between us?”
The Diplomatic Response
Lord Brahma thought, “If I favor Lakshmi, I will not be able to escape the malefic aspect of Saturn. And if I favor Saturn, Lakshmi will get angry with me.” So he diplomatically said, “The answer to this question can only be given by Lord Vishnu, the sustainer of the world. Kindly go to him.”
This passing of responsibility continued from Lord Vishnu to Lord Shiva, and then from Lord Shiva to Narad Muni, the most praised devotee of Lord Vishnu and son of Lord Brahma.
Narad Muni’s Wisdom
Ultimately, they both went to Narad Muni and repeated their question, “Who is better between us?”
Narad Muni replied, “I have the answer to this question, but for that, you both have to simultaneously walk to a certain point and then return here.”
Both Saturn and Goddess Lakshmi followed Narad Muni’s instructions and did the exercise as told. As they were walking, Narad Muni started praising them, “Very good, very good, you both are equally powerful.”
Saturn, frustrated, shouted, “Narad Muni, just tell us who is better between us.”
Narad Muni calmly replied, “For that, you have to repeat the same exercise once more. Go to the point and come back.”
Angrily, Saturn said, “What do you think of us? Are we small children who will keep on doing this childish exercise?”
Narad Muni softly said, “To get the answer, you have to do this.”
The Revelation
Narad Muni then explained, “You both are equally good. Saturn looks good when he walks away, and Lakshmi looks good when she arrives.”
The Moral
- Perspective Matters: Different aspects of life are valuable in their own ways. Justice (Saturn) and prosperity (Lakshmi) both play crucial roles in the balance of the world.
- Respect Differences: Understand and respect the unique contributions of different forces, whether they bring challenges or blessings.
- Diplomatic Wisdom: Narad Muni’s diplomatic handling of the situation teaches us the importance of tact and wisdom in resolving conflicts.
A Prayer for Balance
“Dear Lord, grant us the wisdom to appreciate the balance of justice and prosperity in our lives. Help us to understand the value of both challenges and blessings, and guide us to respect the unique roles they play in our journey. May we always seek balance and harmony in our actions and thoughts.”
This story reminds us of the importance of balance and perspective in appreciating the different aspects of life.
