Narada's Pride and the Power of Maya
After overcoming Kama through austerity, Narada becomes subtly proud of his spiritual strength. The Lord's maya then prepares a gentle but profound lesson for him.
Bal Kand · Episode 30 / 59
Episode Text
तब नारद गवने सिव पाहीं। जिता काम अहमिति मन माहीं॥ मार चरित संकरहि सुनाए। अतिप्रिय जानि महेस सिखाए॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
taba nārada gavane siva pāhīṃ। jitā kāma ahamiti mana māhīṃ॥ māra carita saṅkarahi sunāe। atipriya jāni mahesa sikhāe॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Then Narad went to Shiva. In his mind, pride arose: 'I have conquered Kama.' He told Shiva the story of Kama, and Mahadeva, regarding him as very dear, gave him this instruction.
बार बार बिनवउँ मुनि तोही। जिमि यह कथा सुनायहु मोही॥ तिमि जनि हरिहि सुनावहु कबहूँ। चलेहुँ प्रसंग दुराएहु तबहूँ॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bāra bāra binavauṃ muni tohī। jimi yaha kathā sunāyahu mohī॥ timi jani harihi sunāvahu kabahūṃ। calehuṃ prasaṅga durāehu tabahūṃ॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
O sage, I beseech you again and again: just as you have told this story to me, never tell it to Lord Hari. Even if the subject comes up, hide it then too.
संभु दीन्ह उपदेस हित नहिं नारदहि सोहान। भरद्वाज कौतुक सुनहु हरि इच्छा बलवान॥ १२७ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sambhu dīna upadesa hita nahiṃ nāradahi sohāna। bharadvāja kautuka sunahu hari icchā balavāna॥ 127 ॥
Meaning:
Although Shiva gave this beneficial counsel, Naradji did not like it. O Bharadwaj, now listen to the marvel. Hari's will is very powerful.
राम कीन्ह चाहहिं सोइ होई। करै अन्यथा अस नहिं कोई॥ संभु बचन मुनि मन नहिं भाए। तब बिरंचि के लोक सिधाए॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rāma kīnha cāhahiṃ soi hoi। karai anyathā asa nahiṃ koī॥ sambhu bacana muni mana nahiṃ bhāe। taba birañci ke loka sidhāe॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Whatever Shri Ramachandra wishes to do, that alone happens; no one can act otherwise. Shiva's words did not please Naradji's mind, so he went off to Brahmaloka.
एक बार करतल बर बीना। गावत हरि गुन गान प्रबीना॥ छीरसिंधु गवने मुनिनाथा। जहँ बस श्रीनिवास श्रुतिमाथा॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
eka bāra karatala bara bīnā। gāvata hari guna gāna prabīnā॥ chīrasindhu gavane munināthā। jahaṃ basa śrīnivāsa śrutimāthā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Once, the lord of sages Narad, expert in song, took a beautiful veena in his hand and went to the Ocean of Milk singing the praises of Hari, where Lord Narayana, the abode of Lakshmi and the crown of the Vedas, resides.
हरषि मिले उठि रमानिकेता। बैठे आसन रिषिहि समेता॥ बोले बिहसि चराचर राया। बहुते दिनन कीन्हि मुनि दाया॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
haraṣi mile uṭhi ramaniketā। baiṭhe āsana riṣihi sametā॥ bole bihasi carācara rāyā। bahute dinana kīnhi muni dāyā॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
The Lord, abode of Rama, rose and met him with great joy, and sat with the sage on a seat. Smiling, the Lord of all moving and unmoving beings said, 'O sage, today you have shown great kindness after so many days.'
काम चरित नारद सब भाषे। जद्यपि प्रथम बरजि सिवँ राखे॥ अति प्रचंड रघुपति कै माया। जेहि न मोह अस को जग जाया॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kāma carita nārada saba bhāṣe। jadyapi prathama baraji sivaṃ rāke॥ ati pracaṇḍa raghupati kai māyā। jehi na moha asa ko jaga jāyā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Although Shiva had already warned him, Naradji nevertheless narrated to the Lord the whole story of Kamadeva. The illusion of Shri Raghunath is exceedingly powerful. Who in the world has been born whom it does not delude?
रूख बदन करि बचन मृदु बोले श्रीभगवान। तुम्हरे सुमिरन तें मिटहिं मोह मार मद मान॥ १२८ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rūkha badana kari bacana mṛdu bole śrībhagavāna। tumhāre sumirana teṃ miṭahiṃ moha māra mada māna॥ 128 ॥
Meaning:
Turning a stern face, the Lord spoke gentle words: 'O sage, by your remembrance, delusion, desire, intoxication, and pride are removed.'
सुनु मुनि मोह होइ मन ताकें। ग्यान बिराग हृदय नहिं जाकें॥ ब्रह्मचरज ब्रत रत मतिधीरा। तुम्हहि कि करइ मनोभव पीरा॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sunu muni moha hoi mana tākeṃ। gyāna birāga hṛdaya nahiṃ jākeṃ॥ brahmacaraja brata rata matidhīrā। tumhahi ki karai manobhava pīrā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Listen, O sage: delusion arises in the heart of one in whom knowledge and detachment are absent. You are devoted to the vow of celibacy and of steadfast intelligence. How could Kamadeva ever trouble you?
नारद कहेउ सहित अभिमाना। कृपा तुम्हारि सकल भगवाना॥ करुनानिधि मन दीख बिचारी। उर अंकुरेउ गरब तरु भारी॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
nārada kaheu sahita abhimānā। kṛpā tumhāri sakala bhagavānā॥ karuṇānidhi mana dīkha bicārī। ura aṃkureu garaba taru bhārī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Naradji said with pride, 'O Lord, all this is your grace.' The treasure of compassion perceived in his mind that in this heart the sprout of a great tree of pride had arisen.
बेगि सो मैं डारिहउँ उखारी। पन हमार सेवक हितकारी॥ मुनि कर हित मम कौतुक होई। अवसि उपाय करबि मैं सोई॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
begi so maiṃ ḍārihauṃ ukhārī। pana hamāra sevaka hitakārī॥ muni kara hita mama kautuka hoi। avasi upāya karabi maiṃ soī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
I shall uproot it at once, for it is our vow to act for the welfare of our servants. I will certainly devise a means by which the sage's good and my own sport both come about.
तब नारद हरि पद सिर नाई। चले हृदयँ अहमिति अधिकाई॥ श्रीपति निज माया तब प्रेरी। सुनहु कठिन करनी तेहि केरी॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
taba nārada hari pada sira nāī। cale hṛdayaṃ ahamiti adhikāī॥ śrīpati nija māyā taba prerī। sunahu kaṭhina karanī tehi kerī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Then Naradji bowed his head at Hari's feet and departed. Pride only increased in his heart. Then Lord Shriपति set his own maya in motion. Listen now to her difficult working.