Narada's Austerities and Pride

Suta said

Narada, Brahma's son and the best of sages, was humble at heart. One day he resolved to practise austerity. In the Himalayas there is a very beautiful cave, and close beside it a heavenly river runs with great force. A large divine hermitage stands there, rich with many adornments. Narada, who had divine sight, came to it to perform austerity. Seeing the hermitage, the tiger among sages stayed in austerity for a very long time, silent, sitting firm in his posture. His understanding was pure and he practised pranayama. The sage entered samadhi, and the realization "I am the brahman" arose. Brahmanas, the brahman stood revealed before him. So Narada, supreme among sages, practised austerity. As he did, Indra's mind was tormented and shaken. "The sage wants my kingdom," he thought. Hari tried to set obstacles in his way. Shakra, leader of the gods, called Smara to mind. Kama swiftly came, with his queen, who shared his temper, and their son. Seeing Kama arrive, the lord, king of the gods, spoke to him quickly, crooked in understanding where his own interests were concerned.

Indra said

Noble friend, very brave, always doing me good, listen kindly and help me. By your prowess I have broken the pride of many ascetics. Friend, the steadiness of my kingdom has always rested on your favour. The sage Narada is tormenting himself with austerity in a Himalayan cave. His mind has turned to becoming lord of the universe and he is firm in his control. I fear he may ask Vidhatri for my kingdom. Go there now and put obstacles in the way of his austerity.

Suta continued

So Indra commanded him, and Kama went with his beloved Madhu. Arrived, in his pride he looked for ways and used every skill he had, and Vasanta used all his powers of intoxication too. But, excellent sages, none of it agitated the sage's mind in the least, for by Mahesha's grace his pride had been broken. Shounaka and the rest, hear the reason. By Ishvara's grace Smara had no power there. It was on this very ground that Shambhu, Smara's enemy, had once performed great austerity, and here he had burned Kama, who used to disturb sages' austerities. When Rati begged the gods to bring Kama back to life, Shankara, who brings prosperity to the worlds, answered them: "Gods, in time Smara will live again. But Smara's tricks will never work in this place. All the ground that people can see from this spot will be proof against Kama's arrows." Because Shambhu had said this, Kama's efforts against Narada failed. He returned quickly to Indra in heaven and told him everything, that he had no power over the sage. Madhu's beloved was then told to go home.

The lord of the gods was amazed and praised Narada. He did not know the true story and was confounded by Shiva's maya, which no being can understand. Apart from devotees who have surrendered themselves to him, everyone in the universe is bewildered by it. By Isha's grace Narada stayed in that spot a long time. When he judged his austerity complete, he stopped. Thinking that he had beaten Kama himself, the lord among sages was proud. Confounded by Shiva's maya, he was robbed of true knowledge. Supreme sages, Shambhu's great maya is blessed; Vishnu, Brahma and the others cannot trace its working. Narada, too, supreme among sages, was confounded by it. Puffed up, he hurried to Kailasa to report what he had done. Proudly he told Rudra everything, taking himself for a great-souled man who had conquered Smara and become his own master. Hearing this, Shankara, who loves his devotees, spoke to the ignorant one whose understanding his own maya had twisted.

Rudra said

Son Narada, wise one, you are blessed. But do not say this anywhere else, least of all to Hari. Even if asked, do not speak of what you have done as you have just now. It is a secret; keep it always, and never tell it. I say this because I love you most. You are Vishnu's devotee, and whoever is his devotee is my follower.

Suta continued

The Lord Rudra, source of creation, told him this in many ways, but Narada, still bewildered by Shiva's maya, ignored the kind words. The course of karma is strong, and even the discerning cannot fathom it; Shankara's wishes cannot be countered by anyone.

The noble sage went to Brahma's world, bowed to Vidhatri and told him how he had defeated Kama through the strength of his austerity. Hearing it, Vidhatri remembered Shambhu's lotus feet, learned the real reason and tried to restrain his son. Narada is the best of the knowledgeable, but Shiva's maya had confounded him, so he paid no attention to Vidhatri's kind words. Pride had sprouted firmly in his mind. Whatever Shiva wishes is what happens in the world; the whole universe is under his control and obeys his word. His understanding ruined, Narada went quickly to Vishnu's world, the sprout of pride firm in his mind, wanting to tell Vishnu what he himself had done. Vishnu saw the sage Narada coming. He rose warmly, went slowly toward him and embraced him, and seated him on his own seat. Hari remembered Shiva's lotus feet, wished to destroy Narada's pride, and spoke to him.

Vishnu said

Son, where have you come from and why? Tiger among sages, you are blessed. By your arrival I have become like a holy place.

Suta continued

Hearing Vishnu, the proud sage Narada told him all he had done, insolent and swollen with pride. Hearing the sage, Vishnu remembered Shiva's lotus feet in his heart and understood the cause of the pride. Hari was Shiva's devotee and his self was sunk in Shiva. So he joined his hands reverently, bowed his head and praised Girisha Parameshvara: "Lord of the gods, Mahadeva, Parameshvara, please favour me. Shiva, you are blessed. Blessed is your maya, which bewilders everyone." So he praised Shiva, the supreme self, closed his eyes, meditated on his lotus feet and fell silent. Knowing what Shankara meant to do, the preserver of the universe followed Shiva's instruction and spoke pleasantly to the supreme sage.

Vishnu said

Tiger among sages, you are blessed, a store of austerity with a broad mind. Sage, desire and delusion trouble only those in whom the three kinds of devotion are absent, and many miseries spring from that failing. But you are devoted to brahmacharya, always have knowledge and non-attachment. How could a fault like desire arise in you? You are intelligent, and your mind suffers no deviation.

Suta continued

The excellent sage heard much such praise. Smiling inwardly, he bowed and answered Hari: "Lord, as long as you are kind to me, how can Smara have any power over me?" So saying, the sage bowed to Hari and went where he pleased.