Once upon a time, Sage Narada decided to engage in penance and chose a beautiful cave in the Himalayas for his meditation. As he immersed himself in deep penance, Indra, the king of the gods, grew anxious. Fearing Narada's increasing spiritual power, Indra ordered Kamadeva (the god of love) to go and disrupt Narada's penance.
Kamadeva used all his powers and charms to break Narada’s concentration, but he failed. With the grace of Lord Shiva, Kamadeva’s pride was crushed. In truth, it was because of Shiva’s blessings that Kamadeva had no effect on Narada. Earlier, in that very ashram, Lord Shiva had performed supreme penance and had burned Kamadeva to ashes. Later, on the prayers of Rati (Kamadeva's consort) and the plea of the gods, Shiva granted Kamadeva the boon of being reborn after some time.
Unaware of the deeper reality, Narada became proud, thinking he had conquered Kamadeva by his own power. Under the influence of Lord Shiva’s illusion (Maya), Narada failed to understand the truth. He immediately went to Mount Kailasa and narrated his so-called triumph over Kamadeva to Lord Rudra (Shiva).
Lord Shiva, after hearing him, praised Narada but also advised him never to mention this incident to Lord Vishnu. However, pride had already taken root in Narada’s heart. Disregarding Shiva’s advice, Narada went to Vishnu’s abode and proudly recounted the entire episode.
As he continued his journey, Lord Vishnu, using his divine illusion (Maya), created a marvelous city, more enchanting than even Vaikuntha. In that city ruled a king named Shilanidh ruledi, who had a daughter as beautiful as a celestial nymph. Upon seeing the city, Narada was captivated and went to the king’s palace.
King Shilanidhi welcomed Narada respectfully and introduced his daughter, named Shrimati, who was preparing for her swayamvara (a ceremony where a princess chooses her own groom). The king requested Narada to reveal her future. Observing her auspicious qualities, Narada was deeply impressed and praised her virtues to the king before departing.
However, a desire arose in Narada’s heart: “How can I marry this girl?” He went directly to Lord Vishnu and, in private, expressed his wish. He requested Vishnu to grant him Vishnu’s form, so the princess would choose him.
Lord Vishnu said, “I shall do what is best for you.” Then, he gave Narada a monkey-like face and the rest of his divine form and vanished. Unaware of his changed face, Narada confidently entered the swayamvara.
Princess Sulakshana stood in the center, searching for a suitor worthy of her. Upon seeing Narada’s monkey-like face, she was filled with anger and turned away from him. At that moment, Lord Vishnu appeared in the guise of a king. The princess placed the wedding garland around Vishnu’s neck and vanished with him.
No one else noticed Narada’s face, but two attendants of Lord Shiva were present. They mocked Narada and urged him to look at his reflection. When Narada saw his monkey-like face, he was furious. Enraged, he cursed the two attendants of Shiva to become demons.
Just then, Lord Shiva withdrew his Maya (illusion), and Narada regained clarity. His anger and confusion dissolved. Narada fell at the feet of Lord Vishnu and repented deeply.
Lord Vishnu Instructs Narada to Worship Shiva
Saying this, the ever-compassionate Lord Vishnu vanished from sight, leaving Narada humbled and enlightened.
In Hindi Roman : Narad ki story
Ek samay ki baat hai, Naradji ne tapasya ke liye man mein vichar kiya tatha Himalaya ki ek sundar gufaa mein tapasya mein sthit ho gaye. Usi samay unki tapasya dekhkar Devraj Indra santapt hone lage aur unhone Kamdev se wahan jaakar Naradji ki tapasya ko bhang karne ka aadesh diya. Kamdev ne apni sampoorn kalaaon se unki tapasya mein vighn daalne ka prayaas kiya, parantu ve safal nahin hue. Mahadevji ke anugrah se Kamdev ka garv choor ho gaya. Vaastav mein Mahadevji ki kripa se hi Naradmuni par Kamdev ka koi prabhav nahin pada; kyunki pehle usi aashram mein Bhagwan Shiv ne Rudrasamhita (Srishtikhand) mein uttam tapasya ki thi aur wahi unhone Kamdev ko bhasm kar daala tha. Us samay Rati ki prarthana evam devtaon ki yaachana par Bhagwan Shankar ne kuch samay beetne ke baad Kamdev ko jeevit hone ka vardaan diya tha.
Naradji ko yah garv ho gaya ki Kamdev par meri vijay hui. Bhagwan Shiv ki maya se mohit hone ke kaaran unhe yatharth baat ka gyaan nahin raha. Ve tatkaal Kailash parvat par gaye, wahan Rudradev ko unhone Kamdev par apni vijay ka vruttaant sunaya. Yeh sab sunkar Bhagwan Shankar ne Naradji ki prashansa karte hue unse kaha ki yah baat Bhagwan Vishnu ke saamne kabhi na kahen. Parantu Naradji ke chitt mein mad ka ankur jam gaya tha. Isliye Naradji wahan se Vishnulok gaye aur Bhagwan Vishnu se apna saara vruttaant abhimaan ke saath keh sunaya.
Naradmuni ka ahankaar yukta vachan sunkar Bhagwan Vishnu ne yatharth baat ko poori tarah jaan liya. Naradji ki prashansa karte hue Vishnu ne kaha — "Aap to naishthik brahmachaari hain tatha sadaa gyaan-vairaagya se yukt rahte hain, phir aap par kaam-vikaar kaise aaya?" Vishnuji ki baat sunkar Naradji prasann hokar wahan se chale gaye.
Naradji ke aage jaane par maarg mein Shrihari ne ek sundar nagar ka nirmaan kiya, jo atyant manohar tatha Vaikunth se adhik ramaniya tha, jisme Shilanidhi naam ke ek raja ki devkanya samaan sundari kanya thi. Naradmuni us nagar ko dekhkar mohit ho gaye aur Shilanidhi ke dvaar par gaye. Maharaj Shilanidhi ne Shrimati naamak apni sundari kanya ko wahan bulakar Naradji ke charanon mein pranaam karwaya aur nivedan kiya — "Yeh meri putri hai, apne vivaah ke nimitt swayamvar mein jaane wali hai. Maharshi! Aap iska bhaagya batayiye." Naradji us kanya ke shubh lakshanon ko dekhkar atyadhik prabhavit hue tatha kanya ke pita raja se uske sukh-saubhagya tatha gunon ki vishesh sarahna karte hue wahan se vida ho gaye.
Naradji ke man mein yah bhaav aaya ki kis prakar is kanyase mera vivaah ho. Ve tatkaal Bhagwan Vishnu ke paas ja pahunche aur ekaant mein Vishnu se apni ichchha vyakt ki tatha unse yah prarthana ki ki "Aap apna svaroop mujhe de dein, jisse wah kanya mera varan kar le." Bhagwan Vishnu bole — "Main poori tarah tumhaara hit saadhan karoonga." Yah karke Bhagwan Vishnu ne Naradmuni ko mukh to vaanar ka de diya tatha shesh angon mein apne jaisa svaroop dekar wahan se antardhaan ho gaye. Is rahasya se anabhigya Naradji swayamvar mein pahunche. Sulakshana rajkumari swayamvar ke madhya bhaag mein khadi hokar apne man ke anuroop var ki khoj karne lagi. Narad ka vaanar-sa mukh dekhkar wah kupit ho gayi aur unki or se drishti hataakar apne manovaanchhit var ko dhoondhne lagi.
Usi samay raja ka vesh dharan kar Bhagwan Vishnu wahan aa pahunche. Tab Bhagwan Vishnu ke gale mein varmala daal kar wah unke saath antardhaan ho gayi. Naradji ki is mukhaakriti ko swayamvar mein aur kisi ne to nahi, parantu Shivji ke do paarshad wahan upasthit the; unhone yah sab dekhkar Naradji ka upahaas kiya tatha unhe apna pratibimb dekhne ke liye kaha. Tab Naradji ko vaastavikta ka pata laga tatha ve krodh se vyaakul ho gaye. Un dono Shivganon ko unhone raakshas hone ka shaap de diya.
Iske anantar Vishnulok jaakar maya se mohit Narad Vishnu ko shaap dete hue bole — "Tumne stree ke liye mujhe vyaakul kiya hai, tum bhi manushya ho jao aur stree ke viyog ka dukh bhogo. Tumne jin vaanaron ke saman mera mukh banaya tha, ve hi us samay tumhaare sahaayak honge."
Kuch hi kshanon mein Bhagwan Shankar ne apni vishwamohini maya ko kheench liya. Us maya ke tirohit hote hi Naradji shuddh buddhi se yukt ho gaye aur unki saari vyaakulta door ho gayi. Shri Naradji Bhagwan Vishnu ke charanon mein gir pade aur atyant pashchaataap karne lage.
Bhagwan Vishnu dwaara Naradji ko Shivopasana ka upadesh
Bhagwan Vishnu bole — "Taat! khed na karo, Bhagwan Shiv tumhara kalyan karenge. Tumne mad se mohit hokar jo Bhagwan Shiv ki baat nahi maani thi, usi apraadha ka Bhagwan Shiv ne tumhein aisa phal diya hai. Sabke swaami Parameshwar Shankar hi Parabrahma Parmatma hain, unhi ka sachchidaanand svaroop hai. Ve hi apni maya ko lekar Brahma, Vishnu, aur Mahesh — in teen roopon mein prakat hote hain. Apne saare sanshayon ko tyaag kar ananya bhaav se Shiv ke Shatanam Stotra ka paath karo tatha nirantar unki upaasana aur bhajan karo. Bhagwan Shankar ki upaasana se sabhi prakaar ke paap aur dosh samaapt ho jaate hain."
Is prakar prasann-chitt Bhagwan Vishnu Naradmuni ko upadesh dekar wahan se antardhaan ho gaye.
