The Story of Narada
There are several stories a bout the races of the sages. I have narrated them already which I heard from others quite playfully. It will, therefore, not be appropriate to repeat them. Out of the sons of Brahma who were those who participated in the creation of the universe? What did Narada do after his opposing the command of his father? What happened to the son after he was cursed by the father? What happened after the son pronounced a curse on the father? О son of Suta, you narrate this story in detail.
Suta replied, “All Saunaka except Hansa, Yati, AranI, Vodhu, Pancasikha, Apantaratama and Sanakadi are the sages and are other sons of Brahma who participated in the creation of universe. They always followed the command of Brahma.
Brahma himself was fallen from graces as a result of cure of his son Narada. He become unadorable. That is why the wise people did not adore Brahma at all.
Narada on the other hand was also cursed by Brahma. I am narrating that story to you in details. You please listen to it.
During those times, there was a king of Gandharvas who was quite respectable and a great king. He had enough of riches with him but he had no son. The beleaguered king with a pain in his heart went to his priest and with his permission he started a yajna in the holy place of Puskara. He started adoring with a devoted heart Lord Siva.
The most compassionate Vasistha gave him the kavaca, the prayer and a hymn of 12 letters to the king of the Gandharvas. О sage, with his mind offering prayer, having no sons, the king of Gandharvas remained without food for a hundred divine years reciting the mantras.
After, a hundred years, Siva himself appeared before him which illuminated all the ten directions with his lustre.
His face was bearing a serene smile. He is compassionate to his devotees in the form of tapas and also is seed of tapas. He gave proper reward for his tapas and he himself performs tapas. He fulfils all the wishes of his devotees who come to take refuge under him.
He was holding a trident, a pattisa and other weapons. He was mounted over his bull and was without clothes. He had lustre of spotless crystal, three eyes, a crescent over the head and had matted locks of hair resembling the complexion of the molten gold. He had a blue mark over a neck and serpents, were adorning his shoulders. Thus the omnipresent Siva appears in the form of a child, destroyer of all, the care who overcomes death, had the lustre of crores of sun shining at moon time in summer. He was peaceful and the figure of the bestower of tattvajnana, salvation and devotion of Hpri. Finding Siva before him, the Gandharvas prostrated before him and started reciting prayer in his favour.
Thereafter the most compassionate Siva said to him, “Ask for a boon.” The king of Gandharvas then sought for a son who could be a perfect Vaisnava and be devoted to the lord.
On hearing these words of the king of Gandharvas, Lord Siva having the crescent over him head spoke to him smilingly thus.
Lord Mahadeva said, “O king of Gandharvas, you have not satisfied with only one boon. The second boon is therefore like repeating the stuff which has already been crushed. Even otherwise, whatever the boon has been desired by you is also all right. Who will be satisfied with salvation alone? (Because after whatever one gets, he desires much more beyond that)
O Son, the one how is extremely devoted to the lord Hari, he can protect the entire universe and even re-create it. With his devotion, he can redeem a hundred of his earlier generations.
He is relieved of the sins commuted by him in his earlier birth and achieves the privilege of serving the lord.
One remained unprivileged in the world like his family, the wife, the son and other worldly riches till such time his mind is not attracted and devoted towards lord krishna.
Because the sword the devotion of lord Krsna cuts off all the fetters of actions of a human being like the trees. This is quite surprising. The wise people get quite illustrious sons. Those sons redeem their future generation.
Though a noble persons gets satisfied with a single boon but instead of that he becomes desirous or getting an other one. This is quite surprising. What is the use of second boon? One is not satisfied with the achieving of the welfare.
We have the forest of welfare preserved for the Vaisnavas. One does not became anxious to bestow that devotion and dedication of lord krsna on others. Therefore, you ask for another appropriate boon. I can bestow etemalship or the place of Indra and even the eternal bliss, all the siddhis and the knowledge to overcome the death, with pleasures. You, however, shed away the desires to be a slave of lord Hari”.
On hearing these words of Siva, the lips, the throat and the mouth of the poor king of Gandharvas dried up. Then mustering courage he appealed to the lord who could bestow of the successes to all.
The Gandharva said, “The one who fall with the meagre sight of Brahma, that Brahmana is like a dream and short lived. Nobody will desire for it.
О Lord, Siva, the place of Indra, the successes, the Yogic powers, the powers to overcome the death are of no use for a devotee. The four types of the salvation of the lord like Salokya, Sariipya, Samipya, Sayujya and the complete redemption can hardly be desired by a Vaisnnava. I desire the everlasting devotion for lord Krsna in which I should remain engrossed all the times while sleeping or while awake. Therefore, you kindly grant us this boons alone.
О kalpavrksa, this is the reason, why I need a son who should be devoted to Visnu and be his slave also. You kindly grant this boon to me because after getting such a boon because with your pleasure in case some one also seeks another boon it is simple cruelty.
О Lord Siva, in case you do not grant me the desired boon, I shall cut off my head and offer it as a offering in the burning fire”.
Thereafter, the compassionate lord, taking a pity on his devotee granted the king of Gandharvas, the boon desired.
Lord Siva said, “you will get a son who will be a perfect Vaisnava devoted to the lord. You achieve these boons and don’t worry in your mind. Besides being a Vaisanava your son will also be a great devotee of lord Hari. He will remain always useful, an intellectual most beautiful, devoted to the teachers and shall well control all his senses”. Saying this lord Siva went to his abode and the Gandharvas also went back home.
On meeting with successes the mind of all the people get delighted blossoming like a lotus flower. Narada was bom out the womb of the devoted wife of the king of Gandharva.
The old wife of king of Gandharvas gave birth to a child at Gandhamadana mountain and a teacher Vasistha performed the yajnopavita ceremony of the son.
This child has been quite devoted to the lord. Therefore, he was given the name of Upabarhana, by Vasistha.
