Sage Narada – an introduction
We have come across sage Narada a few times in the past. He is so prominent a sage throughout the epics of
Narada was said to be born as the son of Brahma, the creator. He is on one hand considered to be so pious that he spends all his time chanting the name of his favourite god, Vishnu. Narada was considered to be a great musician and had his favourite string instrument, Veena, (some say it was a Tamburu) always with him.
At the same time he is also considered a little fun loving to the extent that he enjoys stirring up a quarrel wherever he gets a chance. He does that normally without malice. The stories of Narada, themselves, make one epic if compiled together.
None of these traits have any relevance to the story below.
Narada was among the dignitaries present when Yudhishthira was lamenting about the disastrous war.
There is a story involving Narada and his nephew by name Parvata behind this. Parvata, himself, was a sage of great meditative powers. The two, both uncle and nephew, once started on a pilgrimage. They were so close with one another that they came to an understanding that they would not keep any secret from one another. After all, it was a pilgrimage in which great hardships may test their endurance to a great degree. Then, on such a spiritual mission there was no place for little secrecies. That was how they thought about it.
With King Srinjaya
Srinjaya was a king of the same dynasty in which several of the great rulers of
The two sages decided to spend a few days with their friend in the middle of their pilgrimage. The king received his friends with open hands. He appointed his daughter to look after the guests.
The boon
The two sages were very pleased with the hospitality offered by their friend. Hence, they decided to grant him a boon. They said. “Friend, choose any boon that you wish”. The king did not have to think hard. He asked for a son who would be glorious like Indra, the king of gods, himself.
It was Parvata who came up with the offer. He said. “You will have a son who will become so famous that he will be like Indra in his glory. But, there is a problem. He will have only a short life”.
The king was pleased with the boon, but, was sad with the thought of losing a glorious son too early. So, he appealed to the sages.
Narada intervened and said. “Do not grieve on that account. May your son be anywhere, on earth or in heaven, I shall bring him back whenever you think of me”.
The curses
As this incident took place a love story was taking shape in the palace. It is said that sage Narada started developing a soft corner towards the king’s daughter which was also reciprocated by the young princess. But, he was shy to reveal his feelings to his nephew, ignoring all about their agreement.
Unfortunately, Parvata guessed what was in the mind of his uncle through his powers. He was angry that there was a breach in the agreement. He accosted his uncle and said. “I know what is in your mind which you kept as a secret from me. You have thus broken your own words. Hence, I curse you to become a monkey which will take effect as soon as you marry the daughter of king Srinjaya”. Narada, in turn, cursed his nephew that he shall not go to heaven in spite of his all other qualities and spiritual attainments.
Having cursed his uncle Parvata left the palace carrying the burden of the curse he received in turn.
King Srinjaya, soon, came to know of the love affair in the palace. Healso knew of the curse. Yet, he was happy to wed his daughter to so worthy a groom such as Narada. The love of the princess also remained firm even after hearing that she was going to marry a monkey.
The happy ending
Narada wed the princess and turned into a monkey immediately. That did not diminish the love the two had for one another. The two lived happily in a forest not far away from the palace. Years later, Parvata came across his uncle in the form of a monkey. He apologized to his uncle and begged him to withdraw the curse so that he could ascend to heaven. In turn he promised to cancel his own curse on Narada. Thus, the sage recovered his original form and lived happily with the young princess for long years.
The birth of a son to Srinjaya.
It is said that king Srinjaya, soon was blessed with a son. The palace and the entire country celebrated the event with great festivities. The king was overwhelmed with joy. The boy had an extraordinary power right from birth. Whatever he touched turned into gold. Hence, he was named “swarNashTheevi (one who spitted out gold)”. The magic of the child was such that the king became rich beyond words. The entire palace, even the trees and river that flowed, as though, turned into gold.
Indra heard about the birth of the strange prince and the prophecy that he would grow in glory equal to his. He was worried that the child may one day challenge his own position. So, he sent his weapon, the “Thunder Bolt (Vajra)” to kill the boy. Vajra assumed the shape of a tiger and waited at the outskirts of the palace for a chance.
One day, when the boy, a mere child of five years, was taken by his nurse to play outside the tiger pounced upon him and killed him instantaneously. The palace that was still celebrating the birth of the prince, immediately, was deeply immersed in sorrow. The king, himself, was beyond consolation.
Sage Narada sensed the tragedy from where he was and arrived at the palace. He narrated the example of the sixteen kings and tried to console his friend. The sorrow of others was not enough to lessen the weight of the king’s sorrow. Hence, it is said that sage Narada brought the prince back from the land of the dead which is a very rare feat in all epics taken together.
The story of the sixteen kings may briefly be narrated in the next episode.
