This document is a summary of a story from Indian mythology. It describes how the sage Narada believes he is the greatest devotee of Lord Vishnu because he spends all his time singing Vishnu's praises. However, Vishnu tells Narada that a humble farmer is actually a greater devotee. Narada is curious to meet the farmer. Vishnu and Narada disguise themselves and visit the farmer. They observe how he works hard all day while also finding time to pray. Later, Vishnu gives Narada a task to prove his devotion, which causes Narada to stop thinking of Vishnu. This makes Narada realize the farmer's constant remembrance of Vishnu

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2. he Holy sage Narada, clothed in flowing
robes, his hair piled up on his head, sat in
Heaven on a fluffy white cloud and
played on his sitar. His fingers moved nimbly
across the strings and the music flowed without
ceasing. He sang in a heavenly voice, song after
song, praising his beloved Lord Vishnu.
he Holy sage Narada, clothed in flowing
robes, his hair piled up on his head, sat in
Heaven on a fluffy white cloud and
played on his sitar. His fingers moved nimbly
across the strings and the music flowed without
ceasing. He sang in a heavenly voice, song after
song, praising his beloved Lord Vishnu.

3. This was his favourite pastime. He loved
Lord Vishnu with all his heart and nothing
pleased him more than sitting for hour after hour
recounting all the wonderful attributes of the
great God.
The time slipped by and Narada was
entranced by his own music and the captivating
qualities of the Lord. And the germ of an idea
wormed its way into his mind.
“I sit all day playing my sitar and singing
the praises of the Great Lord Vishnu,” he
thought, “recounting his exploits and
worshipping him. I must be the greatest of the
devotees of the Lord.”
And this thought warmed Narada’s heart.
He turned it over and over in his mind until he
could sit still no longer. So he arose from his seat
and made his way into the very presence of the
Lord.

4. ord Vishnu, resplendent in his majesty,
was seated on his golden lotus throne with
his wife Lakshmi beside him. Beautiful
maidservants fanned the divine couple and
majestic peacocks, their tails fully extended,
strutted to and fro.
ord Vishnu, resplendent in his majesty,
was seated on his golden lotus throne with
his wife Lakshmi beside him. Beautiful
maidservants fanned the divine couple and
majestic peacocks, their tails fully extended,
strutted to and fro.

5. Narada bowed low with his hands pressed together
in respectful greeting.
“Narada, my faithful friend, welcome, welcome,”
said the Lord Vishnu smiling. “Come and sit beside me
and ask your question.”
“Oh Lord,” said Narada when he had seated
himself beside Lord Vishnu, “You know what is in my
heart before I do. You know my question already.”
“Yes, that is true, but I love my devotees to ask
their questions themselves.”
“Oh Lord, with your divine permission I will
therefore speak. My question is this. I sit day after day
joyfully singing your praises, without ceasing I think
about you. Am I indeed your greatest devotee?”
“Yes, my dear Narada, you are indeed my greatest
devotee.”
Narada was overjoyed to hear this until the Lord
Vishnu raised his finger and continued: “With one
exception. Oh Narada, there is one other of my
devotees who is greater than you.”
Narada was astonished and begged to meet and
worship at the feet of this giant of devotion, this great
sage, this god-like being whose devotion to Lord Vishnu
was greater even than his.

6. ut the story grew stranger still, for Lord
Vishnu continued.
“This devotee is no king, or great sage.
No, he is but an ordinary man,” said Lord Vishnu,
“a humble farmer who lives on Earth. If you are
still eager to meet him, we will visit him together,
but we must disguise ourselves as men.”
ut the story grew stranger still, for Lord
Vishnu continued.
“This devotee is no king, or great sage.
No, he is but an ordinary man,” said Lord Vishnu,
“a humble farmer who lives on Earth. If you are
still eager to meet him, we will visit him together,
but we must disguise ourselves as men.”

7. Narada readily agreed and, in the blink of an
eye, he and the blessed Lord Vishnu, disguised as
dusty travellers were standing at the front door of
a farmhouse. They knocked on the door which
was opened by a young girl, who stared up at them
in wonder.
“Who is there?”, came a voice from inside.
“Two men,” said the girl.
“Praise be to the Lord Vishnu, who has sent
two guests to partake of our hospitality and share
our meal. Oh daughter, invite them in at once in
the name of the Lord,” came the voice, which was
soon followed by the farmer himself.

8. he man bowed to the two strangers and
begged them to join his family for the
evening meal.
Vishnu and Narada did so, and sat cross-legged
around a rustic mat with the man, his wife and his
four children.
he man bowed to the two strangers and
begged them to join his family for the
evening meal.
Vishnu and Narada did so, and sat cross-legged
around a rustic mat with the man, his wife and his
four children.

9. The farmer said a short prayer of thanks and
blessing over the food and then everybody served
each other and all were satisfied with the simple
country fare.
The man offered his guests a bed for the night
and praised the Lord when they accepted his
invitation.
Early the next day a similar scene was played
out, the man offered a short prayer and then a
simple meal was prepared and shared with the
guests, after which the farmer left his wife and
younger children to attend to household chores
while he, with his eldest son, left for the fields and
cattle sheds.
The disguised Lord asked if he and his friend
could observe the farmer at work for the day, which
he gladly agreed to. After offering some few words
of thanks to God the four set off.

10. he man settled to milking his cows and
hummed a hymn of devotion to Lord Vishnu
as the milk pails filled and his son carried
them back to the house. The milking done he
wiped his brow, gave thanks to the Lord once more and
then headed off to the fields to tend his crops. After a
whole day spent in this fashion he and his son, tired
after a long day’s work, said a short prayer together and
prepared to head once more for home.
he man settled to milking his cows and
hummed a hymn of devotion to Lord Vishnu
as the milk pails filled and his son carried
them back to the house. The milking done he
wiped his brow, gave thanks to the Lord once more and
then headed off to the fields to tend his crops. After a
whole day spent in this fashion he and his son, tired
after a long day’s work, said a short prayer together and
prepared to head once more for home.

11. Lord Vishnu and Narada thanked him and took their
leave.
They had walked for a few minutes and they had arrived
at the foot of a small hill when Narada, bursting with
curiosity, could contain himself no longer.
“Oh Lord forgive me but I must ask you about this man,
whom you say is your greatest devotee. I see he is a
hard-working man of virtue, kind to strangers and one
who cares for his family and his livestock. But his
devotions were short and occasional; he said prayers in
between his other activities which took his whole
attention. Surely my unbroken devotions to you are
superior to his.”
Lord Vishnu looked thoughtful and smiled. “Perhaps
Narada you are right. Perhaps this fine fellow is not your
superior or even your equal in devotion to me.”
Narada beamed at this praise from the Lord.
And the Lord continued. “Yes, now that I think about it,
perhaps you are my greatest devotee. Might I ask you
therefore to complete a task for me?”
Narada was all eagerness to comply. “Yes,” he said,
“Yes My Lord, anything! I will fly to the moon and
back. I will bring you precious jewels from the high
Himalayas, I will journey to the sacred Ganges and
bring you holy water. Just ask. You are in my heart and
in my thoughts unceasingly!”
Lord Vishnu laughed and said: “Oh Narada, you are
truly the prince of devotees. No, I have a much simpler
task for you.”

12. nd with that he held out his hand and in it
appeared a large jar filled to the very brim
with oil. “Take this jar of oil and balance it
carefully on your head. Then walk around this small
hill and don’t spill a single drop.”
nd with that he held out his hand and in it
appeared a large jar filled to the very brim
with oil. “Take this jar of oil and balance it
carefully on your head. Then walk around this small
hill and don’t spill a single drop.”

13. Narada was mystified by this strange request but,
excited to prove his devotion he carefully took the jar
of oil and slowly lifted it up and placed it gingerly
on top of his head. Slowly he removed his hands
and began to take one cautious step after another.
With his arms spread wide to maintain his balance,
he slowly shuffled forward until, rounding the hill
he could see Lord Vishnu waiting for him.
Finally he arrived and triumphantly placed the jar
of oil at Lord Vishnu’s feet. “There”, he said “I didn’t
spill a drop!”
“Wonderful, O faithful friend. And, might I ask,
how many times did you think of me? How many
prayers did you offer to me? How many songs of
praise did you sing to me?”
“Why, none,” stammered Narada, “I was too busy
concentrating on the jar of oil. I was totally absorbed
in making sure not a drop was spilled.”
“Yes,” said Lord Vishnu, “you had your jar of oil,
which drove all thought of me from your mind. But
our farmer friend with a wife to care for and four
hungry children to feed, and guests to entertain,
and a farm to manage, with cows to milk and crops
to tend, remembers me time and again. He offers
prayers, he sings songs of praise and he remembers
me again and again. Tell me Narada, who do you
now believe to be the greatest of my devotees?”

14. nd Narada, humbled, bowed low, he praised
the humble farmer as the greatest of devotees,
and thanked the Lord for his gracious lesson.
nd Narada, humbled, bowed low, he praised
the humble farmer as the greatest of devotees,
and thanked the Lord for his gracious lesson.

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