Glimpses of The Devi Bhagavatam: 14. NARA AND NARAYANA

 

INDIAN MYTHOLOGY

Glimpses of The Devi Bhagavatam:

14. NARA AND NARAYANA

Dharmu was one of those who materialized from Brahma’s desire. He married the four daughters of Daksha Prajapati and they gave birth to four sons: Hari, Krishna, Nara, and Narayana. The two elder sons went away after turning ascetics early in life.

Nara and Narayana, too, went the way of their brothers. In the Himalayas, beside river Mandakini, they sat in deep meditation for a long time. Such was the power they radiated that nobody was able to go anywhere near them. They continued meditating, unmoved.

Hermits and nymphs who saw them in that state, spoke about them wherever they went. Their fame spread. The king of gods, Indra, heard about them. It was in his nature to grow jealous of anyone who practiced askesis in a remarkable way. Would they usurp his supreme position?

In a bid to stop them from their endeavor, Indra first appeared before them. “O yogi brothers, wake up from your meditation. Here am I, Indra. Ask me for a boon and it shall be granted.”

But Nara and Narayana remained lost in trance. Indra repeated his offer, but in vain. That angered him. He now took to wizardry. At once lions, tigers and elephants surrounded the place and roared and trumpeted to terrify the yogis. Next, bright flames surrounded the place. Thereafter a cyclone created havoc there.

But the two brothers seemed to care two hoots for such occurrences. Indra realized that the two, chanting a particular hymn, were concentrated on the Divine Mother. Nothing could disturb anyone who chanted that mantra.

Indra returned to heaven and summoned the god of Love, Kamadeva and said: “Near Badarikashram, on the banks of the Mandakini, Nara and Narayana are seen engrossed in meditation and in a trance. They have already acquired much spiritual power, and I wonder how they intend using it. We ought not to let them carry on their askesis any further. I tried to scare them, but could not. You can disturb them in your own way. Haven’t you foiled the efforts of so many yogis in the past? You may take the nymphs along and do the needful.”

Kamadeva used to look for such assignments. But this time he kept quiet.

“Why do you look pensive?” asked Indra.

“Well, I must tell you, you’re asking me to undertake a very difficult task. Yogis whom I disturbed earlier were meditating on one of the great Gods. But Nara and Narayana are meditating on the Divine Mother. Anyone who does that in the proper way is not affected by my power,” explained Kamadeva.

“But you must do something about it. If you can’t achieve the purpose directly, please take recourse to some indirect methods. We cannot just shut our eyes to their endeavor!” said Indra.

Kamadeva was not enthusiastic. However, he promised to do his best.

He sent the spirit of Spring to Badarikashram immediately. Later, he went there himself, accompanied by some of the celestial nymphs.

The region where the two brothers meditated suddenly had an abundance of flowers, the cooing of birds, and a sweet breeze.

This instant change in the atmosphere surprised Nara and Narayana. They opened their eyes. Never before had the region looked so beautiful.

Was someone doing any magic? they wondered.

As soon as they opened their eyes, the nymphs began dancing before them.

The two brothers gazed at them amusingly for a while. Then they said, “You’ve done your best. Better stop now and relax. Indra is audacious enough to imagine that he can disturb us. We can, if we please, create more beautiful things!”

Narayana slapped his thigh. A maiden of indescribable beauty sprang up. Some more beauties made their appearance.

The nymphs felt ashamed. Hands folded, they said, “Pardon us, O great souls. We’ve indeed disturbed the poise of many an ascetic. But today we accept defeat. But we’re lucky in a way. Had Indra not commanded us to come here, we would not have got a chance to behold you!”

Nara and Narayana smiled. “Take this nymph along with you,” said Narayana, “and present her to Indra. May Indra, the gods, and you all live happily. You can now go.”

“O great souls, please don’t ask us to go away. Let Urvasi and those created along with her go over to heaven and serve Indra. We’ll be happy to be here!” said the nymphs.

“What do you mean?” asked Narayana.

“Since you have put that question, we should honestly answer it. But you ought to deem it your duty to fulfil our desire. Well, we’d be happy to marry you and live here. We don’t wish to return to heaven,” said the nymphs.

“What!” cried out Narayana “Is it for this that we have been carrying on our askesis, defying the fury of nature and hurdles created by Indra?”

“Why, what is wrong with us? Who can dream of any greater happiness than marrying us and having us to serve them?” asked the nymphs.

Narayana realized that it had been a blunder on their part to have talked to the nymphs. They should have ignored them. They should not have created more beautiful nymphs to ridicule them. They had already got involved in their affairs!

They wished to scare them away. But to get angry would be yet another mistake.

“Let’s be peaceful in our dealing with them,” Nara told Narayana. Narayana told the nymphs: “We’ll remain ascetics in this life. If we’re not disturbed again, we’ll consider having you for our wives in our next incarnation.”

The nymphs bowed to the ascetics and then left for heaven along with Urvasi.