Vishnu’s Sigh and Lakshmi’s Smile

The Dispute Begins

One day, Lord Vishnu and his consort, Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, were discussing matters lightheartedly.

“My lord, you seem to believe that your devotees are the most faithful to you. However, if given a choice between you and me, most would surely choose me,” claimed Lakshmi.

Initially, Vishnu smiled and said nothing. But Lakshmi persisted, repeating her observation.

Vishnu laughed and replied, “Your opinion about my devotees is quite mistaken. I assure you, they are sincere and can withstand any test.”

A Test of Devotion

“Then let’s take samples of them,” proposed Lakshmi. Consequently, the couple disguised themselves as wandering mendicants and entered a town that was home to Vishnu’s devotees.

It was a stormy night. First, Vishnu approached the palace of a wealthy merchant who was a devotee of his.

“Why are you standing in the rain? Please come in! I would be honored to have you as my guest tonight,” said the merchant, opening his gate.

Vishnu accepted the invitation and the merchant served him a lavish dinner, offering him a choice of the many empty rooms in his home for the night.

Vishnu selected a small room, claiming it would be particularly suitable for his meditation.

The merchant’s servants spread a bed for their guest, while Vishnu locked the door from the inside, thinking, “My devotee has accommodated me well. I wonder how Lakshmi is being treated.”

Lakshmi’s Charm

Meanwhile, Lakshmi, aware of Vishnu’s whereabouts, also approached the merchant’s house. As soon as the merchant saw her, he opened his door and welcomed her in.

“I am feeling thirsty. Could you bring me some water?” Lakshmi requested as she took her seat.

Enchanted by her beauty, the merchant rushed to fetch her water.

From her bag, Lakshmi produced a golden cup adorned with diamonds and poured the water into it. After drinking, she discarded the cup.

Curious, the merchant asked, “Why are you throwing away those precious cups?”

“Well, I never use the same cup twice,” replied Lakshmi playfully.

The Merchant’s Obsession

Impressed by Lakshmi’s beauty and display of opulence, the merchant thought, “If only I could persuade this beautiful lady to give up her ascetic way of life and stay in my house permanently!”

When Lakshmi declined to eat, the merchant offered her the choice of any room in the house. To his surprise, she chose the very room that had been occupied by Vishnu.

The merchant informed her that better rooms were available, and that the room she wanted was already taken.
“I must have this room, or I will leave,” insisted Lakshmi.

In a fit of anger, the merchant began banging on Vishnu’s door.

The Clash of Powers

“I am meditating! Do you forget that I’m a devotee of Vishnu? How dare you disturb me?” screamed Vishnu from inside.

“Go to hell with your Vishnu!” shouted the merchant, commanding his servants to break open the door.

Obediently, they did, and when Vishnu hesitated to leave, he was forcibly thrown out into the street.
“Will you fetch some water from the river yourself? I need it for a rite,” said Lakshmi. The merchant left willingly, giving Lakshmi a chance to reunite with Vishnu outside.
“Did you see, my lord? As the goddess of wealth, I command far more attention than you do!” she observed with a triumphant smile.

The Temple Encounter

As they wandered on, Vishnu spotted a temple dedicated to himself. “I can now prove my superiority to Lakshmi,” he thought, saying, “Why don’t we rest in this temple for a day?”
“Why not?” replied Lakshmi. The next morning, a priest opened the temple and several devotees came to offer their prayers. Vishnu felt pleased watching the devotion unfold.

However, the temple was closed at noon, as per the king’s orders, and would not reopen until sunset.

Curious to test the priest’s adherence to the rules, the king disguised himself as a trader and approached the priest soon after closing.
“I wish to have a glimpse of the deity. Will you please open the door?” he requested.
“You must wait until evening. It is the king’s order,” the priest replied.

A Test of Loyalty

“I wanted to offer a thousand rupees to the deity, but I cannot wait until sunset!” the trader lamented before turning to leave.

Faced with such a generous offer, the priest reconsidered. He thought the king need not know about the concession he was about to make.

With the door now opened, the grateful trader offered two thousand rupees.

The king returned to the palace, shedding his disguise, and summoned the priest, who was accompanied invisibly by Vishnu and Lakshmi.
“Priest! Are you observing the rules of the temple?” the king inquired.
“To the best of my ability, my lord!” responded the priest.
“Do you bend the rules for any devotee?” asked the king again.

“In truth, I had to let you in just now, as the queen knocked while I was organizing your stay,” the priest confessed, revealing the “blessings of Lakshmi” in the form of two thousand rupees tied to the goddess’s visit.

The Conclusion

The king burst into hearty laughter and rewarded the priest for his wit. Vishnu and Lakshmi soon left the palace. Vishnu sighed while Lakshmi smiled, each reflecting on the eventful day.