Journey to Vaikuntha
The Sage Descends
The sky glowed with the rays of the setting sun as Narada, the great sage who often wandered between heaven and earth, descended through the clouds. Playing his veena and singing hymns to Lord Vishnu, he set foot on the peak of a mountain. Joyfully, he began climbing down, relishing the fragrance of wildflowers and the sound of the murmuring brook.
The Yogi’s Request
As he descended, a voice called out, “O Narada! Blessed be you. Will you please stop awhile and listen to my request?” Narada paused and turned back to see the eager eyes of a yogi emerging from a cave.
“What is your request, O worthy yogin?” asked Narada.
“Do you consider me worthy? Thank you. My question is, when will God consider me worthy of meeting Him? I ask you to put this question to Him and bring back His answer the next time you visit the earth,” the yogi replied.
The Devotee’s Plea
“I shall do so,” said Narada. “Please do not forget to remind God that I have practiced severe asceticism for years and have achieved many powers. It is high time I met Him!” pleaded the yogi.
As Narada resumed playing his veena and singing, he proceeded downward. At the foot of the hill, there was a beautiful lake. Beside it, in a small hut, lived a devoted follower of Vishnu. Upon seeing Narada, he rushed out, prostrated himself, and said, “O Narada, will you kindly ask my Lord when He will allow me to see His lotus feet?”
“I will,” replied Narada as he walked away.
Year of Longing
A year passed before Narada returned to earth. As he descended the mountain once again, the yogi spotted him and hurried out of his cave. “O Narada, in the meantime, I have achieved even more powers through my ascetic practices,” he said eagerly.“That’s fine,” observed Narada. “Now, do tell me, how long shall it take for me to be admitted to Vishnu’s presence?”
“Not very long,” answered Narada. “You will have to pass through five more birth cycles. In your sixth life, you will have great spiritual realizations, and thereafter, you will meet Vishnu.”
A Shocking Revelation
“Six more births!” cried the yogi in horror. “What was the point of all my strenuous and severe practices in this life? All is dark, all is lost for me!” Narada continued down the mountain, leaving the disappointed yogi behind.
Joy of the Devotee
“My friend, I asked your question of the Lord,” Narada informed him.
“Did you? It is so kind of you! And what did my Lord reply?” asked the devotee anxiously.
“Well, He said that you must undergo a thousand more births to be able to dwell near Him,” Narada replied.
“What! Only a thousand more births, and I will be with my Lord! O Lord! Infinite is Thy grace! How can I express my gratitude to you, O Narada, for sharing this wonderful news? Tell my Lord that I do not deserve to see Him even after a hundred thousand, nay, a thousand thousand births! It is only in His supreme compassion that He has chosen to grant me shelter at His lotus feet after only a thousand more births! Oh, how delighted I am!”
The Final Path to Vaikuntha
“Enough,” said Narada. “Follow me. It is high time you are gathered to His presence. He is waiting for you.”
Thus, Narada led the devotee to Vaikuntha, the abode of Lord Vishnu.