A village near a river. Source: PickPik
There once was a great sage named Narada who was a loyal devotee of Vishnu. One hot summer day, Narada and Vishnu were walking together through the fields. Although Narada had spent years of his life studying the Vedas and developing his spirituality, the idea of Maya eluded him. However, Narada realized that Vishnu’s insight and knowledge of the universe can allow him to better understand the concept of Maya. Narada looked to Vishnu and asked, “Oh Lord Vishnu, can you show me the power of Maya, the illusory energy? What is the secret to this magic and how does it act?”
Vishnu hesitated for a bit and reflected on his options. Maya was difficult to explain, much less show. After some time, Vishnu responded, “Narada, I will show you the power of Maya and tell you everything you must know about this magic. But first, let’s rest in the shade. The heat is overwhelming me, and I would like a glass of water. Could you fetch me a glass?”
Narada, excited that he would finally understand Maya, replied without hesitation, “Of course, Lord Vishnu. I will fetch water right away. Stay in the shade and rest, and I will be back soon!”
Narada looked across the fields and saw some cottages. He approached the small village, and the beams of the sun shone brighter on him. The heat was overwhelming, and Narada felt a deep thirst as well. He approached a house and decided to ask for two glasses of water for him and Lord Vishnu.
A beautiful woman opened the door, and it was love at first sight. Narada immediately proposed to the woman. They married and raised a family in the village, carving out a life of their own. Their household was filled with love, kindness, and the perpetual chaos of raising children. Narada’s children grew up, attended school, and eventually married. Years had passed since Narada first met his wife, and they lived peacefully in their own world within the village. The couple had grown old together, and they had recently become grandparents. The wise sage was now a respected leader in the village and owned a great range of land.
One day, the puffy white clouds that littered the sky turned a dark, ominous gray. Narada had continued his day unfazed, until a torrential downpour began. As the storm raged on, the banks of the river began to grow. Destiny became inevitable, and the destructive flood wiped away the village. Narada, now an old man, watched helplessly as all the people he had loved were taken away by the flood. His wife, his kids, and all of what he had worked for were all swept away by the flood. He was the only one who remained in the village.
Besieged by the flood and unable to bear the destruction, Narada cried out, “Vishnu, Vishnu!”
The floods disappeared, and Lord Vishnu appeared in front of Narada. They were back in the fields, and Narada was young again. Calmly, Vishnu asked, “Narada, where is my glass of water?”
Still in shock, Narada confronted Vishnu. "How can you be so remorseless to ask me for a glass of water when I have lost my family?"
Vishnu smiled and calmly replied, "Where did your family come from? From Me. I am the only reality, the only thing in the cosmos that is unchanging. Everything else remains an illusion. Worldly pleasures deceived you into believing that your life and world was all that mattered; you saw the material world as invulnerable, and that is Maya."
Then, Narada understood Maya.
Bibliography: "Narada and the Illusion of Maya" by Aparna Chatterjee. Website: Boloji