Sri Ramakrishna Parable To Explain What Is Maya

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ONCE Narada besought the Lord of the universe, " Lord, show me that Maya of

Thine which can make the impossible possible. " The Lord nodded assent.

Subsequently the Lord one day set out on a travel with Narada. After going

some distance, He felt very thirsty and fatigued. So He sat down and told

Narada, " Narada, I feel much thirsty; please get me a little water from

somewhere. " Narada at once ran in search of water.

 

Finding no water nearby, he went far from the place and saw a river at a

great distance. When he approached the river, he saw a most charming young

lady sitting there, and was at once captivated by her beauty. As soon as

Narada went near her,she began to address him in sweet words, and ere long,

both fell in love with each other. Narada then married her, and settled down

as a householder. In course of time he had a number of children by her.And

while he was thus living happily with his wife and children, there came a

pestilence in the country. Death began to collect its toll from every place.

Then Narada proposed to abandon the place and go somewhere else. His wife

acceded to it, and they both came out of their house leading their children

by the hand. But no sooner did they come to the bridge to cross the river

than there came a terrible flood, and in the rush of water, all their

children were swept away one after another, and at last the wife too was

drowned.

 

Overwhelmed with grief at his bereavement, Narada sat down on the bank and

began to weep piteously. Just then the Lord appeared before him, saying, " O

Narada,where is the water? And why are you weeping? "

 

The sight of the Lord startled the sage, and then he understood everything.

He exclaimed, " Lord, my obeisance to You, and my obeisance also to Your

wonderful Maya! "

 

Source: Tales and Parables of Sri Ramakrishna

 

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Om Namo Bhagavate Sri Ramanaya

Prasanth Jalasutram

 

Love And Love Alone