Children Stories!!

The true love of a devotee!

Muni Narada is a well known greatest devotee of Lord Vishnu. He has no home and family. He roams around the three worlds and keeps chanting "Narayana..Narayana.."..

One day he concludes himself that he is so far the best devotee of Lord Vishnu. But few object him stating there are other devotees who can be claimed as best. After few discussions and arguements, they decide it is best to ask Lord Vishnu himself and they go to Him and explain the situation.

Lord Vishnu, with such a charming smile on His face, politely says that a person named Vishnudatta is His best devotee. Furious, Muni Narada wants to prove otherwise. He immediately rushes to Vishnudatta's abode. He is a simple common man, with so many responsibilities, a big family to provide for, and several duties to perform everyday.

Curious, Muni Narada follows him closely and observes his daily routine. Early in the day, on waking up, Vishnudatta, offered his prayers, thanked the Lord for blessing him with another day and started his day. Then, again in the afternoon, while taking food, he prayed again, thanked the Lord for the food, and finally one more time, in the night, he thanked the Lord for his love, blessings and kindness which allowed him to pass the day without any difficulty. Soon, he fell asleep.

Muni Narada thought to himself, just thrice in all the day, this fellow worshipped Lord Vishnu and yet was choosen as the best devotee by the Lord Himself. Why?! He pondered, but could not find the answer. So he went back straight to Vaikuntam, the abode of Lord Vishnu and questioned the Lord.

Muni Narada asked " dear Lord, this is not to question your judgement but I fail to understand. I chant your name all the day, whereas Vishnudatta, your beloved devotee managed to worship you only three times a day. Why is he choosen as the best?" Lord Vishnu smiled enigmatically and asked Muni  Narada to perform a task. The task is to carry a pot which is brimming with milk over his head and do pradakshina around Lord Vishnu three times. There was a condition that milk shall not be spilled on the earth while doing so.

Muni Narada dutifully completed the task. Now it is the turn of Lord Vishnu to question. Lovingly He asked Muni Narada "how many times in these 15 minutes that took you to complete the task I have assigned did you chant my name?". Muni Narada was spellbound and answered that not one time as his entire concentration was to walk around the Lord and not to spill the milk as was the condition.

Then Lord Vishnu flashed His one of most beautiful smiles, explained Muni Narada the following: "you were given a simple task yet you stopped chanting my name while doing it. Whereas, Vishnudatta, as you might have noticed, has a big family to tend to. He has many tasks at hand to complete. Yet he found time for me admist all of his chores. Three times. He never once complained about anything. He is thankful for what he has. He works hard. He does not neglect his duty. These are the reasons why he is the best devotee of me."

Muni Narada realized the truth and agreed with the Lord completely..

Moral : Work is worship!