Nārada’s Mūrti and Bābhravya

At the Mahīsāgara Saṃgama Nārada set up a mūrti (sacred image) of himself. Later Arjuna asked why Nārada, who has every virtue, is always wandering and likes to stir up quarrels. A brāhmaṇa named Bābhravya answered with what he had heard Bhagavān Kṛshṇa tell Ugrasena at that same holy place. This account is from the Skanda Mahā Purāṇa, Māheśvara Khaṇḍa, Kaumārika Khaṇḍa, Chapter 54.

Nārada’s mūrti at Mahīsāgara

The brāhmaṇas at the Mahīsāgara Saṃgama wished it, and Nārada set up a mūrti of himself there. He said: “I never leave it. It is shown with an umbrella and a staff. If a person worships me on the bright Ekādaśī in the bright half of the month of Kārttika, he is freed from the faults of Kali.”

Arjuna’s question

Arjuna asked Nārada about his two sides. Nārada is good and calm, yet he is always wandering and loves to stir up quarrels in which thousands of devas, kings and ṛshis have been ruined. Nārada smiled and glanced at Bābhravya.

Bābhravya was a brāhmaṇa of the family of Hārīta, and he always stayed near Nārada. He understood the silent sign. He said to Arjuna: “What you say about Nārada is true, O son of Pāṇḍu. In this matter all men have the same doubt. I shall tell you everything as it was heard from Śrī Kṛshṇa himself.”

Kṛshṇa’s pilgrimage to Mahīsāgara

Bābhravya told how Śrī Kṛshṇa himself once came on pilgrimage to the Mahīsāgara Saṃgama. With him came Ugrasena, Vasudeva, Babhru, Rāma (the son of Rukmiṇī), Yuyudhāna and others. At the Saṃgama Kṛshṇa did piṇḍadāna (the offering of rice-balls for the ancestors) and gave many gifts in charity. He worshipped Guheśvara and the other Liṅgas, bathed in the Koṭitīrtha, and worshipped Jayāditya. Then he worshipped the mūrti of Nārada with deep devotion.

In front of the brāhmaṇas who had gathered, Ugrasena asked Kṛshṇa the same question. Why was Nārada, with all his virtues, so unsteady, always wandering and fond of quarrels?

Kṛshṇa’s answer: Daksha’s two śāpas

Śrī Kṛshṇa answered:

“Long ago Daksha spoke a śāpa (a curse) on Nārada. Daksha was angry because Nārada had twice led his sons away from the path of natural creation, that is, from having children. Daksha spoke two śāpas: ‘You will not stay anywhere as you wander over all the worlds. Pushed by others, you will carry talk from one to another.’

Nārada could have turned the śāpas aside. But the ṛshi accepted them, and this itself deserves the highest praise. He starts a quarrel and makes it grow only after he has seen that ruin is near. Because he tells the truth, no pāpa (sin) stains him. Though he wanders everywhere, the faults of wandering do not touch him, because his mind never turns away from the Supreme Being, on whom one should meditate.”

Kṛshṇa’s stotra to Nārada

Bhagavān Kṛshṇa then said that every day he recites the stotra (hymn of praise) to Nārada that was composed by Mahendra. This stotra praises Nārada in these ways.

• He has no pride in his learning, yet his learning is well known.
• He is free from anger, unsteadiness and fear. He is calm and does not put things off.
• He does not change his word because of lust or greed.
• He is patient, strong and straightforward, and he has won over his senses.
• He is full-grown and honoured in glory, fame, intellect, wisdom, humility, birth and tapas.
• He gives great happiness to others, and he never enjoys the misfortune of others.
• He has no interest in food and other such things. He is never idle, and his narratives are charming.
• No contact ever stains him, though his ātmā (soul) seems to be attached.
• He makes great efforts and is never tired of concentration and meditation.
• He is not made glad by gaining wealth, and not made sad by not gaining it.
• He is rich in all good qualities, skilful, pure, fearless and knows good policy.

Bhagavān Kṛshṇa said: “Every day I recite this stotra, O king. That is why the best of ṛshis loves me greatly. If any other person also stays pure and repeats this prayer every day, he will soon win the great favour of the devarshi Nārada.”

Sources

• Skanda Mahā Purāṇa, Māheśvara Khaṇḍa, Kaumārika Khaṇḍa, Chapter 54