significance of satsang

 

 

 Narad had acquired supreme liberation and rejoiced free access to all,- be it human beings or divine deities of the highest status. Once he was with lord Vishnu and a thought triggered in his mind. “Lord Vishnu! I often wonder how satsang transforms the life of a mortal being. Will you please enlighten me about this amazing truth?” he asked with the simple curiosity behoving an innocent child. Lord Vishnu smiled at him and said,-“Fine sage! If you even though being an enlightened being yourself, seek to testify this, then right now go to the earth and put this question before a squirrel dwelling on a tree at such and such spot.” Replied lord Vishnu. Narad listened to the advice and found himself a bit amazed. How could a nether being passing through the life of a squirrel possess such divine wisdom he began to think. But having complete faith in lord Vishnu, he had not an iota of doubt about the hidden purpose behind the dictate of lord Vishnu. So in no time, sage Narad stood before the squirrel leaping and creeping on the twig of a tree. She had just found a piece of grain and was busy in chewing her hard earned food. As Narad looked at her and said,-“Dear Squirrel! Directed by lord Vishnu,  I ask you a simple yet the most difficult question. Tell me what is the significance of satsang in emancipating a being?” The squirrel looked at sage Narad who inquisitively awaited her to unravel the divine truth. The squirrel however, said nothing. Her eyeballs rolled up and she turned into a carcass. Narad was aghast and could not follow the message of the little being. He rushed back to Vaikunthalok and stood before lord Vishnu with a confused mind.
  “Have you got the answer, sage?” asked lord Vishnu. “No. She did not answer my query and just left her mortal coil.” Replied the disappointed sage. “Fine, Naradji!” Said lord Vishnu,-“Now ask the same question to a monkey hopping over the same tree.”

 Narad lost no time and stood before the same tree where this time he found a monkey hopping from one twig to other and enjoying swinging merrily from the supple tree branches. He looked perfectly delighted. Narad was even more curious to believe that this being was going to reveal the supreme wisdom to him as asked by lord Vishnu. He looked at the monkey and said,-“Dear Monkey! I am Narad having descended from Vaikunthalok. Lord Vishnu has sent me to seek your guidance on significance of satsang.” He wished that perhaps this creature, being a bit superior to the little squirrel, would throw some light on the topic of his curiosity. But the poor monkey also said nothing. His eyes just met the curious eyes of sage Narad and he too lost consciousness. His movement stopped, eyeballs turned upward and the body turned cold and inert. Narad could nor repeat his question as he found that the soul had flown out of the body of the monkey. Disappointed and a bit annoyed, he rushed back to his divine mentor.

 

“Did you get the answer” asked lord Vishnu with a meaningful smile. Narad was yet, beside himself. “No Lord! The poor monkey died the moment I introduced myself and asked the question..” he divulged the happening with  dejection. Lord Vishnu however, said with calm equanimity,-“Sage. One, whose heart is besieged with divine curiosity, can not get peace unless properly demonstrated by the befitting person. Please go to a prince born to a king at such and such place. He will surely quench your divine thirst, believe me for sure.” Narad again followed the direction of his lord and appeared before the newly born prince. He found an angelic little boy lying in a cradle with all the prosperity and hordes of attendants at his service, sweetly enjoying his life. Narad was pleased to see the glorious child and got more hopeful believing that this soul, as seeming to be the most befitting to quench his thirst of divine truth, would certainly not disappoint him, unlike the former two ones. After all, lord Vishnu had given him his assurance about this purported preacher. “O glorious prince! I am Narad from Vaikunthalok. I seek your guidance in ascertaining a doubt that has arisen in my mind. Please enlighten me as to how.. satsang can emancipate a …” Before Narad could complete his sentence he noticed apparent changes occurring in the body of the prince also. The little boy stopped his gesture and his smile vanished. His face turned pale and he too turned cold and lifeless. His soul also had left the mortal coil in an instant. Narad was agape. He was confused. He decided to contact the spirit of the boy. As he subtly communicated with the soul of the prince, it said,-“ Naradji! Are you so inept? Don’t you see how even by seeing you a nether being such as a squirrel got liberated from the life of a little animal and got rebirth as a superior being such as a monkey. That monkey too, got liberated from that life by your mere association. The same soul as promoted by the reward of your brief association got the birth of a prince here and who too has got liberation now by seeing you here. I am now fully purified, having been blessed with your third association and now proceed to lord Vishnu having received his message through you.” Said the glowing spirit with a smile.

 Narad as if, found himself in the divine aura of  lord Vishnu who had marvelously demonstrated to him the supreme truth. How amazing is the divine plan of lord that even a carrier of his power remains unaware of the purpose and significance of divine marvels, he joyously thought as a beatific smile spread over his countenance.