On one occasion, Narada went to Lord Narayana. In the course of their
conversation, Narayana asked Narada, "You move around the three worlds, what
news have you brought for Me from your wanderings? Have you seen anything great
in My creation?"
"What can be greater than You in the three worlds!" replied Narada. On hearing
this, Narayana said, "I am asking you about My creation and not about Myself."
Puzzled by the Lord’s reply, Narada said, "I do not understand the question."
Sensing Narada’s confusion, Narayana then asked him, "There are the
Panchabhuuthas (five basic elements). Which is the greatest among them?"
"The earth is the biggest”, Narada replied. But not satisfied with the reply,
Narayana asked, "But in the earth, is not three-fourths of the area occupied by
water?"
On hearing this, Narada agreed that water was indeed greater than the earth.
But Narayana observed, "But since all the water in the oceans was drunk by the
sage Agasthya in one gulp, who do you think is greater, water or Agasthya?"
Narayana obviously had something in his mind. Narada had to but agree that
Agasthya was greater. Afterall the person who could drink all of the ocean’s
water in one gulp had to be greater than water! But Narayana had more in store.
After Narada was convinced that Sage Agasthya was the greatest, Narayana
quipped, “Agasthya is but a star in the sky. In the vast firmament, Agasthya is
merely twinkling as a small star! Is not the firmament greater than the star
then?"
Again, Narada had to agree with Narayana. He was now convinced that the
firmament was greater than Agasthya. But Narayana obviously wanted to teach
Narada something and did not stop with that. He then said, “In My Avatar as
Vaamana I had covered the entire earth and sky with just one foot of Mine. So
is the firmament greater or My foot?”
Narada replied, 'Your Foot, Lord. That is greater.’
Narayana then asked, "If My foot itself is so great, am I not greater than My
foot?" Narada was beginning to get the Lord’s point. He nodded in agreement.
Narayana then observed, "Although I am great, I am confined in the hearts of My
devotees. So, dear Narada, My devotees are greater than Myself. And therefore,
wherever My devotees sing My Name I am there
