Naarad Sees Vishnu's Maayaa
Yudhishthir asked - "Bhagavan, What type of Maayaa is this of Vishnu Bhagavaan which deludes people?" Krishn said - "Once Naarad Jee went to see Naaraayan in Shwet Dweep. He found Him in a happy mood so he asked Him - "Bhagavan, How is your Maayaa? Where does she live? Please show her to me." Bhagavaan said smiling - "Naarad, What you will do of Maayaa? Ask some other thing except this." Naarad Jee said - "Hey Bhagavan, Today I wish to see your Maayaa only. I do not desire for any other Var." Bhagavaan tried His best to distract him but he insisted to see only His Maayaa.

So Naaraayan said - "All right, come and see my Maayaa." He held Naarad's finger and took him through Shwet Dweep. On the way, Naaraayan assumed a form of an old Braahman - long Chotee, Yagyopaveet, Kamandal, deer skin on the body. He started reading Ved, assumed the name as Yagya Sharmaa and came to Jamboo Dweep. Both went to Vidishaa named city located on the banks of Vetravatee River.

There lived a rich industrious Vaishya named Seerbhadra. They went to his house. He welcomed these Braahman and said - "If you consider proper, please have food in my house according to your taste." Bhagavaan said laughing - "God bless you with many sons and grandsons and all should help you on your farm and in your trading. May your yield and animals increase day by day. This is my blessing to you." After this they proceeded further.

Now there lived a poor Braahman too, Goswaamee. He lived on the banks of Gangaa River in Venikaa village. They came to him. That poor man was busy on his farms. Bhagavaan said to him - "We have come from a very far place, we are your guests, we are hungry, give us some food." That Braahman took them to his house. He arranged a good bath for them, then offered them food. Later he made the arrangement for their sleeping too. In the morning, Bhagavaan said - "We lived in your house very comfortably, now we are going. May your farming be fruitless and your descendents should also not increase." And both Braahman left his house.

After a while, Naarad Jee asked - "Hey Bhagavan, That Vaishya did not serve you at all, still you gave him a good Var, while this Braahman served you very well with devotion still you gave him Shaap in the form of blessings. Why did you that?" Bhagavaan said - "Hey Naarad, Whatever sin is committed by fishing for a year, the same sin is committed by ploughing the field for one day only. That Seerbhadra Vaishya was busy in doing the sme along with his sons and grandsons. He will go to Narak, therefore we neither had any food there nor we took rest there. We took food in this Braahman's house. I blessed him so that he should not get attached with this world and may attain Mukti."

Thus talking they came to Kaanyakubj country. There they saw a beautiful pond, so Bhagavaan said - "Naarad, This is a good Teerth place so we should take bath here then we will go to Kannauj City" Bhagavaan took bath in that pond and soon came out of the pond. After He came out Naarad Jee entered that pond to take bath, but when he came out of the pond he found himself changed into a beautiful Divine damsel. That damsel was really beautiful in all respects. Now Bhagavaan disappeared. That damsel looked around scared as if she got separated from her group.

At the same time the king Taaldhwaj came there with his army. Seeing that damsel he thought, "Is she an Apsaraa or any Dev girl?" Then he asked her - "Who are you and where have you come from?" The girl said - "I have no parents, I do not have anybody to take care of me. Now I am in your refuge." King got very happy to hear this, he made her sit on his horse and came to his capital. There he married to her.

In the 13th year from her marriage, she got pregnant and at the appropriate time she gave birth to a gourd (Laukee or Doodhee or Saurikaa) which contained 50 Divine small mighty children. She dropped them in a pot of Ghee (clarified butter). There they increased in number as their sons and grandsons. They all became proud of their might and desirous of kingdom. Later they all got killed fighting for kingdom like Kaurav and Paandav. That woman fell on the ground seeing this condition of her family. Raajaa also started weeping.

At the same time Bhagavaan Vishnu came there assuming the form of a Braahman along with other Braahman and discoursed to Raajaa and his queen. - "This is all Vishnu's Maayaa, you are uselessly weeping. All living beings' final destination is this only. Vishnu's Maayaa is such that it has destroyed hundreds of Chakravartee kings and Indra as a wind blows out a lamp. All these mighty people have after all died. Whose fort was on Trikoot Parvat; whose moat was the ocean; whose capital was Lankaa; whose warriors were Raakshas; who was getting counsel from Shukraachaarya; such Raavan is also destroyed because of his Destiny.

Whether somebody is in a battlefield, or in his house, or on a mountain, or in a cave, or in the sea, cannot save himself anywhere from Kaal (Time). Whatever has to happen, happens, there is no doubt about that. Every human being suffers or enjoys according to his Destiny. Thus this world is a drama and all living beings are its actors and actresses."

After saying this Bhagavaan held the hand of the queen and said - "Naarad Jee, You have seen Vishnu's Maayaa. Now rise. Perform the last rites of your sons and grandsons. Vishnu Himself had created this Maayaa." Then He made Naarad take bath in the same Teerth pond. As she took bath and came out of the pond, she was changed to Naarad. King along with his ministers and Purohit, saw that there was standing a glorious Braahman carrying Veenaa (an Indian string music instrument), Kamandal and wearing Yagyopaveet and she was not his queen. 

At the same moment, Bhagavaan came back to Shwet Dweep holding Naarad's hand. Bhagavaan said - "So Naarad, Have you seen my Maayaa?" and got disappeared immediately. Naarad also came back from there singing and playing his Veenaa.