Thread by @varadadya

Story Time.

Once, Narad Muni - a great devotee of Lord Shri Krishna - met Shri Krishna. They were talking and after some time Narada asked "Prabhu, I was reading and came across this word MAYA. I searched around in a lot of texts, asked my peers and Gurus...

But no one could give me a satisfactory answer. Prabhu, with your profound knowledge. Can you please tell me, What is MAYA?"

Shri Krishna in a warning tone "Narada, are you sure, you are ready to know the meaning of MAYA"

Narada (Determined): Yes, Prabhu. I want to know the meaning of MAYA.

Shri Krishna replied: "Ok Narada I will show you. Let’s lie down here in the shade and I shall tell you everything. But first, Narada, it’s terribly hot; would you get me a cool glass of water?”

"Right Away", Narada was very happy to do service to his Lord. Narada set out, to get some water. He walked through fields, hills, forests. Sun was blazing down hard. Narada, himself was Thirsty.

He thought, "Wherever I find Water, I will ask for 2 glasses, one I will drink myself and 1 glass I will take to Prabhu Shri Krishna".

After a long walk, he reached a Village. Narada was happy to see a hut nearby. He walked close & in a hurry, he knocked on the door.

The door opened – and there stood the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. She smiled up at Narada through her long, dark lashes and something happened to him that had never happened before.

All he could do was to look at her beatiful face.

Narada was not in his senses, completely lost in her beauty. Finally, he spoke out, “Will you marry me?”

She was surprised. But looking at Anga Vastra (Clothes) and Madhur Vani (Words coming from his mouth), she said "Please get the consent of my Father"

To his surprise, the Girls Father agreed too.

The couple settled down to live a life of family bliss. After a while, children began to arrive. Narada’s became a very animated household.

Narada and his wife became engrossed in their private little world, quietly building their dreams. Years passed. The children grew up, went to school, got married; in time, grandchildren arrived.

Narada became the patriarch of a great family, respected by the whole village.

Then came a Dangerous FLOOD. The village fields became a raging river, & before Narada’s helpless eyes, everything that he loved and lived for – his lands, his cattle, his house, his beloved wife & all their children & grandchildren – were swept away.

Of all the village, only he remained. He tried to save them from floods but he was not successful.

Unable to watch the destruction, Narada fell to his knees and cried for help from the very depths of his heart.

“Krishna! Krishna!”

At once, the raging floods disappeared and there was Sri Krishna, standing casually on the fields where they had walked what seemed to be so many years before.

“Narada,” the Lord asked gently, “Where is my glass of Water?”

Narada, shocked, broke down in tears.

Shri Krishna gently says "Did you learn about MAYA now?"

Narada collects himself and responds "I realise the power of Maya. She makes us forget the lotus feet of Krishna. She overcomes us and we like mortal-fools forget our lord."

For Years, We have lived in this material world and forgotten our connection with the supreme Lord. To be free from this illusion we must chant his name.

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.