The Power of Association

 

The Power of Association

There is a saying “Tell me who your friend is, and I will tell you who are.” Association and friendships are that important in shaping our thoughts, deeds and speech. Sanatana Dharma believes association with the wise and the devout automatically brings benefits – not just to humans but also to the animals and birds.

This nice story depicts the importance of association with the wise and devout.

Sage Narada had a doubt. It is one thing to pray to the divine and get blessings but how does doing service to the rishis and the learned gets divine blessings. The sage decided to go to his favourite God in the Ksheerasagara (milky ocean), Lord Vishnu. He paid his respects and asked “Lord, what is the importance of associating with bhakts and devotees? Is it not better to serve you directly?” Vishnuji smiled and said “Go to the Naimisharanya forest. There will be a tree at the southern end where there is a newly born parrot. Ask the same question to the baby parrot.”

Narada promptly went to Naimisharanya and asked the baby parrot the question. To his horror, the baby parrot died immediately. Narada rushed back to Vaikunta and asked the same question to Vishnuji. Vishnuji said pretending innocence “Oh, the parrot died? Go to the village near the forest. A cow has just delivered a calf. Ask the calf the question.” Narada came to the calf and asked the question and the calf too died.

Now Narada was very agitated. Not knowing what to do, he went back to Vishnuji and conveyed this. Vishnuji said “Don’t worry. Maybe the calf was born weak. In the nearby kingdom, a horse has just delivered. Go ask the foal. (baby horse)” Narada was scared to do this by now but could not disobey. He went to the kingdom and asked the foal. And promptly the baby horse died.

Despite being a sage, Narada was now very distressed and thought he had been the cause of many deaths. He went to Vishnuji and just stood silently. Vishnuji smiled and said “Oh. You still have not got your answer. There is a prince born in that kingdom. Go ask the baby.” Before Narada could say anything Lord Vishnu said “Do not worry. You will get your answer.”

Narada reluctantly came back to the kingdom. While Vishnuji had assured him of an answer, he did not say if the baby will die. So he was scared but at the same time, he wanted his answer.

He went to the palace. With shaking hands, he lifted the baby out of the cradle and asked “Baby, forgive me for my curiosity but I want to know what is the power of being associated with the devout and the wise?” Narada was expecting the baby to drop dead… poor man.

To his surprise, the baby started talking. The baby told Narada “O greatest of sages, have you not understood so far? I was the baby bird whom you questioned on the banyan tree. Because of the brief contact with a saint like you, I was released from that tiny body and was born as the calf. When you questioned me as a calf, I was able to leave that body and be born as a horse. Again, because of the brief contact with you, I was blessed with the most precious human form as the prince of the Kasi kingdom. This is the result of ‘Sadhu Sanga’—a brief association with devotees. I am grateful to you, O Sage, for elevating me to this stage.”

Narada realised the immense power of even a brief association with a devotee. He blessed the prince and singing the glories of Vishnu went on his way.