Story of Sage Narada cursing Vishnu to lose his wife and get
her back with help of monkeys is part of Shri Ramcharitmanas written by Goswami
Tulsidas. Once Shiva blessed Sage Narada to perform intense meditation in
Tapovan and that no one would be able to disturb him.
The meditation of Sage Narada became a concern for the ever
insecure Indra, the king of Devas. He thought that after successful completion
of the mediation, Sage Narada might become the king of Devas.
All attempts including torrential rain (by Varun dev),
hurricane (Vayu Bhagavan) and forest fire (Agni Dev) employed by Indra to
disturb the penance of Sage Narada failed miserably. Even all possible methods
adopted by Kamdev (god of love) too failed to breach the penance.
When the penance was completed successfully, Sage Narada was
filled with pride. He forgot that he was able to gain victory over elements and
passion only with the blessing of Lord Shiva.
Sage Narada met Shiva and proudly announced about his
successful completion of penance. Shiva simply smiled and told Sage Narada not
to say about this to Bhagavan Vishnu.
Sage Narada could not resist and he boasted about his
achievement to Vishnu. Vishnu happily told him to be still on guard against all
the forces of nature.
Soon, Sage Narada heard about the swayamvar of Shrimati, the
daughter of King Sheelanidhi. Sage Narada fell in love with the princess the
moment he saw her. On reading her horoscope, Sage Narada realized that person
marrying her would become the king of the three worlds.
Sage Narada then requested Bhagavan Vishnu to make him look
like Hari (one of the names of Vishnu) so that the princess would choose him in
swayamvar.
On the day of the swayamvar, Sage Narada confidently arrived
in the palace. He was sure that the princess could not reject him as he was now
beautiful as Bhagavan Vishnu.
But to his surprise the princess busted into laughter on
seeing him and walked past him without choosing him.
Everyone in the ceremony started laughing at Sage Narada. An
embarrassed and puzzled Narada looked at his reflection in water and was
shocked on seeing that he had a monkey face and not that of Bhagavan Vishnu.
Sage Narada was then told that the name Hari of Vishnu also
meant a monkey.
Later Sage Narada cursed Vishnu to lose his wife Goddess
Lakshmi in human world and he would only be able to get her back with the help
of monkeys.
This curse came true when Bhagavan Vishnu was born as Rama
Avatar.