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Remembering God – Story Of Farmer – Bhagavan Vishnu And Sage Narada

The story of a farmer who remembered god only twice was a greater devotee than Sage Narada as per Bhagavan Vishnu. This story was told by Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa.

Once upon a time conceit entered the heart of the divine Sage Narada, and he thought there was no greater devotee than himself. Reading his thought, Bhagavan Srihari Vishnu said, "Narada! Go to such and such a place where there is a great bhakta of mine, and do cultivate his acquaintance."

Accordingly, Narada went and found there a farmer, who rose early in the morning, pronounced the name of Bhagavan Hari once and taking his plough went out for the day to till the ground. At night after once more saying the name of Hari, he went to bed.

"How can this rustic be called a lover of God?" thought Narada to himself. "He is busily engaged in worldly duties, and has no signs of a pious man about him."

The sage then came back to Bhagavan and told what he thought of his new acquaintance.

Bhagavan said, "Narada! Take this cup full of oil, go round the city and bring it back to me. But take care that not a drop of the oil falls to the ground."

Narada did as he was told, and on his return, Bhagavan asked, "Well, Narada, how often did you remember Me in your walk?"

"Not once, Bhagavan!" replied Narada. "How could I, when I had to watch this cup, brimming over, as it was, with oil?"

Then said Bhagavan, "This one cup of oil so diverted your attention then, that you forget me altogether, yet think of that peasant, who, burdened with the heavy load of a family, still remembers Me twice a day."