Narada, a great adept in music and the supreme exponent of ragas and raginies (the tunes and melodies in Indian music) was once persuaded by the flatterers to believe that he was a perfect master in them. So he went about listing to such praises everywhere, and even modestly repeated these certificates to gods and men.
Krishna watched this growing infatuation and wanted to put a stop to it. So he said to Narada, “Great sage, Siva and Parvati have heard of your perfection in music and want you to give an exhibition befo
re them.”Narada was highly elated.He set out the next day with Sri Krishna and proceeded to Kailasa to meet Siva and Parvati. On the way they saw a big place where several maidens of exquisite beauty were weeping and wailing. All were mutilated in one way or other. One had a eye missing, another an ear, a third an arm, a fourth a breast, a fifth a leg a sixth an eyebrow and so on.
“O Krishna,” said Narada, his whole heart bleeding for these fair maids, “which wretch has done this horrible mutilation?”“
Go and ask them.”Said KrishnaSo Narada asked them, “what this place and who are you, fair sisters, and who has done this horrible thing to you?”
“Oh!” said they,” this is the place of music, and we are the ragas and raginies. A wretch called Narada has mutilated us on his Veena (Indian lute).”Narada became ashamed. He saw Krishna smiling.
“I shall break my Veena and play no more,” said he.
“Oh, no,” said Krishna, “go on playing, but realize your imperfection and tried to remedy them. Don’t believe idle flatters and think you are perfect.”
“All right, I have learnt a lesson. Please make my excuse to Siva and Parvati. I shall play before them when I have mastered the art a little better,” said Narada who had become a sadder and wise man.
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