1#4d. Naaradaa’s reply (3)
“Vishnu continued to tell my father Brahma!” said Naaradaa to Sage Vyaasa. “But for our special powers we will not be able to perform our prescribed duties so well. We are under the influence of Shakti Devi. We perform our duties so well only because of the grace of Shakti Devi.
At times I get lost in meditation. At times I enjoy the loving company of my consort Lakshmi Devi. At times I indulge in an all-knowing-sleep. At times I am at war with the wicked asuras.
Madhu and Kaitaba asuras emerged from my ears. But I could not defeat them for five thousand years. Finally I was able to vanquish them only with the divine grace and help of Shakti Devi.
She is called as Paraa Parai meaning she is supreme to all the other gods and there is no one supreme to her. Everything that happens always happens according to her wishes and plans.
No one likes to take birth in the wombs of animals that grow horizontally and move on four limbs. But I took the avatars as a fish, a tortoise and a boar only because Shakti Devi ordained it.
In spite of taking these lowly births, I have always been worshiped as a god and shown no disrespect whatsoever. That also happens not because of my efforts but because of her grace. Instead of enjoying the loving company of Lakshmi Devi why should I go to war with the demons and asuras?
Once the string on my bow got cut. The tip of the bow cut off my head. Then you Brahma had fixed the beautiful head of a horse on my body and made me famous as Hayagreeva.
None of us us have real freedom. None of us can do whatever we want to do. We always obey the wishes of Shakti Devi and behave accordingly. So it is the all powerful Shakti Devi I am meditating upon!”
Vishnu told this to my father and he told it to me. Meditate on the lotus feet of Shakti Devi. She will surely grant you the boon you seek oh Vyasa!” Naaradaa advised sage Vyaasa thus.


