The Naradas of Today

Silent Whispers By DEVDUTT PATTANAIK 

The author is the Chief Belief Officer of the Future Group who decodes the wisdom of mythology for modern times.

DEVDUTT PATTANAIK

THE ARRIVAL OF A SAGE CALLED NARADA in Hindu mythology always spells trouble. He would share very innocent information, or ask a very simple question, and provoke all kinds of base emotions from jealousy to rage to insecurity.

Let me narrate the story of Kansa in gist for all those who are unaware of it. Once he went to the house of Kansa, dictator of Mathura, who knew that the eighth son of his sister would be his killer. Kansa would have killed his sister had his brother-in-law, Vasudev, not promised to hand over the eighth child to Kansa. Do you trust Vasudev asked Narada, I mean ,he may handover another child and claim he is the eighth; or he may handover his own child, say the seventh,a nd claim he is the eighth.

Having sowed the seeds of doubt, Narada walked away plucking his lute and chanting, Narayana, Narayana. Influenced by these words, Kansa killed each and every child his sister bore to ensure his safety.

Another time, Narada went to the house of the five Pandava brothers who had a common wife called Draupadi, and told them the story of a nymph called Tilotamma.

Two demon brothers, Sunda and Upasunda, fell in love with her and wanted to marry her. She said she would marry the stronger of the two. So the two brothers fought to prove their strength. Since both were equally matched, they killed each other. Wonder which of you five is the strongest? Hearing this the five Pandava brothers quickly put down rules that would govern the sharing of a wife;Draupadi would be with one brother exclusively for a year and return to him after spending four years with the other four brothers.

In Kansas case, Naradas intervention leads to serial infanticide.
In the Pandavas case, Naradas intervention secures domestic bliss.
Yet, at no point is Narada feared or shunned by any king or god.
In fact is arrival is welcomed.
His intervention is seen as something inherently good though the goodness is not immediately apparent.
In Kansas case, Kansa sees him as a well wisher. But by his intervention, Narada ensures that Vasudev, rather than handing over the prophesised eighth child as he initially planned to, takes the child to a safe house where he can grow up and return to kill the wicked king.

Narada though a mischief-maker and quarrelmonger, has the good of people at heart.

But there are advisors whose intentions are otherwise. The most famous one of these is Manthara, in the epic Ramayana, who poisons the ear of Kaikeyi, and influences the queen to demand the exile of Ram. By following Mantharas advice,Kaikeyi destroys the household.
So who is the advisor who sits beside the king: Narada or Manthara If Narada,how does he see the king as Kansa or as a Pandava. These are difficult questions for a leader to answer.For the Naradas of todays world do not come with a lute and the Mantharas are not bent and ugly.

In todays world, the Naradas do not walk around with a lute nor are the Mantharas bent and ugly. Suspicion fills ones mind often. And so does faith. Maybe they are genuinely good people. Who knows? In real life, no one comes with halos or horns. Distinguishing Narada from Manthara is not easy.

Whether their advice is for the good of the organisation or for their own self-interests will be realised only in hindsight.