Simplicity revealed

There is an interesting poem about a conversation between

Parvati and Lakshmi. The conversation is in the nature of
playful banter, but there is a message we can discern too
from the exchange between the two, said Akkarakkani
Srinidhi in a discourse. Lakshmi is proud of her Consort,
Vishnu, as Parvati is about her Consort Lord Siva.
Lakshmi, in a gently teasing manner, asks Parvati where
the one who begs is. The reference is to Lord Siva as a
mendicant. Parvati replies that he is begging for land from
Mahabali. So Parvati turns the tables on Lakshmi by talking
of Vishnu’s seeking of land from Mahabali in the Vamana
avatara.

Where is the one who dances all the time, asks Lakshmi, a

reference to Lord Siva as Nataraja. Parvati says that the One who dances all the time is in Brindavana. Lakshmi is not ready to give up and asks how the tired, old bull is faring. She means Nandi, Lord Siva’s mount. To this Parvati replies that the answer to that will have to come from the one who tends bulls and cows.

If the replies given by Parvati in a humorous manner are

analysed, one will find that every reply reveals the greatness of Lord Vishnu.

As Vamana, He went to Mahabali to seek three steps of

land. But He didn’t do it for Himself. He was there at the
behest of Indra. To beg for the sake of another is not
something anyone can do easily, but the Lord did. Krishna
danced to the delight of the unlettered, innocent Gopikas
and tended cows with other boys who were His age. So all of Parvati’s replies simply reairm Lord Vishnu’s simplicity and His ‘sauseelya.’ The Supreme One’s qualities are revealed through the verse.