Sage Narada, the Devarishi, was the son of Brahma, the God of Creation, and Saraswati, the Goddess of knowledge, arts, and speech. Sage Narada was quite proud of the fact that he was a big devotee of Vishnu, the God of Preservation.

One day, when he was having a conversation with Lord Vishnu, he asked, “Narayana¹, can you tell me who your greatest devotee is?”

Narada was expecting Lord Vishnu to take his name. After all, every sentence of Narada ended with the words “Narayana, Narayana.”

He was, therefore, stunned when Lord Vishnu said, “Come with me. I will show you.”

Saying thus, Lord Vishnu took Narada to a field where a farmer was busy ploughing his field. “This farmer is my greatest devotee,” Lord Vishnu said.

Narada was shocked and quite upset. He immediately said, “My Lord, how can this farmer be your biggest devotee? We have been here for an hour, and the farmer prayed to you only once. I, who remember you every single minute of the day, should be your greatest devotee.”

Lord Vishnu was amused. With a twinkle in his eyes, he said, “I will explain it to you later, Narada. In the meantime, I have a small work for you. Can you take this bowl filled with oil and go around the world without spilling even a single drop?”

Narada took the bowl from Vishnu and saw that it was filled to the brim with oil. Determined to ensure he does his Lord’s work correctly, he slowly walked around the world without spilling a single drop of oil and came back.

Jubilant, he gave the bowl to Vishnu, saying, “Here, O Narayana. I have done as you had asked. I have not spilled a single drop of oil.”

Lord Vishnu said, “Thank you, Narada. Now tell me something. During the time you walked with the oil, how many times did you remember me and call my name?”

Narada answered, “Not even once, my Lord. How can I? I wanted to do the work you had given me correctly. So, my concentration was fully on the oil.”

Lord Vishnu immediately said, “You have answered your own question, Narada. When I had given you a job, you did not remember me even once. You were determined to finish your work. The farmer also is doing his duty that has been assigned by me. But even in between all his work, he remembers me at least once every hour.”

Sage Narada was speechless when he heard this.

When he did not say anything, Lord Vishnu continued, “True devotion is not being free and praying all the time to me. Instead, true devotion is when you do your work sincerely and in between remember me as well.”

Sage Narada was humbled, and never again did he boast about being the greatest devotee of Lord Vishnu.

¹ Another name for Lord Vishnu