忍耐の徳

　あるとき賢者ナーラダが、主ヴィシュヌにお目にかかるためにヴァイクンタ（天国）に行く途中、半ば気が狂った様子で神の讃歌を歌っている一人の男のそばを通った。男は賢者にどこに行くのかと尋ね、賢者がヴァイクンタに行くところだと知ると、彼に頼んだ、「尊い御方よ、私のような者でも救われる見込みがあるものか、主に伺ってきてはいただけませんか」と。ナーラダは、「おたずねして、お返事を聞いて来て上げよう」と約束した。

　ナーラダがもう少し行くと、長い間きびしい修行を続けている一人の僧にあった。ナーラダがヴァイクンタに行くのだと知ると、彼もまた、救われるまでには尚どのくらい苦行をつづけなければならないものか、主に伺ってきてくれと頼んだ。ナーラダは承知した。

　やがて、ナーラダはヴァイクンタから、同じ道を戻ってきた。彼はまず最初に、比較的まだ年の若い、あの僧にあった。彼はこの僧に、彼はあと七回、生まれ変わって苦行をつづけなければならないであろう、とつげた。この返事はこの若いヨギを大変に失望させたと見え、そんなに長いこと自分をお待たせになるとは、主は不公平でいらっしゃる、とつぶやいた。つぎに、まだ主ヴィシュヌの讃歌を歌いつづけている、半ば気の狂ったあの男が来た。ナーラダは、そこに立っているタマリンドの木をさして、彼が救われるまでにはあの木の葉の数ほど生まれ変わらなければならないだろう、と言った。この返事は男を大変に喜ばせたと見え、彼は前よりいっそう夢中になってうたい、踊りつづけた。ナーラダが彼に何がそんなに嬉しいのか、ときくと、彼は、「私のようなものでも、幾百万の誕生の後には救われる見込みがある、と知って嬉しいのです」と言った。そこでナーラダは言った、「あなたは主へのゆるがぬ信仰を持ち、また数多の生まれ変わりに耐えるだけの忍耐力も持っている。それだから、まさに今生で救われることを確信してよろしい」と。
　　

THE VIRTUE OF PERSEVERANCE

　　Once Narada Rishi, while on his way to Vaikunta (the heavenly region) in order to meet Lord Vishnu, happened to pass a man who was singing praises of the Lord and who appeared to be a semi-lunatic . The man asked the Rishi where he was going and when Narada told him that he was going to Vaikuntha he asked,"Revered Sir, will you kindly enquire of the Lord if a man like me has any chance of attaining salvation?" Narada agreed to do so and bring back to him the reply he received.

　　As Narada was walking further he chanced to meet a monk who had been performing penance for a long time. Learning that Narada was going to Vaikuntha he also requested him to find out from the Lord for how long he had to carry on his auste-rities and spiritual practices before he could attain salvation. Narada agreed to do so.

　　In due course Narada was returning from Vaikuntha by the same way. He first met the monk who was comparatively a young man and Narada told him that he would have to practise Tapasya (religious austerities) for seven more births. This seemed to disappoint the young Yogi very much and he said that it was unfair on the part of the Lord to keep him waiting for such a long time. Next came the semi-lunatic who was still singing praises of Lord Vishnu. Narada told him, pointing to him a tamarind tree standing there, that it would take him as many births as the leaves of the tree before he could attain salvation. This seemed to make the man overjoyed and he went on dancing and singing with greater fervour and enthusiasm. Narada asked him what had made him so full of joy, and the man said. "I am so happy to learn that a man like myself even can attain salvation after millions of births." Narada there upon said. "You have an unshaken faith in the Lord and you have the patience and perseverance for going through so many births. You may, there-fore, rest assured that you will get salvation in this very birth of yours."