Katha 1: Narrottam & Vishnu

Once, there lived a learned Brahmin called Narrottam. Not only was he a staunch follower of the austere religious practices but had mastered all sacred scriptures too. Pleased with his erudition and proficiency, Lord Vishnu had blessed him with divine powers. But despite the knowledge of all religious scriptures and gifted capabilities he had a vice!

He had scant regard for his parents and treated them rather callously. On acquiring the divine powers, his arrogance got the better of him still. He refused to listen to their concerns and became visibly conceited towards others too. His parents were too mortified to ask him for anything for his response would bring only strife and nothing else.

Others were in awe of his special powers, one of which being that Narrottam could hang his wet clothes in mid-air, without any support and they would dry without falling on the earth.  While others gaped in awe, Narrottam would smile smugly, consumed by his self-worth.

One day when he was putting his clothes out to dry, a crane flying in the sky defecated on his face. This made him extremely furious.  He looked up at the sky and consumed by his fury, cursed the crane. No sooner he had uttered those menacing words, the crane was caught in flames and fell on the ground, charred to death.

Without a trace of regret, Narrottam returned to his chores. And, there he saw all the wet clothes in a heap, on the floor. They were no longer hanging to dry without support.  He picked them up and hung them in the air but they fell with a thud on the ground!

He was baffled. What was this?

To his horror, Narrottam realised that he had lost his special power owing to the sin he had committed. Killing an innocent bird was a dastardly act and against dharma and now he was bereft of his special powers.

Narrottam was miserable.  He repented the reckless curse in the sudden burst of anger. He looked up and prayed to Vishnu to forgive him. He cried and sought repentance. Suddenly the clouds gathered in the sky and thunder rolled. Just then, a heavenly voice boomed.

“Oh! Narrottam, to regain your special powers you must go and meet a Chandala called Mook.”

Narottam was flustered. He swallowed hard and asked tamely, “Why a Chandala?”

"His discourses would be beneficial for you,” the heavenly voice announced.

Narrottam was perplexed. How could a plebian tutor a scholar like him?

But it was the heavenly command and he had to follow it.  Moreover, he had to be quick before others discovered that he was bereft of his special powers and scoff at him. So, he went in search of Mook, the Chandala towards the cremation ground.

When he reached Mook’s hut, Narrottam didn’t miss the sight of Mook’s clothes hanging in the air without any support. Narrottam was stumped! He wanted to know how an illiterate Chandala had acquired such divine powers.

And then he saw Mook!  He was a man with an intimidating demeanour. Dark, burly with bloodshot eyes!  Daunted, Narrottam thought twice before approaching him. Mook, who was unaware of his presence, was busy serving a meal to his aged parents. Narrottam watched him for some time, puzzled as his heart and mind were locked in conflict.

Clearly, Mook was a devoted son for when he was finished with feeding his parents, he wiped their mouth and washed their hands, and then led them to rest on the bed he had made. That’s when Narrottam walked up to him.  

Mook turned towards him and was surprised to see the learned and renowned brahmin at his doorstep. 

“What brings you here, learned Guru?” He asked politely.

“Oh! All I want is to know how you have come to acquire such divine powers?” pointing to his clothes hanging mid-air without any support.

Mook smiled and asked him to wait patiently. But Narrottam kept pestering him to answer his query.

Mook smiled and requested, “Please wait for some time before I can answer your query. I have to press my parents’ feet before they fall asleep.”

This made Narrottam very edgy. He sneered, “What makes a chandala so indolent that he can refute a learned brahmin?”

Mook stopped in his tracks and then turned towards Narrottam. He growled, "I told you I can talk to you only after attending to my parents. I am not that crane that was charred to death by your curse. If you don't have time then you can go to someone else!”

Narrottam was taken aback by the Chandala’s retort. 

“Who should I go to?”  Narrottam was already cursing himself for the thoughtless comment.