Can God really do The Impossible?

We often face hardship in life. Difficulties sometimes drive us mad. Some situations put us to test and make us wonder if the world has really come to an end. We even start to think that even God cannot help us during such inevitable situations.

Read the following story about two people who though differing in their professions, shared the same goal in life. After reading the story, perhaps you would change your opinion about God.

Once upon a time, the celestial sage Narada was traveling in the sky. Going to different universes and spreading the glories of Sri Narayana is the duty of Narada. While carrying out his duty he came to a village on Earth. There he saw two people namely a Brahmana and a cobbler sitting under a banyan tree and fully engrossed in their respective jobs. Firstly Narada went to the Brahmana who happily received him.

Narada: Narayana! Narayana!

Brahmana: Oh Sage Narada! The best devotee of Sriman Narayana!. Welcome to this humble devotee’s place

Narada: By the mercy of the lord I hope everything is fine.

Brahmana: I am doing well swami. I observe all the rules and regulations of a true brahmana. I spend most part of the day reading the ancient scriptures and Vedas. I derive great pleasure out of it. I have been doing this reading for the past 40 years. I just crave to know how many births I have to take before I reach Vaikuntha. Oh Sage Narada! It would be really great if you can tell me when I will become eligible to reach Vaikuntha.

(Vaikuntha is the eternal abode of Sri Narayana. The ultimate aim of any devotee is to reach Vaikuntha. Upon reaching there every soul experiences supreme bliss and is no more subjected to birth and death)

Narada: My dear brahmana. I understand your desire to reach the Supreme Lord. But I myself do not know when you would reach Vaikuntha. I will ask Sri Narayana Himself and let you know. See you soon. Narayana! Narayana!

In saying so, Narada went to the other side of the tree and met the cobbler.

Cobbler: Welcome my dear sage Narada. Bless this humble devotee of Sri Narayana!

Narada: Narayana! Narayana! May you have all the blessings of the Lord. How are you doing?

Cobbler: I am doing quite well. I engage most part of the day in stitching new sandals and slippers. I am 40 years old now. Sometimes the life is very demanding and I really wish to know when I would reach Vaikuntha.

Narada: My dear devotee. I will definitely ask Sri Narayana and let you know soon. Let me leave for Vaikuntha now.

Narada getting curious himself to know about the future of the two devotees went straight to Vaikuntha and met Sri Narayana.

Narada: Narayana! Narayana! Oh Prabhu! You know everything – the past, present and the future. Please tell me when those two devotees would reach Vaikuntha.

Sri Narayana: (Smiling) My dear Narada! The brahmana has a long way to go. He has many many more births left for him. For the cobbler, this is his last birth. He will reach me after death. He will enjoy supreme bliss in Vaikuntha and will no longer take birth again.

Narada: (Puzzled) Oh Prabhu! I am totally confused. The brahmana knows everything about you through Vedas and other scriptures. He has been reading them for the past 40 years. Why is he not eligible to reach you? The cobbler knows nothing about the Vedas. All that he did his whole life was stitching slippers. How can he be eligible to reach Vaikuntha? I pray to you to please dispel this doubt of mine.

Narayana: My dear Narada! You will soon be cleared of your doubt. Now just go to the earth and tell those two devotees about the truth. If they ask you what I am doing in Vaikuntha, tell them that I was trying to squeeze an elephant through the hole of a needle.

Narada: As you say Prabhu. Narayana! Narayana!

Narada left Vaikuntha and reached the village on earth. Firstly he went to the brahmana.

Brahmana: Welcome again my dear Narada. Did you ask Sri Narayana about my future?

Narada: Oh Brahmana! I asked Sri Narayana about your future. I am sorry my dear devotee. You have a long way to go. You have many more births left for you. You would not reach Vaikuntha after your current birth.

Brahmana: That was shocking! Oh Narada! Can you please tell me what Sri Narayana was doing in Vaikuntha when you met Him?
Narada: (Remembering The Lord’s words) Sri Narayana was trying to squeeze an elephant through the hole of a needle.

Brahmana: (Laughing out loud) How can anyone squeeze the elephant through a needle? I do not believe a word you said. You are playing tricks with me. I won’t believe you.

Narada: Well, you don’t believe what I said about Sri Narayana. I don’t want to force you. May the good Lord be with you. Narayana! Narayana!

Saying so Narada went to the other side of the tree and met the cobbler.

Cobbler: Welcome my dear Narada. Did see Sri Narayana in Vaikuntha? What was He doing in Vaikuntha?

Narada: Oh devotee of the Lord! I am coming straight from Vaikuntha. When I met Sri Narayana, He was trying to squeeze an elephant through the hole of a needle.

Cobbler: (Highly excited) Wow!! Narayana squeezing an elephant through a needle! That must have been a wonderful scene. You must be very fortunate to have witnessed such a great event.

Narada: (Puzzled) Well, do you believe what I said about Sri Narayana?

Cobbler: Of course I do.

Narada: How can an elephant be squeezed into the hole of needle? Have you ever seen anyone doing it before?

Cobbler: (Pointing at the banyan tree) This mighty tree was once inside a small seed. That seed was of the size of a mustard. If Sri Narayana can squeeze such a big tree into a tiny seed, why can’t he squeeze a big elephant into the hole of a needle? I truly believe in what you said.

Narada: Narayana! Narayana! Oh my dear devotee! You have taught me the meaning of true devotion. I understand that you are in the most advanced stage of devotional service. You have complete faith in the Lord. Though you haven’t read any scriptures or done any austere penances, you have an unalloyed devotion towards Sri Narayana. You will reach Vaikuntha after your current birth. May the good Lord be with you! Narayana! Narayana!

Saying so Narada left for Vaikuntha.

The brahmana though well versed in all vedic scriptures, failed to understand the true meaning behind them and hence suffered multiple births. On the other hand, the cobbler though devoid of vedic knowledge had an unflinching devotion towards the Lord. By virtue of that devotion, he reached Vaikuntha after his death and enjoyed transcendental bliss.

We should all learn from the life of the cobbler in the story. When it comes to devotion, only the quality matters and not quantity. Like the cobbler let us all believe that God can do anything and everything. Let us all believe in the power of The Almighty. The next time we face hardship in life, let us remember the cobbler and surrender at the lotus feet of the Lord. Let us just do our duty and The Lord will surely take care of everything. May the good Lord give us devotion towards Him.

Jai Sri RadhaKrishna!