One day Narada asked Lord Mahavishnu, "Lord, who is your favourite devotee?"
Narada smiled, for he knew the obvious answer, it was him.
Lord Mahavishnu replied, "That poor farmer on earth is the one I hold dearest".
Narada was surprised, he had dedicated his soul to Mahavishnu and never thought of anything else. He wondered what the Lord saw in the farmer.
"What is it, in him, that makes him so dear to you?", Narada questioned.
Lord Mahavishnu smiled and said,"Why don't you see for yourself?"
And so, one night, Lord Mahavishnu and Narada visited the farmer's house in disguise.
"We are travellers, we've been walking for three days and are completely exhausted. Would you be kind enough to offer us a place to stay for a day?", asked Lord Mahavishnu.
"Yes brother, why not? Please come in. I have very small house, you can sleep here.", replied the farmer.
Next morning, the farmer awoke before the break of day, said a small prayer, arranged for breakfast and then prepared to leave.
"Brothers, please forgive me for not being able to spend the day with you, if I don't work today, my children will go hungry",saying so, he left.
From a distance Lord Mahavishnu and Narada watched the farmer toiling in the field under the hot sun. In the evening, he returned.
"You must be hungry, I'll get you some dinner", he said and offered them some food.
They all ate and went to bed. Before going to bed, the farmer again said a small prayer:
"My great Lord Mahavishnu, thank you for giving me another beautiful day and for being able to help these poor travellers."
Then he too went to bed.
The following morning, Lord Mahavishnu and Narada thanked the farmer and left.
Narada was totally confused by now, he questioned,"Lord, this man thought of you only twice a day and that too for less than a minute! Whereas I think of you all the time! Still why do you like him?"
Lord Mahavishnu smiled and said,"Ok, then just do as I say. Keep this pot of water on your head and go around that mountain,without spilling a single drop. Remember don't spill the water."
Narada obeyed. The pot was full upto the brim, it became very diffult for him to walk without spilling. He watched every step he took. At the end of the day, Narada went to Lord Mahavishnu with the pot of water and told him proudly, "Lord, I didn't spill even a drop of water."
Lord Mahavishnu smiled and asked,"Now tell me, how many times in the day did you think of me?"
Narada hung his head in shame and said,"Lord, I didn't think of you, not even once. I was so busy watching over the pot, that I didn't find time to think of anything at all."
Lord Mahavishnu replied,"See that is why the farmer is dear to me. He performs his daily duties, which is exactly what I expect from him. Despite his busy schedule, he finds time for me twice a day."
Narada's pride had vanished by then, he now understood and respected the farmer.
