When Narad was born, his mother served rishis in an ashram. She would fetch water from the river, collect firewood from the forest, feed and milk the cows and do other such chores in the ashram. When the rishis were not studying or meditating, Narad’s mother would send him to them. They would place their hands on his head and bless him:
“O little one, become a great devotee of God and do serve everybody.”

When the rishis sang kirtans, little Narad would always listen and also tap the rhythm with his tiny hands. The first words he spoke were God’s names. It pleased everyone when he spoke these names in his squeaky voice. By sitting with rishis in this manner, he learnt many more words. From a young age Narad became more and more interested in singing devotional kirtans. By the age of five he became a great devotee.

He became an expert in singing and playing the tamburo.

Around this time a sad event happened. Narad’s mother was bitten by a snake while milking cows and died. So at this tender young age Narad became an orphan. He had often heard the rishis say that God was everyone’s father and mother. They had said that by praying to Him, one’s grief and unhappiness would be removed. Narad remembered these words. So early one morning, he took his tamburo and left the ashram. He walked northwards, towards the Himalayas.

He passed village after village. He swam across many rivers. He climbed over the mountains. Finally he entered a thick forest. Here, there lived many wild animals. Yet he was not afraid. He continued walking through, until he came to a beautiful and peaceful river. He bathed in its cool, refreshing water. He filtered some water and drank a little. He then looked around and saw a giant pipal tree. Underneath its cool shade he sat cross-legged, closed his eyes and began to pray, “O God! You are my father and my mother. Take me into your lap.”

He prayed so sincerely that tears rolled down his pink cheeks. Time passed. Minutes into hours. Hours into days. No food, no water. Slowly, his mind calmed down. He felt peaceful. He forgot all his pain and grief. He experienced great peace and happiness. As he continued praying and meditating his happiness increased. Then he opened his eyes. He began to see joy in everything. He felt like singing. His fingers touched the strings of the tamburo. For a few seconds he hummed. Then he began to sing.

Since then, Naradji spent all his life singing God’s glory with the tamburo.

Naradji became such a great sage because of the holy environment of living in an ashram. More important was the effect of satsang and service of sadhus.