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Life History of Sages - Naradha
Naradha the musician
 Naradha was a great exponent of music. But, at the same time, he was proud and vain about his talent. Two stories are related in 'Arpudha Ramayana' as to how Lord Vishnu tamed his vanity.
In the first one, Vishnu takes Naradha to a forest where he sees many beautiful young women with broken hands and legs. Vishnu asked them the reason for their condition. They said they were Ragadevadhais and since someone named Naradha was playing the ragas in the wrong way, the has become disabled. On hearing this, Naradha's vanity disappeared.
In the second story, the sage visits Hanuman who starts singing. On hearing the enchanting and soul-stirring music, even the rocks melt. Naradha's veena, which he had placed on a rock beside him, starts floating. But Hanuman stopped singing, the rocks hardened up once again.
The veena got stuck to the rock and Hanuman told Naradha to sing and melt the rock to retrieve the veena. Naradha agreed and starts singing. But his singing was of no avail. The rock did not melt to his music. Then Hanuman sang and the rock melted again. Along with that melted Naradha's vanity. He bowed to Hanuman, took possession of his veena and left the place with his pride vanquished.
The world was caught in the snare of 'Kali' and Naradha paid a visit to earth to see the ill-effects of 'Kali'. He came to Gokulam where lord Krishna had spent his childhood days and he saw a beautiful young woman near the banks of the Yamuna. She was lamenting and near her were two old men who had fainted. Some women were around them fanning and at the same time consoling the weeping woman.
When Naradha approached her, she bowed and told him thus, "You seem to be a divine sage and I request you to help me. My name is Bhakti Devi. I have two sons, namely Gnanam and Vairagyam. I was born in
Karnataka and later I was wandering in Maharashtra.
"I reached Kurjara state finally and to my dismay turned into an old woman. My sons also turned into old men. Then we came to Gokulam where I
regained my original form but my sons did not. I am feeling depressed and only you can to help me. These women near my sons are the holy rivers of this country."
Naradha took pity on the woman and tried his best to restore their condition but all his efforts failed. Then he asked the four sages, namely Sanakar, Sanandhanar, Sanathkumarar and Sanathsujathar, for their counsel. They told him to recite Bhagavatham in front of the old men, which he did. The old men regained their original form to their mother's joy.
She shed tears of happiness. Lord Krishna appeared before her and granted her a boon. He told her that from then on 'Mukti' would be at her service and at her beck and call. He blessed her that her name and fame would spread throughout the world.
This interesting allegory can be found in the Uttarakandam of Padhmapurana.
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