Every human being (nara, in Sanskrit) has two parts: who they are and what they have. Scriptures separate the two parts. The former is called Narayan. The latter is called Narayani. Narayana is the truth of man. Narayani is the container of that truth. What are we attracted by—the content, Narayan, or the container, Narayani? We know we are more than the beauty, the intelligence and the wealth that we possess; and yet, we understand and estimate every human being on the basis of these possessions. The tragedy of man is that in the pursuit of Narayani, he has forgotten Narayan. To draw attention to this, is the mission of the wily sage, Narada.

Illustration / Devdutt Pattanaik