Narada Muni story: Bring flowers and fruits!

From Kharagpur, Jati Sekhara Prabhu was about to leave Vamsidasa, having been ordered to return by the head of the Gaudiya Mission. Jati Sekhara asked Vamsidasa for his mercy and blessings. Offering obeisances to Babaji Maharaja he joined his hands and implored him for advice about what kind of sadhana he should do. Vamsidasa then answered by speaking to Gopala, “There was a tree on the seashore. It was sometimes on the sand and sometimes in the water. Being questioned about his situation by Narada, the tree said, ‘I will stop the sea coming by building a dam of sand.’ Later, when Jati Sekhara Prabhu asked a leading member of the Gaudiya Mission what this meant, that devotee explained that the tree on the seashore represents the position of the jivas, the tatastha-sakti of the Lord — sometimes in maya and sometimes out of it. Just as it is impossible to build a dam of sand across the ocean, it is impossible to get the Lord’s mercy by just following sadhana — what to speak of any material means. We must get the mercy of the devotees. Then the Lord will be merciful to us and we shall be favoured. The mercy of the spiritual master is most essential. Babaji Maharaja continued, “Narada once asked Krsna a similar question. Krsna replied, ‘Bring flowers and fruit. Then worship Me.’ Narada then asked where he could get fruit and flowers from, and Krsna said, ‘If you cannot get these items, then chant My name even only once at the end of each day.'”