Great, Greater, Greatest

Once upon a time, there was a dialogue between Lord Vishnu and Narada.

Lord Vishnu Do you know who is the greatest of all the five elements?
Narada Thought for a moment and replied: The Earth, of course, my Lord. Who can be greater than the Earth? She bears the burden of all creatures living and non- living.
Lord Vishnu But three-fourths of the earth is covered with water. So there is more water than the Earth. So who is greater, water or Earth?
Narada Well, in that case, obviously the water is the greater one!
Lord Vishnu Do you know that at one time, the Sage Agastya drank the whole of the ocean? Strangely, the whole ocean fitted into the stomach of Sage Agastya. So isn’t Sage Agastya greater than the water?
Narada Well Lord, it seems he is.
Lord Vishnu But eventually, Agastya became a star in the sky. He is one of the seven sages in the constellation Sapt Rishi (Great Bear/ Ursa Major). So, is the sky larger or is Agastya?
Narada (Sheepishly) Surely, the sky is greater than the star, for it has so many stars and planets in it.
Lord Vishnu Do you know, that the when God came to the Earth in the form of Vamana Avtar, King Bali promised to give land equal to that which could be measured by Vamana in three steps? At that time Vamana, measured the whole of the Earth in one step. In the second step He covered the entire space between the Earth and the sky. There was no place left for Him to take His third step. It was then that King Bali asked Vamana to place His third step on his head. So Lord Vamana placed His foot on the head of Bali. So, Narada is God greater or is the sky greater than God?
Narada Lord, I am totally confused. You are the greatest. I can not comprehend anything. You are the greatest that is all that I can understand!
Lord Vishnu Do you know where God lives? He lives in the heart of the devotee! So who is greater; the devotee or God?
Narada Do you mean that the devotee is greater than God?
Lord Vishnu Of course he is!
This story was narrated by Bhagwan Baba during one of his discourses.
Bhagwan Baba in all His benevolence summed up saying, “God is Bhakta Paradheena, that is, He is the servant of devotees. There is none superior to a devotee in this world. God’s heart can be melted only through love. So, develop total love.”