There are many tales in Puranas where god Vishnu explains the concept of maya to the wandering mendicant Narada. In each of those tales Vishnu puts Narada through different experiences of life to make him understand the ultimate grip of maya that overwhelms the human mind. In this story, Vishnu yet again gives a lesson in maya, this time by making Narada experience the female body, and what it mean to be a woman.

Once Narada, came to visit Vishnu, while he was making love to Lakshmi. Watching Narada enter the room, Lakshmi hastily left the room. Narada asked Vishnu – “ Oh supreme God! Why did you stop making love? I am an ascetic who is in complete control of senses. I have conquered maya… You need not have stopped making love midway, for I have no desires left for this world.”