Category:Destiny
Theme Analysis
The concept of destiny (daiva or karma) is a central pillar of Vedic philosophy, explaining the precise mechanism behind the happiness and distress experienced in the material world. Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that every living entity—from the highest human to the lowest dog or cat—receives a specific material body and a predetermined allotment of enjoyment and suffering based on their past activities. Because the jīva wanted to become an independent lord for sense enjoyment, they are placed under the strict supervision of material nature. Just as a court order must be accepted whether it brings profit or penalty, the conditioned soul must endure their material destiny. Therefore, endeavoring to artificially increase one's wealth or economic condition beyond what is ordained by destiny is a complete waste of valuable human energy.
While the material circumstances of life are rigidly fixed, Vedic philosophy is not entirely fatalistic. Human beings possess free will, specifically the choice to engage in spiritual life. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphatically states that while mundane efforts cannot alter material destiny, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Kṛṣṇa, can instantly change or burn away (karmāṇi nirdahati) the destiny of His pure devotees. When a person surrenders to Kṛṣṇa, they are no longer under the jurisdiction of ordinary karma; their future is personally guided by the Lord.
The ultimate lesson drawn from the śāstras is the cultivation of perfect satisfaction. A wise person, possessing true knowledge, remains unagitated by the unavoidable arrival of distress and is completely satisfied with whatever necessities come naturally by destiny. Instead of working like an ass to adjust temporary material conditions, the intelligent soul utilizes all their time and energy to advance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, thereby securing an eternal, blissful destiny in the spiritual sky.
- Predetermined Material Fate: The specific material body, wealth, happiness, and distress one experiences are strictly predetermined by past activities and cannot be changed by mundane effort.
- The Futility of Material Endeavor: Working tirelessly to improve one's economic condition beyond what is destined is a waste of human energy.
- The Power of Devotion: While material destiny is rigid, Lord Kṛṣṇa can and does change the destiny of those who fully surrender to Him in pure devotional service.
- True Satisfaction: A spiritually advanced person remains peaceful and satisfied with whatever is provided by destiny, utilizing their energy solely for Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Destiny - Escaping Material Fate Through Kṛṣṇa Consciousness.
Subcategories
This category has the following 9 subcategories, out of 9 total.
D
K
P
T
Pages in category "Destiny"
The following 111 pages are in this category, out of 111 total.
1
A
- A man's destiny is therefore ascertained by the birthtime constellation of stars, and a factual horoscope is made by a learned astrologer. It is a great science, and misuse of a science does not make it useless
- According to one's destiny, one enjoys allotted happiness and distress, even though one keeps himself in one place. This is the injunction of the sastras
- After being thus instructed, the King gave up the future happiness of sexual intercourse and by destiny remained sonless. Later, with the King's permission, the great saint Vasistha begot a child in the womb of Madayanti
- After his birth he (Rudra) began to cry: O destiny maker (Lord Brahma), teacher of the universe, kindly designate my name and place
- Although the brahmana friend of Lord Krsna was a householder, he was not busy accumulating wealth for very comfortable living; he was satisfied by the income which came according to his destiny. This is the sign of perfect knowledge
- Although we appear combined together in a family, society or nation, each of us has an individual destiny. Everyone takes birth according to individual past work; therefore everyone must individually enjoy or suffer the result of his own karma
- As impelled by the destiny of the jiva, the false ego, which is of three kinds, evolved from the mahat-tattva, in which the element of rajas predominates. From the ego, in turn, evolved many groups of five principles
- As one is put into distress by destiny, destiny can also put one in a happy situation. Destiny is extremely strong, but one can change destiny if one comes to the platform of Krsna consciousness. Karmani nirdahati kintu ca bhakti-bhajam - BS 5.54
- As you get miserable condition of life - you don't like it, but it comes - similarly, happy condition will also come according to your destiny. Why you are wasting time for this? This is the decision of the sastra
- At the time of death, your destiny is not in your hands - it is in the hands of nature. It is not our duty to speculate on what material body we are going to get next
B
- Because of destiny, the touch sensation, the interactions of air, and the situation of the mind, which is produced of the ethereal element, one receives a body according to his previous activities. A living entity transmigrates from one form to another
- Beyond what one is destined to enjoy
- Brahma thought to himself: Alas, it is wonderful that in spite of my being scattered all over, there is still insufficient population throughout the universe. There is no other cause for this misfortune but destiny
- By interactions of the air and the sensations of touch, one receives different forms according to destiny. By evolution of such forms, there is fire, and the eye sees different forms in color
D
- Daiva supervision gives us a body selected from 8,400,000 forms; the choice does not depend on our selection, but is awarded to us according to our destiny
- Destiny fixed the time for Maharaja Bharata's enjoyment of material opulence at one thousand times ten thousand years. When that period was finished, he retired from family life and divided the wealth he had received from his forefathers among his sons
- Devaki knew very well that because the killing of her many children had been ordained by destiny, Kamsa was not to be blamed. There was no need to give good instructions to Kamsa
- Do you know what is meant by "sacrifice"? Yes. That (sacrifice to Visnu, to Krsna) means pleasing Krsna. If Krsna is pleased, He can change destiny
- Dogs and cats, they have no idea that the dog is not this body. It is a soul also. It has taken a dog's body. Cat is also a soul, but by his karma, by his destiny, by his past work, he has to accept this body
E
- Every day he (Srutadeva) would get the necessities of life in just the quantity required, and not more. That was his destiny
- Every man is certainly controlled by destiny, which determines the results of one's fruitive activities - SB 10.5.30
- Everyone here wants to lord it over the material nature, and thus everyone creates his own destiny under the supervision of the Supreme Lord
- Everyone is suffering and enjoying the result of his own destiny. This destiny is made by the living beings in course of social intercourse
F
- First you must understand what actual progress is. The thing is that if you try to progress vainly, what is the use of trying? If it is a fact you cannot change your material destiny, why should you try for that
- Free choice makes destiny - if I act in goodness, then my future is good. And if I act badly, my future is bad. That is destiny. "Man is the architect of his own destiny."
H
- Here (in SB 10.4.5) we see that Devaki first focused Kamsa's attention on his atrocious activities, his killing of her many sons. Then she wanted to compromise with him by saying that whatever he had done was not his fault, but was ordained by destiny
- His (one's) ill-gotten wealth and possessions are taken by someone else, and he goes to the darkest region of hellish life. One should not, therefore, accumulate more wealth than allotted to him by destiny
- His (the living entity's) form changes according to destiny and by the arrangement of a superior authority which controls the interaction of air and the mental situation
I
- I (Prthu) think that upon the execution of my duties as king, I shall be able to achieve the desirable objectives described by experts in Vedic knowledge. This destination is certainly achieved by the pleasure of the SPG, who is the seer of all destiny
- If destiny cannot be changed, then why was Prahlada Maharaja urging this (taking up KC)? Generally, "destiny" means your material future. That you cannot change. But even that can be changed when you are in spiritual life
- If I want to love a dog and become a dog in my next life, instead of loving God and becoming like God in the next life, that is my choice. The prison and university are open to everyone, and by making our choice, we can make our future destiny
- In India the people hanker after Rama-rajya because the Personality of Godhead was the ideal king and all other kings or emperors in India controlled the destiny of the world for the prosperity of every living being who took birth on the earth
- In spite of your destiny, if you try for Krsna consciousness, you can achieve spiritual success. Otherwise, why did Prahlada Maharaja urge his friends, kaumara acaret: Take Krsna consciousness up from your very childhood
- In Srimad-Bhagavatam it is stated that a man takes his next body by daiva-netrena, which means by the supervision of the authority of the Supreme. In an ordinary sense, daiva is explained as destiny
- In the Brahma-samhita it is said that destiny can be changed by Krsna for His devotees
- In this world we are, every one of us are bound up by the laws of karma, destiny. We have got our destiny. So much happiness, so much distress we must have
- Instead of wasting your time to change your economic condition or your material destiny, employ this energy for Krsna consciousness
- Instead of wasting your time trying to change your economic condition or material destiny apart from Krsna consciousness, you should employ your priceless human energy for attaining Krsna consciousness, which cannot be checked
- It is by destiny, or the laws of karma, that one must suffer or enjoy. For instance, if one is given a court order, he must accept it, whether it brings suffering or profit. Similarly, everyone is under obligations to karma and it reactions
- It is understood from Vedic literature that the conditioned soul creates his own destiny
- It is understood from Vedic literature that the conditioned soul creates his own destiny and is offered a particular body by the laws of nature under the superintendence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who always accompanies him as Paramatma
K
- Kamsa begged Devaki's pardon by analyzing the matter deeply. He was not the cause of the death of Devaki's sons. Rather, this was their own destiny. Under the circumstances, Devaki should excuse Kamsa and forget his past deeds without lamentation
- Kindly tell Me where to find Krsna, the treasure of My life and best of My friends. Feeling separation from Him, I hereby condemn Providence, the shaper of My destiny
- Krsna said, "How could it be possible that he has conquered the strength of Balaramaji and taken away My father, arresting him as described by this man? Alas! Destiny is, after all, very powerful”
L
- Lord Balarama, being able to understand the destiny awaiting them (Bhimasena and Duryodhana), was not eager to go further in the matter. Therefore, instead of staying, He decided to return to the city of Dvaraka
- Lord Krsna thought: "Pure attachment will unite us (Krsna and the gopis) even at the expense of moral and religious duties (dharma). Destiny will sometimes bring us together and sometimes separate us"
M
- Make sure that everything is clear. Why are you so eager to progress? Try to understand what is what. The first thing is that your destiny cannot be changed. That's a fact
- Mr. Ford was destined to become a rich man. His destiny was there, and so he became a rich man. Another man may work just as hard as Ford, but this does not mean he will become as rich as Ford. This is practical
- My dear brother (Kamsa), by the influence of destiny you have already killed many babies, each of them as bright and beautiful as fire. But kindly spare this daughter (Yogamaya). Give her to me (Devaki) as your gift - SB 10.4.5
N
- Nanda Maharaja consoled his younger brother Vasudeva by saying that destiny is ultimately responsible for everything. Vasudeva should not be unhappy that his last child, the daughter, had gone to the heavenly planets
- Nanda Maharaja consoled his younger brother Vasudeva by saying that destiny is ultimately responsible for everything. Vasudeva should not be unhappy that his many children had been killed by Kamsa
- Naturally we cannot violate destiny. But if we do it, then we will suffer. But our destiny can be changed by Krsna when we are Krsna conscious. We do not do it, but Krsna will do it
- No one can ascertain his destiny as the Supreme Lord can; therefore the best course is to take direction from the Supreme Lord and act. BG 1972 purports
O
- One has a son or daughter because of unseen destiny, and when the son or daughter is no longer present, this also is due to unseen destiny. Destiny is the ultimate controller of everyone. One who knows this is never bewildered - SB 10.5.30
- One may be in one position or another according to destiny, but in any case one must continue to hear about the activities and pastimes of the Supreme Lord, regardless of circumstances
- One may set forth some imaginary reason why the nearest tree or house did not catch fire whereas a tree or house in a distant place did, but actually the reason is destiny
- One should be satisfied with whatever he achieves by his previous destiny, for discontent can never bring happiness. A person who is not self-controlled will not be happy even with possessing the three worlds
- One who is satisfied by that which is obtained by destiny is fit for liberation from this material existence
- Ordinarily destiny cannot be checked. Therefore instead of wasting your time for change your economic condition or material destiny, you employ this energy for Krsna consciousness. That cannot be checked
- Our destiny can be changed by Krsna when we are Krsna conscious
S
- Somebody is living in a poor slum and another man is living in a very palatial building. So simply by endeavoring that "I shall live in a palatial building, and I shall not live in this poor slumhole," it is not possible because the destiny is there
- Someone may ask, "Then shall we do nothing?" Yes do nothing simply to improve your material position. Whatever material happiness is allotted for you by destiny, you'll get it wherever you are
- Sometimes one loses his money on a public street, where everyone can see it, and yet his money is protected by destiny and not seen by others. Thus the man who lost it gets it back
- Suffering must befall me on account of my sinful activities, but Krsna says, "I will deliver you from all the reactions to your sinful activities." This should be clear. Ordinarily, destiny cannot be checked
T
- That (destiny, which is already settled up) you cannot change. Otherwise, everyone is trying to become very rich, very important. There is no scarcity of endeavor. But not that everyone is becoming like that. That is called destiny
- The body is the destiny. With the body everything is destined - your material happiness and distress, everything
- The Brahma-samhita (5.54) says, karmani nirdahati kintu ca bhakti-bhajam: destiny can be changed by Krsna for His devotees; otherwise it is not possible
- The cause of the material creation is described here (in SB 3.20.2) very lucidly. The first cause is daiva, or the destiny of the conditioned soul. The material creation exists for the conditioned soul who wanted to become a false lord for sense enjoyment
- The common man does not know the destiny of his life; he is simply busy in his flash of life, maintaining his family
- The demons or atheists have faith in their own endeavors, but although they work very hard day and night, they cannot get any more than their destiny
- The higher castes of society, namely the intelligent class of men guiding the destinies of the social orders, the administrative class of men guiding the law and order, and the productive class of men guiding the economic development of the society
- The king personally begged the muni's (Manduka Muni) pardon for the mistake of his men, and the saint at once went to Yamaraja, who prescribes the destiny of the living beings
- The Krsna consciousness movement affords an opportunity to develop the right destiny for human society
- The Krsna consciousness movement has been started to give philosophers, scientists, and people in general the proper knowledge about the destiny of life. Everyone should take advantage of this movement and learn the real goal of life
- The living entity is exactly like a dog, who, overcome with hunger, goes from door to door for some food. According to his destiny, he sometimes receives punishment and is driven out and at other times receives a little food to eat
- The living entity, being influenced by so many desires, wanders in different species of life according to destiny. Sometimes he is high, & sometimes he is low. Sometimes he goes to the heavenly planets, sometimes to hell, sometimes to the middle planets
- The particular living entity who was selected to be the descendant of Maharaja Puru, or the Pandavas, was not an ordinary living entity, and by the superior will of the Lord he was destined to be the successor to Maharaja Yudhisthira
- The physical elements, nature, the original cause, culture, destiny and the time element are all material causes. Agitated by these material causes, the eleven functions transform into hundreds of functions and then into thousands and then into millions
- The saintly brahmana said: To cover my body I use whatever is available, whether it be linen, silk, cotton, bark or deerskin, according to my destiny, and I am fully satisfied and unagitated
- The Vedic system is not fatalistic. It is fatalistic only in the sense that one's material destiny cannot be changed. But your spiritual life is in your hands
- The whole Vedic civilization is based on the understanding that destiny allows only a certain amount of material happiness in this world, and that our efforts should therefore be directed toward self-realization
- The word "destiny" is now defined. Unintelligent persons who do not understand the meaning of life are just like animals. Animals do not know the past, present and future of life, nor are they able to understand it. But a human being can understand this
- The work of unseen destiny cannot be ascertained by practical experimental knowledge, and therefore one must be satisfied by reasoning that everything is done by supreme providence
- There are great acaryas like Sankaracarya, Ramanujacarya, Madhvacarya, Visnu Svami, those who practically guided the whole destiny of Indian civilization - even Lord Buddha, He was Indian - but all of them accepted these authorized scriptural
- There was a demon of the name Sambara who was destined to be killed by Pradyumna. The Sambara demon knew of his destiny
- This (SB 9.9.33) is an example of destiny. King Saudasa was condemned by the curse of Vasistha, and therefore even though he was well qualified he could not restrain himself from becoming a tigerlike Raksasa, for this was his destiny
- This is the fault of My own destiny. Why should I needlessly accuse you? There is no intimate relationship between you and Me. Krsna, however, is My life and soul. It is We who live together, and it is He who has become so cruel
- This Krsna consciousness movement is for very intelligent, high-class, fortunate persons. Because they are going to guide the destiny of the human society
- This reason (the destiny) also applies to the transmigration of the soul, by which a prime minister in one life may become a dog in the next
- Those who are engaged in devotional service, they are not under karma. Their destiny is being prepared by Krsna
- Those who serve Him with love and devotion, Krsna can change destiny. So sacrifice, yajna, means pleasing Krsna. Our whole Krsna consciousness movement means pleasing Krsna. That is the whole program
- To cover my body I use whatever is available, whether it be linen, silk, cotton, bark or deerskin, according to my destiny, and I am fully satisfied and unagitated
W
- We have to adopt the tactics of yoga, and in this way, even by doing some ordinary work, which, by destiny or circumstances we are put into, there is no harm
- When a fire, for some unseen reason, leaps over one piece of wood and sets fire to the next, the reason is destiny. Similarly, when a living being accepts one kind of body & leaves aside another, there is no other reason than unseen destiny - SB 10.1.51
- When they (Nanda Maharaja and the cowherd men) were all thus consulting among themselves, Krsna understood their minds, and in order to assure them of their destiny in the spiritual kingdom, He showed them the spiritual sky
- Who wants distress? E.g. in our country, Mahatma Gandhi was killed by his own countrymen. He was a great man, he was protected by so many followers, he was beloved by all - and still he was killed. Destiny
- Why shall I waste my time trying to avoid distress and gain so-called happiness? Let me utilize my energy for Krsna consciousness. - That is intelligence. You cannot check your destiny. The magazine's question touches on this point
Y
- Yamaraja, the great controller of life after death, decides the living entities' destinies in their next lives
- You cannot change your destiny simply by working hard like asses and dogs. No. But you can utilize your special human energy for improving your Krsna consciousness. That's a fact
- You cannot change your destiny. If you have to be, have to work like a coolie, even after becoming Ph.D. you'll have to work like a coolie. You cannot change it
- You cannot change your destiny. Now, take for example, there are so many agricultural improvement. Does it mean that there is no person who is needy? There are so many needy person. But has the agricultural education improved their lot? No
- Your main business is if you want to make success, your life, then save time for advancing in Krsna consciousness. That is proper utilization of life. That does not depend on destiny