This is a story narrated by Shri Satya Sai Baba in one of his discourses. It is about how fate is strong and can be overcome only by grace of God.
Ayodhya was ruled by Raja Dasharath. Adjacent to Ayodhya was the kingdom of Koshal. King of Koshal had a beautiful, talented and virtuous daughter named Kaushalya. The king decided to give his daughter in marriage to Raja Dasharath. During the same period, Lanka was ruled by Ravana who had obtained lot of boons by his penance. The boons that Ravana received made him invincible so much that he would not be even killed by Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh or by any other god.
Once Ravana inquired with Brahma about the time and nature of his (Ravana's) death, because it is stated in smrutis that anyone who is born must die. Brahma said to Ravana that he (Ravana) would be killed by a son born to Kaushalya whose marriage was scheduled to take place in next 5 days with Raja Dasharath. Brahma further told that Lord Vishnu will take birth as Shriram in the womb of Kaushalya and will have Laxman, Bharat and Shatrughna as his brothers and that Shriram will be responsible for his (Ravana's) death. Brahma also said that this has been decided on the day which he (Ravana) was born and hence his (Ravans's) valor and strength will not be able to save him from death.
For a while, Ravana thought about this and decided to overcome his fate. He thought that if the marriage of Dasharath and Kaushalya did not take place then the question of Shriram killing him will not arise. Immediately he left in his airplane with his minister and asuras to fight against Dasharath. Raja Dasharath, at that time, was engaged in jalakrida (water sports) in Sharayu river. Ravana made them drown in Sharayu river along with all the people in the boat. He captured Kaushalya on the way. He felt that he should not get the blame of killing woman who had no support. He landed in his airplane on an island in the Sharayu river and locked Kaushalya in big box. He kept an asura to guard the box. The asura had ability to transform himself into a crocodile. He instructed the asura that the box should be brought to him unopened when he demanded it. Meanwhile Dasharath and his minister clung to a plank of a boat and were saved from drowning. They somehow reached the same island where the box was kept. The asura who was guarding the box had left to fight with another crocodile in water. On seeing the box, Dasharath opened it and found Kaushalya in the box. As it was the auspicious time for the marriage, Dasharath married to Kaushalya in Gandharva vivah ritual, in presence of his minister. When they saw the asura coming towards them, they - Dasharath, Kaushalya and minister - hid in the box again .
On reaching Lanka, Ravana called for Lord Brahma. He explained to him how he has overcome the fate. Brahma contradicted his statement and stated that marriage has already taken place, and you cannot overcome the fate. Immediately Ravana called for the box and opened it in presence of Brahma. To his surprise he found Dasharath, Kaushalya and minister in the box. When he tried to kill them with his sword Brahma intervened. He explained to him that he (Ravana) will earn a bad name by killing a newly wedded couple as it will be contrary to Dharma.
Brahma said to Ravana "you had imprisoned one person in the box but they have become three now. Is it not possible for it to become million? What is the guarantee that one of them is not Shriram? If you get killed because of this act, your lifespan will be reduced. So it is better that you allow them to go and you live at least till the death comes to you."
Ravana thought over it and finally allowed all three to go to Ayodhya.
This incident indicates that fate is all powerful. It can be overcome only by grace of the Lord or Guru.
Ayodhya was ruled by Raja Dasharath. Adjacent to Ayodhya was the kingdom of Koshal. King of Koshal had a beautiful, talented and virtuous daughter named Kaushalya. The king decided to give his daughter in marriage to Raja Dasharath. During the same period, Lanka was ruled by Ravana who had obtained lot of boons by his penance. The boons that Ravana received made him invincible so much that he would not be even killed by Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh or by any other god.
Once Ravana inquired with Brahma about the time and nature of his (Ravana's) death, because it is stated in smrutis that anyone who is born must die. Brahma said to Ravana that he (Ravana) would be killed by a son born to Kaushalya whose marriage was scheduled to take place in next 5 days with Raja Dasharath. Brahma further told that Lord Vishnu will take birth as Shriram in the womb of Kaushalya and will have Laxman, Bharat and Shatrughna as his brothers and that Shriram will be responsible for his (Ravana's) death. Brahma also said that this has been decided on the day which he (Ravana) was born and hence his (Ravans's) valor and strength will not be able to save him from death.
For a while, Ravana thought about this and decided to overcome his fate. He thought that if the marriage of Dasharath and Kaushalya did not take place then the question of Shriram killing him will not arise. Immediately he left in his airplane with his minister and asuras to fight against Dasharath. Raja Dasharath, at that time, was engaged in jalakrida (water sports) in Sharayu river. Ravana made them drown in Sharayu river along with all the people in the boat. He captured Kaushalya on the way. He felt that he should not get the blame of killing woman who had no support. He landed in his airplane on an island in the Sharayu river and locked Kaushalya in big box. He kept an asura to guard the box. The asura had ability to transform himself into a crocodile. He instructed the asura that the box should be brought to him unopened when he demanded it. Meanwhile Dasharath and his minister clung to a plank of a boat and were saved from drowning. They somehow reached the same island where the box was kept. The asura who was guarding the box had left to fight with another crocodile in water. On seeing the box, Dasharath opened it and found Kaushalya in the box. As it was the auspicious time for the marriage, Dasharath married to Kaushalya in Gandharva vivah ritual, in presence of his minister. When they saw the asura coming towards them, they - Dasharath, Kaushalya and minister - hid in the box again .
On reaching Lanka, Ravana called for Lord Brahma. He explained to him how he has overcome the fate. Brahma contradicted his statement and stated that marriage has already taken place, and you cannot overcome the fate. Immediately Ravana called for the box and opened it in presence of Brahma. To his surprise he found Dasharath, Kaushalya and minister in the box. When he tried to kill them with his sword Brahma intervened. He explained to him that he (Ravana) will earn a bad name by killing a newly wedded couple as it will be contrary to Dharma.
Brahma said to Ravana "you had imprisoned one person in the box but they have become three now. Is it not possible for it to become million? What is the guarantee that one of them is not Shriram? If you get killed because of this act, your lifespan will be reduced. So it is better that you allow them to go and you live at least till the death comes to you."
Ravana thought over it and finally allowed all three to go to Ayodhya.
This incident indicates that fate is all powerful. It can be overcome only by grace of the Lord or Guru.
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