There are times when we are not able to quite enjoy or experience the very thing that we longed for, despite working hard for it. It is during these times we take cognizance of the omnipotent destiny which has probably not included our dearest wish in its design of our life just because it cannot accommodate this feature in the scheme of the universe.
A story from the Bhagavata Purana puts across this concept succinctly. There one lived a pious Brahmin called Atmadeva on the banks of river Godavari. He married a beautiful woman called Dhundhuli. Her diametrically opposite nature made it difficult for the couple to lead a happy married life. Atmadeva thought that things would fall into place, once they parented a child. His hope led to despair, when no such thing happened. The deeply frustrated young Brahmin set out to commit suicide. There he met a meritorious sage, who engaged him in a conversation. Soon enough the Rishi became privy to Atmadeva’s troubles. The sage’s far sightedness helped him to scan the journey of Atmadeva’s soul. He was able to see that Atmadeva was meant to be childless during his current birth. Nevertheless the goodness of the young man prompted the sage to help Atmadeva. He gave a magical fruit to the Brahmin. Atmadeva was told that if Dhundhuli consumed the fruit, she would conceive a child.
Man proposes God disposes. Dhundhuli was not keen on becoming a mother. She confided the same to her sister Mriduli. The two of them plotted. The pregnant Mriduli told her sister to feed the fruit to a cow and pretend to be pregnant. In due course of time, she said that she would hand over her baby to Dhundhuli. Atmadeva who was innocent of all that transpired was beside himself with joy when Dhundhuli passed of her sister’s baby as their child Dhundhukari. He also developed a deep affection for the cow’s human baby whom he brought up. For all practical purposes, Atmadeva thought that his dearest wish had come true. He did not realize that Karma had played its role. However, it had also cushioned him from the shock of recognising the truth because he had done no wrong during. Such is the power of destiny!