Disciple:
Pranam, Gurudev.
Gurudev:
Pranam, brother. Pranam.
Disciple:
Gurudev, there is a saying that everything is written—that nothing happens outside of what is predestined. How true is this?
Gurudev:
You know, there is a saying: "The writing of the Ordainer cannot be undone." There is a very good story about this. I believe I've told it before, but let me share it again.
Gurudev:
Once, a saint used to sit for penance under a tree at around 2:30 or 3:00 in the morning. One night, his meditation was interrupted when he saw a very tall man walking briskly past. Since the saint was sitting right by the road so early in the morning, he grew suspicious. He thought, "Could this be a thief or a dacoit?" He stood up and blocked the man's path, saying, "You cannot go further."
Gurudev:
The man replied, "Let me pass; I have a lot of work to do."
Gurudev:
The saint insisted, "First, tell me who you are and where you are going, then I will let you go."
Gurudev:
The man said, "Look, two children—a boy and a girl—are being born tonight. I am the Ordainer of Fate (Vidhata), and I am going to write their destinies."
Gurudev:
The saint asked, "Is that so? And what will you write?"
Gurudev:
The Ordainer replied, "The girl is being born into a landlord's house. Eventually, she will end up in a brothel. However, it is written in her fate that she will never go hungry; every day, a man will come to her house and provide her with food. As for the boy, he is being born in a milkman's house. He will become very wealthy, perform many acts of charity, and lead a prosperous life. This is what I am going to write. Now, move aside."
Gurudev:
The saint stepped aside and let him pass. Many years later, the saint suddenly remembered this encounter. He decided to find the two houses. He first went to the landlord's house and found it deserted and in ruins. An old man came out and told him that the daughter of that house was now living in a brothel. Then the saint visited the milkman's house. He saw a massive crowd, piles of wealth, and food being distributed to the poor.
Gurudev:
The saint thought, "The Ordainer was telling the truth. The milkman's son is wealthy and charitable, and the girl ended up in a brothel, but she is supposed to receive food every day."
Gurudev:
The saint then decided he wanted to "test" or challenge the Ordainer. He went to the woman at the brothel and, pretending to be a concerned holy man, said, "Daughter, show me your hand." After looking at it, he said, "Tonight is a very dangerous night for you. You must not allow any man to enter your house. If you do, you will die. I can see it clearly written here."
Gurudev:
Being a simple woman and seeing he was a saint, she believed him. "I won't let anyone in tonight," she promised.
Gurudev:
The saint's goal was to stop someone from bringing her food, thereby breaking the "daily food" prophecy. He climbed a tree outside her house to watch. He saw several men approach, but she turned every single one of them away, claiming she was unwell.
Gurudev:
Just before dawn, the saint saw a tall, familiar figure—the Ordainer of Fate—walking toward the house. The door opened on its own, and the Ordainer entered. After a moment, he came back out. The saint jumped down and confronted him.
Gurudev:
The Ordainer said, "You tested me before, and you are testing me again. Do you know who I am? I am the Ordainer. I wrote that she would receive sustenance every day. Because you blocked everyone else from coming to her, I had to come myself. I have left her money so she can buy food for tomorrow. My writing cannot be undone."
Gurudev:
The saint realized his mistake and bowed at his feet. The Ordainer simply said, "What is written by the Ordainer will happen. If a human creates an obstacle, I will come myself to ensure the destiny is fulfilled."
Disciple:
So, Gurudev, the core message is that "the writing of the Ordainer cannot be undone." But I have heard in various scriptures that if one holds onto God's feet, He can turn a mountain into a molehill. Is that also part of what is written?
Gurudev:
Listen, what the Ordainer has written is final. If an obstacle arises, the Ordainer Himself intervenes to clear it.
Disciple:
So, even the person who "rewrites" it is the same Ordainer?
Gurudev:
Exactly. He is the one who comes and manages it.
Disciple:
I ask because I want to know if what is written can be changed. You once mentioned the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra. In that story, there was a change in destiny regarding death—a clash between the messengers of Death (Yama) and Lord Shiva. Was that not a change in what was written?
Gurudev:
You have to understand. The prophecy was about the time and fact of death. What changed was the manner of it. It is said that when death arrives for one who has mastered the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra, the messengers of Yama (the God of Death) do not come; instead, the messengers of Shiva (Shivaduta) come to take the soul.
Gurudev:
Yama's messengers have no right to touch such a person. Death—the transition—still happens because it is written, but instead of being taken to the realm of Yama, the soul is taken to the realm of Shiva. The messengers of Death cannot even stand near such a person.
Gurudev:
The writing is concrete; it will happen. But the result of your actions (Karma)—like performing the Mahamrityunjaya—determines how that destiny is fulfilled. The Ordainer's script is final. If you have done the work, Shiva's messengers will come for you, and Yama's messengers will have to return empty-handed because you are "Shiva's food" now, not Yama's.
Disciple:
So even if we pray for something to be stopped, the event might happen, but the experience changes?
Gurudev:
You must face the fruits of your Karma. If you have performed the penance, the experience at the moment of destiny changes. But the script written on the sixth day of life remains final. It does not waver. Whether it is fulfilled through others or the Ordainer Himself, it will be fulfilled.
Disciple:
That was a wonderful explanation, Gurudev. So, the writing is final, but our Karma influences the path of its fulfillment.
Gurudev:
Yes. This was just a short story to illustrate a deep truth.
Disciple:
Thank you, Gurudev. Pranam.
Gurudev:
Pranam.
Spiritual Insight
This profound teaching reveals the delicate relationship between destiny and karma. The story of the saint who tried to outwit the Ordainer demonstrates that what is written will inevitably come to pass—the Ordainer Himself ensures it. Yet, the discussion of the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra reveals a deeper truth: while the event (death) cannot be avoided, the experience of that event can be transformed through spiritual practice. Death still comes, but instead of Yama's messengers, Shiva's messengers arrive to take the soul to the realm of Shiva rather than the realm of Death. This is the essence of spiritual practice—not to avoid destiny, but to transform how we meet it.