CHINNA KATHA FROM BHAGAVAN’S DISCOURSE. No. 25.

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25 - God does everything for the best

 

There was once a Minister to a King who was in the habit of declaring

whatever happened was for one's good. One day the King cut his finger

while slicing a piece of sugar cane. Seeing the bleeding finger the

Minister said as usual " God does everything for the best " . The King flew

into a rage and said " Here I am suffering with the pain of a bleeding

finger and you say God does everything for the best. Enough of your

philosophy! Is this the way of consoling me? How can this be for the

best when the pain is intense and real? The King immediately committed

the Minister to prison. Even then the Minister said calmly " Even this

sentence is for my best. "

 

A few days later, the King went alone for hunting in a forest. When the

hunting expedition was over the King was resting under a tree. Just then

the servants of a certain tribal chief of the forest seized the King,

bound his hand and foot. The King questioned them: " Why do you bind me?

What are you going to do with me? " The tribesmen replied: " We are going

to sacrifice you at the altar of our goddess Kali. It is the custom to

offer her a human sacrifice once a year. The time has arrived. We have

been looking out for a human being. We are fortunate in having found

you. " The King remonstrated: " Let me go, I am the King of the realm, you

cannot kill me for the sacrifice. " The tribesmen laughed and said: " We

are glad that this year's sacrifice would be unique and our goddess will

be highly pleased because we are going to offer as sacrifice a great

personage. "

 

The King was carried and duly placed on a sacrificial altar. Things were

ready for the death blow; the priest noticed the bandage on his left

hand forefinger. They removed the bandage only to find that a portion of

it was cut. The priest said: " This man is not acceptable as a sacrifice

to our goddess. A man with a defect in his body is not fit for

sacrifice. Set him free. "

 

The King remembered the words of the Minister uttered when his finger

was cut " God does everything for the best. " He realised that the injury

to his finger alone had saved him from death. He at once hurried home

and went straight to the prison to set the Minister free. He said, " I

seek your forgiveness for the rash and cruel treatment accorded to you. "

The Minister said: " You're Majesty; you have done no harm. There is

nothing to forgive. " The King once again questioned: " Why did you say

that my sending you to prison is for your good? " The Minister replied:

" If I had not been confined in prison, I would have accompanied you when

you went for hunting. I would have been in your Company. When the

tribesmen came to know that you were unfit for sacrifice, they would

have chosen me and offered me as a sacrifice. So, God does everything

for the best. "