FATALISM

FATALISM

Faith in fatalism or destiny has often appealed to in the epic, especially when one is in a depressed state. Though fatalism is not the same as the Karma doctrine which propounds a theory about the results of actions as necessitating another life, the belief in fate occurs in the epic. The word ‘daiva’ is used in the sense of destiny and on two occasions the world is used to indicate the helplessness of man before fate. It appears that a school of thought which believed in destiny existed during the epic days.

Man’s helplessness before destiny is illustrated in the story of Trisanku. Trisanku makes all efforts to reach heaven physically. Vasistha refuses to help him and when he approaches Vasistha’s sons they get angry and curse him to become a chandala. He then approaches Visvamitra and tells him his sad story. He says ‘ I performed sacrifices, looked after my people righteously, and pleased the elders by my conduct.’ He then adds’ Destiny has been otherwise and my efforts have not borne fruit. Destiny takes everything into its control.

Destiny is the supreme goal.’ Even Rama finds an invisible power, called fate, which shapes the future of man, and thinks it worked in kaikeyi’s demands.’ It has reduced me to this eventuality and put kaikeyi in such a disposition. He goes on to say, ‘who can fight against destiny. Lakshman! Nobody can have control over it. We see its results but not its action!’ Even the sages are scared of destiny. It is destiny again which removes what is begun. Rama puts the entire blame of Kaikeyi’s demands on fate. In the case of destiny one cannot ask for a reason. Although Karma doctrine is closer to destiny, it is not identical with destiny, because it makes a clear reference to earlier actions of individuals and fruits therefore. Fate or ‘Daiva’ is ‘God’s will’, and not reaping the fruit of one’s actions. While Rama puts the blame on destiny for his exile, Laksmana opposes his view that one cannot escape destiny; Valiant men fight against any difficulty and do not blame destiny.’ They are not disheartened and thus can set aside the designs of fate. ‘I shall show my valour and foil the plans of destiny. Let me show which is better, fate or man’. These words of Laksmana are noteworthy. ‘He who is a coward and has no power believes in fate. But the brave with strong mind will not surrender to fate’. This outburst of Laksmana does not upset the mind of Rama. He remains as calm as before while Laksmana makes an emotional submission before him. At last, Rama wipes off tears of Laksmana and says calmly: “I am now bound by the words of our father”, implying, that Laksmana has no reason to show his power and that he cannot violate the words of the father, even if the views of the two brothers on the role of fate differ.