AFTER ONE TING IS AH NEXT!

 

AFTER ONE TING IS AH NEXT!

But what if, that 'next' is the divine clearing your path for something beyond what you can see.

At times, life feels like it's slipping away—whether it's money, relationships, health, or career opportunities. We may also struggle with the blessings we're denied, such as marriage, children, or wealth, leading us to feel that life is unfair.  It somehow feels like one struggle after another.

We may wonder, "Why me?" and question why bad things happen when we try to live right, especially when others seem to thrive despite their lack of virtue.

However, what if these challenges were not random misfortunes, but purposeful shifts orchestrated by the divine?

In Sanatan Dharma, spiritual growth is compared to climbing a ladder, and when it's time for you to elevate spiritually, your chosen deity may remove material attachments—not as a punishment, but as preparation for the next step.

This wisdom is reflected in scripture.

1. King Muchukunda: The Warrior’s Awakening

(Bhagavata Purana, Canto 10, Chapter 51, Verses 32-40)

Story: King Muchukunda was a mighty warrior who spent his life defending the devas in battle. After years of service, he returned home to discover his kingdom was gone, his people forgotten, and his wealth meaningless. Stripped of everything, he retreated to a cave, where he turned to deep meditation.

Lesson: It was in this solitude that he realized a profound truth: divine wisdom was the only wealth that could never be taken away. When Lord Krishna appeared before him, Muchukunda recognized that his losses had been a blessing in disguise, leading him toward the ultimate treasure—spiritual enlightenment.

Thought: Consider that despite service to the Devas, Muchukunda still lost everything but this was the means by which Lord Krishna came to him.

2. King Nala and the Curse of Kali

(Mahabharata, Vana Parva, Chapters 52-79)

Story: King Nala was a righteous and prosperous ruler, blessed with a devoted wife, Damayanti. However, the malevolent spirit Kali (not to be confused with Goddess Kali) harboured jealousy toward Nala’s piety and waited for an opportunity to ruin him.

One day Nala failed to cleanse himself properly before his daily prayers, Kali seized the moment, entering his mind and igniting an uncontrollable desire for gambling. Under Kali’s influence, Nala lost his entire kingdom, wealth, and even his clothes in a reckless game of dice. Humiliated and exiled, he wandered through forests, enduring immense suffering.

Lesson: Over time, Nala’s hardships purified his heart, and with the guidance of Sage Brihadashva, he regained his wisdom and strength to defeat Kali’s influence and reclaim his kingdom. His suffering was not a punishment but a necessary test to rid him of his bad habit, making him a greater ruler and a spiritually enlightened being.

Thought: Consider how a bad habit was the means by which God transformed Nala.

3. Draupadi’s Humiliation and Divine Intervention.

(Mahabharata, Sabha Parva, Chapter 66)

Story: Draupadi, the queen of the Pandavas, endured one of the most harrowing trials in Hindu mythology. In a game of dice manipulated by Shakuni, her husband Yudhishthira lost everything, including his kingdom, his brothers, and even Draupadi herself.

Dragged into the royal court, she was publicly humiliated as Duryodhana ordered her disrobing. She pleaded with her husbands, but they were powerless. Finally, with no one else to turn to, she raised her hands in complete surrender to Lord Krishna.

Lesson: In that moment of absolute faith, Krishna intervened, ensuring that her saree became endless, preventing her dishonour. This event marked a pivotal spiritual transformation for Draupadi—she learned that even the most powerful human support can fail, but divine grace never does.

Her loss, though devastating, led to a deeper realization of surrender and devotion, reinforcing that when the divine takes away human reliance, it is to replace it with divine dependence.

Thought: Consider how it was through loss, humiliation and embarrassment that Draupadi found Krishna.

4. King Rantideva: The Ultimate Sacrifice

(Bhagavata Purana, Canto 9, Chapter 21)

Story: King Rantideva was renowned for his generosity. Unlike other kings who sought wealth, he dedicated his life to serving the needy. Eventually, his charity led him to extreme poverty, where he had no food or water left.

On the brink of starvation, just as he was about to eat his last meal, a series of guests arrived—each hungrier than the last. With unwavering faith, he gave away everything he had, choosing compassion over self-preservation.

Lesson: In that moment, the gods appeared before him, revealing that his suffering had been a divine test. His selflessness had elevated him beyond material existence, granting him eternal spiritual wisdom and liberation (moksha).

Thought: Consider how, that despite always helping others, it was the denial of sufficient food that transformed and elevated Rantideva.

5. Sudama’s Poverty and Krishna’s Grace

(Bhagavata Purana, Canto 10, Chapters 80-81)

Story: Sudama, was a childhood friend of Lord Krishna. Though he lived in dire poverty, he never complained and remained devoted to righteousness. One day, his wife urged him to seek Krishna’s help. Though reluctant, he took a small offering of poha (flattened rice) and set off to meet his old friend.

When he arrived, Krishna embraced him joyfully and treated him like royalty. However, Sudama, overwhelmed by Krishna’s love, felt ashamed to ask for help. Seeing his sincerity, Krishna secretly blessed Sudama’s home.

Lesson: Upon returning, Sudama found his simple hut transformed into a grand palace. His poverty had been a divine test, and his unwavering devotion brought him not only material abundance but, more importantly, the realization that true wealth lies in divine grace.

Thought: Consider how, it was the denial of a blessing (wealth and a proper home) that led Sudama back to Krishna.

So Why Does Your Chosen Deity Takeaway or Deny?

We all face moments when something is taken away or denied. Instead of despair, we can choose to see it as A Call From Our Chosen Deity , who, is pushing us to:

·         Realize True Wealth: to help us realize that divine wisdom and grace is the only wealth that could never be taken away.

·         Eliminate Bad Habits:  to remove negative habits and qualities which then allows us to become better and more spiritually enlightened.

·         Develop Divine Dependence: to take away human reliance and replace it with divine dependence.

·         Spiritually Elevate: to assist us in climbing the spiritual ladder by moving us beyond material existence to eternal spiritual wisdom and liberation.

      Transform: to reward our humility, patience and faith leading to divine grace, which brings both material and spiritual transformation.

The next time you face loss or denial of wishes, pause before lamenting. Ask yourself: What is MY LORD making space for in MY LIFE?  

Because, as the wisdom of our scriptures reminds us, when your chosen deity takes something away or denies your wishes, it is only to lead you to something greater.

As Lord Krishna declares in the Shrimad Bhagavat Maha Purana (10.88.8):

"Yasyāham Anugṛhṇāmi Hariṣye Tad-Dhanaṁ Śanaiḥ,
Tato 'Dhanaṁ Tyajanty Asya Svajanā Duḥkha-Duḥkhitam"

“When I bestow My special mercy upon someone, I gradually take away all their material wealth. As a result, their family and friends abandon them, causing them to suffer. In this way, they become completely dependent on Me and attain ultimate liberation.”

Perhaps what seems like loss is actually grace in disguise, leading us to something far greater than we could have imagined.