A devotee must understand that this world is a Divine plan and every situation in which God places you has a meaning. An interesting story is told to illustrate this point. The story is about King Akbar and his wise minister, Birbal.
Birbal constantly asserted that everything happens for one's own good. King Akbar, who was young and, unlike his father, the previous king, did not have the same confidence in Birbal and questioned his constant optimistic assertions.
One day while handling a sword, the King chopped off the tip of his little finger. Birbal immediately told the king not to worry, everything that happens has a purpose behind it and that purpose is for good. The king became exceedingly angry with Birbal and threw him in jail.
The King bandaged the finger for a few days and then, as a diversion, went into the forest to hunt. He later became separated from his hunting party and was eventually overcome by a tribe of cannibals intending a human sacrifice. The King was bound like a sacrificial animal and taken before the temple. When the priest of the temple examined him, the priest announced that he could not be sacrificed because he was not a perfect specimen, since he was missing part of his finger. Since he was not fit to be sacrificed, the King was released.
On his return, the King thanked God for taking his finger and sparing his life. He then immediately went to the prison to see Birbal. "Oh Birbal, please accept my apologies for imprisoning you. Now I understand how my injury was for the best. But tell me, why did God allow me to imprison you? How is it for the best that you have been confined here due to my anger? Birbal replied, "Your majesty, if I had not been in prison, you would surely have taken me with you when you went hunting, and when the forest people rejected you for their sacrifice, they would surely have found me an excellent substitute!"
Birbal constantly asserted that everything happens for one's own good. King Akbar, who was young and, unlike his father, the previous king, did not have the same confidence in Birbal and questioned his constant optimistic assertions.
One day while handling a sword, the King chopped off the tip of his little finger. Birbal immediately told the king not to worry, everything that happens has a purpose behind it and that purpose is for good. The king became exceedingly angry with Birbal and threw him in jail.
The King bandaged the finger for a few days and then, as a diversion, went into the forest to hunt. He later became separated from his hunting party and was eventually overcome by a tribe of cannibals intending a human sacrifice. The King was bound like a sacrificial animal and taken before the temple. When the priest of the temple examined him, the priest announced that he could not be sacrificed because he was not a perfect specimen, since he was missing part of his finger. Since he was not fit to be sacrificed, the King was released.
On his return, the King thanked God for taking his finger and sparing his life. He then immediately went to the prison to see Birbal. "Oh Birbal, please accept my apologies for imprisoning you. Now I understand how my injury was for the best. But tell me, why did God allow me to imprison you? How is it for the best that you have been confined here due to my anger? Birbal replied, "Your majesty, if I had not been in prison, you would surely have taken me with you when you went hunting, and when the forest people rejected you for their sacrifice, they would surely have found me an excellent substitute!"
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