Cosmic Joke or Free Will? What does Bhagvat Geeta say on Destiny?
Shristy sinha | Mar 05, 2025, 22:19 IST
The article explores Sri Krishna's teachings in the Bhagavad Gita about destiny and free will. It explores Sri Krishna's teachings about destiny and karma in Gita. It explains that destiny is influenced by one's actions and past karma and emphasizes the importance of performing duties selflessly without attachment to outcomes in harmony with the divine order.
It is always believed that whatever has happened before was our destiny, and we will get whatever is in our share. so, is everything already written somewhere? Is our life pre-decided? and if so, then why are we working? This question has been there since forever. so, let's get to know what Sri Krishna says in Bhagvat Geeta on destiny!
Remember something unexpected happened to you in your past. Whether it was a good event or a bad one, but it was unexpected, and you never prepared yourself to get that. What people will say then is it was in your fate; it was in your destiny. It is often said that everyone comes into this world with a pre-decided life span and everything that is happening to you is of God’s choice. Destiny is something that is destined to happen; it is something prewritten by God. But does God also say this? Does our holy Scriptures also state this? However, it is believed that our destiny is formed by Sri Krishna but is it that way?
Understand it carefully. Destiny is something which is already written but Shri Krishna in Geeta says that you bring your own destiny by your actions. But if everything is already written and predetermined then how can it be changed? Imagine making of a film, the writer writes the script and assigns you your character. Now the success of the film depends on how perfectly you perform your role. How well the actors justify the role of the character. Now put yourself as the character of the film and the movie as your life and writer as God. Same way your destiny depends on how perfectly you do your work in your life.
What
In the Bhagavad Gita, destiny is often portrayed as a combination of one's actions, divine will, and free will. Lord Krishna explains that life is shaped by karma (actions) and the choices individuals make. Destiny, in this sense, is not entirely predetermined, but it is influenced by one's past actions and decisions. Krishna advises Arjuna to perform his duties selflessly, without attachment to the outcomes, suggesting that true freedom lies in aligning one's will with the divine will.
Krishna also emphasizes that the soul is eternal, transcending the physical body. Thus, life's challenges and experiences are part of a greater cosmic plan, and one must face them with equanimity. While destiny plays a role, the Bhagavad Gita encourages individuals to rise above fate through spiritual discipline, devotion, and conscious action, shaping their future with wisdom and righteousness. Ultimately, destiny is seen as a fluid, evolving force influenced by divine grace and self-effort.
The
In Geeta Sri Krishna says that what you will get depends on what you do. Just like a farmer reap what he sows. In short, your destiny and your fate depend on your own actions, which is known as karma. What you do and most importantly what is your intention behind your action is what forms your destiny. Just as Newton's third law of motion every action has an equal and opposite reaction, the reactions of your actions come back to you in the form of destiny.
Cycle of Rebirth: In some traditions, karma is linked to the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth (samsara). The accumulated karma from previous lives can influence one's current life, and the actions in this life can affect one's future lives.
Krishna in Bhagavad Gita says that whether in this life or in the next life you will have to pay for your actions. So always have good intentions and believe in the power of karma that you will get the good if you wish good for others.
Free will, in the context of the Bhagavad Gita, is not viewed as the absolute freedom to do whatever one desires without consequence, but rather as the ability to make choices within the framework of universal laws. The Gita teaches that human beings are endowed with the ability to act according to their nature, their desires, and their understanding of right and wrong. However, this ability to choose is often clouded by ignorance (avidya) and attachment (raga) to the results of actions.
Lord Krishna emphasizes that individuals are responsible for their actions and that every action has consequences. In Chapter 3, Verse 16, Krishna says, “He who does not follow the wheel of creation set of going in this world, sinful and sensual, he lives in vain.” This implies that human beings have the free will to act, but their actions should align with the divine order and the natural laws that govern the universe. Thus, free will is framed within the broader concept of duty and righteousness, which ensures that choices are made in harmony with the cosmic flow rather than out of selfish desires.
Krishna also underscores the importance of acting without attachment to the results. In Chapter 2, Verse 47, he advises Arjuna, “You have a right to perform your prescribed duties, but you are not entitled to the fruits of your actions.” This detachment from the fruits of actions helps one to exercise free will in a way that does not disturb the cosmic equilibrium. This aligns free will with spiritual progress, as the individual begins to recognize that their choices should not be motivated by selfish gain but by an understanding of higher truth.
The Bhagavad Gita offers a profound and nuanced perspective on the relationship between free will, destiny, and divine will. It teaches that while individuals have the freedom to make choices, these choices must align with the larger cosmic order. Free will, in this sense, is not about doing whatever one pleases, but about acting in harmony with the higher laws of the universe. At the same time, the Gita acknowledges the power of divine will and destiny, emphasizing that there is a larger cosmic plan at work that is beyond human understanding.
Rather than viewing life as a cosmic joke or a predetermined series of events, the Bhagavad Gita invites individuals to see themselves as active participants in a divine drama, where their actions, guided by wisdom and detachment, play a role in the unfolding of a larger cosmic narrative. The Gita offers a vision where both destiny and free will are intertwined, and where true freedom arises from understanding one's place in the cosmic order and acting in accordance with it.
What Destiny Actually is?
So, should we stop working as everything is predetermined?
What Bhagavad Gita says about Destiny?
Krishna also emphasizes that the soul is eternal, transcending the physical body. Thus, life's challenges and experiences are part of a greater cosmic plan, and one must face them with equanimity. While destiny plays a role, the Bhagavad Gita encourages individuals to rise above fate through spiritual discipline, devotion, and conscious action, shaping their future with wisdom and righteousness. Ultimately, destiny is seen as a fluid, evolving force influenced by divine grace and self-effort.
The Law of Karma
Cycle of Rebirth: In some traditions, karma is linked to the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth (samsara). The accumulated karma from previous lives can influence one's current life, and the actions in this life can affect one's future lives.
Krishna in Bhagavad Gita says that whether in this life or in the next life you will have to pay for your actions. So always have good intentions and believe in the power of karma that you will get the good if you wish good for others.
The Role of Free Will
Lord Krishna emphasizes that individuals are responsible for their actions and that every action has consequences. In Chapter 3, Verse 16, Krishna says, “He who does not follow the wheel of creation set of going in this world, sinful and sensual, he lives in vain.” This implies that human beings have the free will to act, but their actions should align with the divine order and the natural laws that govern the universe. Thus, free will is framed within the broader concept of duty and righteousness, which ensures that choices are made in harmony with the cosmic flow rather than out of selfish desires.
Krishna also underscores the importance of acting without attachment to the results. In Chapter 2, Verse 47, he advises Arjuna, “You have a right to perform your prescribed duties, but you are not entitled to the fruits of your actions.” This detachment from the fruits of actions helps one to exercise free will in a way that does not disturb the cosmic equilibrium. This aligns free will with spiritual progress, as the individual begins to recognize that their choices should not be motivated by selfish gain but by an understanding of higher truth.
Conclusion
Rather than viewing life as a cosmic joke or a predetermined series of events, the Bhagavad Gita invites individuals to see themselves as active participants in a divine drama, where their actions, guided by wisdom and detachment, play a role in the unfolding of a larger cosmic narrative. The Gita offers a vision where both destiny and free will are intertwined, and where true freedom arises from understanding one's place in the cosmic order and acting in accordance with it.