Thought for 12th November 2011

Never ‘BY CHANCE’

One  Sanskrit word that is mistaken to mean ‘By Chance’ is yadRcchayA. In scriptural and religious literature this word is very sparingly used, implying also this sense. Most often when it is used it means ‘By the Will of the Supreme’.  The word ‘yat’ stands for the supreme; one standard example is the statement in Taittiriyopanishad: ‘yato vA imAni bhUtAni jAyante’  meaning, ‘From the Supreme all these beings emanate’.

It is interesting to list a few of the places where the word is forcefully used to indicate that what happens or happened was not ‘by chance’ but by God’s Will.

1.   B.G. II- 32 ‘yadRcchayA copapannaM ….’ My dear Arjuna, says Krishna, even by looking at one’s svadharma, you should not sorrow; by divine will you have this opportunity of dharma-yuddha, which opens the gates of heaven for you; kshatriyas are rare who meet with such an opportunity ….’

2.   Valmiki Ramayana: Ayodhya kanda, 7 – 1:

‘jnAtidAsI yato jAtA kaikeyyA tu sahoshhitA / prAsAdaM candra-samkAshaM Aruroha yadRcchayA’ .  This is the shloka which creates the turning point in the story of Ramayana. This is where, when the entire AyodhyA is joyously celebrating the ensuing crowning of their beloved Rama – that has just been announced in the King’s Assembly – the old maid-friend of Queen Kaikeyi climbs up the stairs ‘accidentally’ as it were, but ‘yadRcchayA’ in Valmiki’s composition.

3.   At the other turning point in Rama’s story also, namely, on the ‘accidental’ (!) first arrival of SurpanakA at PanchavaTi,  the word ‘yadRcchayA’ is used.  V.R. AranyakANDa: 17 – 5: ‘taM deshaM rAkshhasI kAcit AjagAma yadRcchayA’. In both these situations Valmiki has made it clear by using this word that it was Divine Will that created these turning points in the life of Ram.

4.   In Srimad Bhagavatam, which is the wonderful narration by boy-sage Shuka to King Parikshit for seven days, the arrival of Suka on the stage where King Parikshit  was sitting before an assembly of great Rishis for the purpose of awaiting his death in 7 days according to the  curse he has just invited on himself by his own impulsive action – this arrival is announced as ‘yadRcchayA’, accidentally, as it were, but in reality, ‘by God’s Will’! :

Tatraabhavad bhagavaan vyAsaputro yadRcchayA gAmaTamAno’napekshaH /  -- Bhagavatam1-19-25.

I would like to know where else this ‘yadRcchayA’ is used in this sense.