Daiva Sankalpam (Divine Will): The Story of the Sadhu on the Sinking Boat

Om Sri Gurubhyo Namah

Om Sri Matre Namah

Daiva Sankalpam: divine will, karma and our duty

If we observe our lives, we realise that not everything happens the way we expect. Many events happen beyond our efforts. We call them Daiva Sankalpam (God's will), vidhi-rata (what fate has written) or karma. However, using these as an excuse to neglect our duty is also wrong.

We must have faith in God, and our effort must not stop.

Even if the result does not come as we hoped, we should not lose heart, and we should face difficulties with courage.

The story of a sadhu: Daiva Sankalpam on a sinking boat

Swami Ramsukhdas tells a story in his book, whose title the author gives in Telugu as ‘Okati Sadhiste Anni Sadhinchinatle’ (‘Achieve one, and you have achieved all’).

A Babaji was travelling in a boat when the river's current made the boat lose control, and it was in danger of sinking. All the passengers were gripped by fear and panic. But the Babaji, saying "Jaya Jaya Rama! Jaya Sita Rama!", began to scoop water from the river with his kamandalu (water pot) and pour it into the boat.

After the boat came out of danger, he began to bail the water in the boat out with the same kamandalu. The passengers were astonished and asked, "Swami! When the boat was sinking you poured water in, and now you are taking it out. Why is this?"

Then the Babaji calmly said:

"When the boat was sinking, I took it that sinking it was God's will. When it came out of danger, I took it that saving it was God's will. On both occasions I made my own effort in keeping with God's will. That is all!"

The inner meaning of the story: an even mind (samabhavam)

When the boat was sinking the Babaji was not afraid, and when it came out of danger he did not rejoice too much; he stayed calm.

Accepting the joys and sorrows we meet in life with an even mind, and keeping faith in God: this is the message of the story.

Even if we have not reached such a high state, let us try with all our strength to come out of our difficulties. Let us do our duty and offer the result to God.

Do not lose heart: failure is not the end

We should not lose heart just because things did not happen the way we liked. Failure is not the end of life; hardship is not permanent. Without giving in to thoughts such as suicide out of despair, we should move forward with courage, taking the help of our loved ones whenever we need it.

Let us keep faith in God…

Let us do our duty…

Let us accept the result with an even mind!

Sri Sadguru Peetham

If you are struggling, please reach out

If you or someone you know is struggling or having thoughts of suicide, please reach out. Talking to someone helps, and you do not have to face it alone. These free helplines are confidential:

• India: Tele-MANAS, the national mental health helpline, 14416 or 1-800-891-4416 (free, 24×7, in many Indian languages)
• USA and Canada: call or text 988
• UK and Ireland: Samaritans, 116 123
• Australia: Lifeline, 13 11 14

If someone is in immediate danger, call your local emergency number.

Frequently asked questions

What does Daiva Sankalpam mean?

Daiva Sankalpam means the will or resolve of God. The article uses it for the events in our lives that happen beyond our own efforts, which people also call fate (vidhi) or karma, while reminding us that this is no excuse to neglect our own duty.

What is the story of the sadhu on the sinking boat?

A Babaji was travelling by boat when the current made it lose control and it began to sink. While everyone panicked, he chanted "Jaya Jaya Rama! Jaya Sita Rama!" and poured river water into the boat with his kamandalu. Once the boat was safe, he bailed the water out with the same kamandalu. He explained that each time he simply did his part in line with what he understood to be God's will.

Who told this story?

The article says Swami Ramsukhdas tells this story in his book, which the author names in Telugu as ‘Okati Sadhiste Anni Sadhinchinatle’ (‘Achieve one, and you have achieved all’). The reflection was shared with HinduTone by Sri Sadguru Peetham.

What is the message of the story?

The Babaji was not afraid when the boat was sinking and did not rejoice too much when it was saved. The message is to accept the joys and sorrows of life with an even mind (samabhavam), keep faith in God, keep trying our best in difficulties, do our duty and offer the result to God.

How does this connect with the Bhagavad Gita?

The idea is close to the Gita's teaching of samatvam, evenness of mind, in verse 2.48 (samatvam yoga uchyate), and of doing one's duty without clinging to the fruit (2.47). See the Chapter 2 commentary linked below.

Does faith in God's will mean we can stop trying?

No. The article says faith in God must go together with effort that does not stop. Calling events God's will, fate or karma should never become an excuse to neglect our duty; we should face difficulties with courage and try with all our strength.

Editor's note (25 October 2026)

This reflection was shared with HinduTone in Telugu by Sri Sadguru Peetham. The Telugu version is the original; this English page is a faithful translation of it. We only tidied punctuation and added headings, the support helplines, the questions and answers and the related links. The story is credited, as in the original, to Swami Ramsukhdas, a teacher of the Bhagavad Gita whose many books are published by Gita Press, Gorakhpur; the book's title is given here in the author's Telugu wording.

Published: 25 October 2026.

Also read

• Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2, Sankhya Yoga: commentary on samatvam and the sthitaprajna
• Karma is not fate: the true, empowering meaning of karma
• Bhagavad Gita Chapter 12, Bhakti Yoga: the devotee who is even in joy and sorrow