हरिणापि हरेणापि
ब्रह्मणापि सुरैरपि ।
ललाटलिखिता रेखा
परिमाष्टुं न शक्यते ॥
hariṇāpi hareṇāpi
brahmaṇāpi surairapi ।
lalāṭalikhitā rekhā
parimāṣṭuṃ na śakyate ॥
ललाटलिखिता रेखा (lalāṭalikhitā rekhā) = line written on forehead
परिमाष्टुं न शक्यते (parimāṣṭuṃ na śakyate) = is not possible to be cleaned
हरिणा अपि (hariṇā api) = even by Lord Vishnu
हरेणा अपि (hareṇā api) = even by Lord Shiva
ब्रह्मणा अपि (brahmaṇā api) = even by Brahma
सुरैः अपि (suraiḥ api)= even by other deities.
Hint: तृतीया विभक्ति (tṛtīyā vibhakti) (Instrumental Case)
Meaning: The line written on forehead cannot be cleaned by Lord Vishnu, Shiva, Brahma or other deities.
Context: Sanātanī-s believe that one’s destiny is written on his forehead (or in the lines of one’s palm). However, the word ‘destiny’ is one of the most misquoted and misunderstood word. It should be understood that, in Vedic culture, we DO NOT believe that everything in our life is pre-destined or pre-determined. But we believe that our life is ‘governed’ by destiny. This may appear contradicting but once one understand the meaning of destiny in Vedic context. Destiny is a dynamic entity. To elaborate, what I face currently is a result of past actions and what I will face in future will depend on my current actions. So, at every moment, I am creating my future. In other words, my present is the result of my past and my future is the result of past modified in the present. This is what makes the पुरुष प्रयत्न (puruṣa prayatna) (self-effort) makes it critical component for the current actions (in the current life) in Vedic culture. Not being able to understand the criticality of self-effort vis-a-vis destiny makes one complacent with unintended consequences not only for himself and his family but also for the society and mankind in general.
So, now the follow up question is, does God have the capacity to change our destiny? Surely he has.
God being omnipotent and omnipresent, his grace is always available like the light of the Sun. So, while the destiny is created due to our past actions, बुद्धि (buddhi) causes our current actions. It is only the God’s grace that will help us make amends to our own future, through our current actions. This is a concept which requires deeper understanding along with other important concepts like karma-janma siddhānta etc. in the Vedic culture to be able to holistically appreciate the profundity.
Credits: Courtesy Brahmachari Ved Chaitanya of Chinmaya International Foundation (CIF)
Image courtesy: Bhaktiphotos
P.S.: All errors / mistakes are my own