The Importance of Effort: A Lesson from a Flood Story

A Tale of Faith and Action

Many individuals tend to rely heavily on luck or divine intervention instead of putting in the necessary effort in life. However, the reality is that achieving success or overcoming challenges requires personal initiative. Lord Krishna emphasized the importance of continuous action in the Bhagavad Gita. To illustrate this point, let’s explore a story.

A Village Evacuated by Flood, Except for One Man

Once upon a time, there was a man named Lala Prasad who lived in a village. He was a devout follower of God, dedicating his days and nights to prayer. He had complete faith in divine blessings and would not take any action without them. One day, a flood struck the village, prompting residents to evacuate. However, Lala Prasad chose to stay.

He believed that as a true devotee, he would be safe and that God would come to his rescue. As the floodwaters began to rise, some villagers urged him to leave with them, but he refused, insisting that he would wait for divine intervention.

Eventually, the floodwaters entered every home, including Lala Prasad's. A man with a boat came to him, urging him to board and escape the impending danger. Lala, however, replied, 'No, go ahead. God will come to save me. I will wait here.' The man left with his boat.

As the flood intensified, a storm also approached, filling Lala's home with water. A tree trunk floated by, which he could have used to save himself, but he chose to continue waiting for God. Ultimately, he drowned.

After his death, Lala found himself in heaven, where he confronted God, saying, 'Oh Lord, I have devoted my life to worship, yet you did not come to save me. Why?' God replied, 'Fool, I came to save you multiple times. First, I sent a boat, but you refused. The tree trunk was also my provision, but you did not make the effort to save yourself. This is not my fault.'

Moral of the Story

God provides us with numerous opportunities in life. It is up to us to seize those chances at the right moments. Without personal effort, neither fate nor divine assistance can help us.