A devotee of Krishna and his companion lost their way in a forest. The companion despaired, but the devotee said maybe some good will come of this. They came upon a stranger who needed the devotee’s help. The stranger turned out to be a prince who gave the devotee a beautiful horse.
His neighbors praised his good luck and said, “How blessed you are to have such a magnificent animal.”
The devotee said, “Who’s to say whether this is a blessing or a curse?”
The next day the horse ran away, and the neighbors said, “How horrible that you were cursed with the loss of your horse.”
The devotee replied, “Who’s to say whether this is a curse or a blessing? Perhaps some good will come of it.”
The next day the horse returned, leading five wild horses. “You were right!” his neighbors exclaimed. “The curse was a blessing in disguise. Now you’re blessed with six horses.” The devotee replied, “Perhaps, but who’s to say whether this is a blessing or a curse?”
The next day his only son tried to ride one of the wild horses. He was thrown to the ground and broke his leg. The neighbors said, “How wise you were. Your blessing was really a curse.”
The devotee replied, “There may be good yet. Who’s to say whether this is a curse or a blessing?” The next day soldiers came through the village and took every able-bodied boy to fight in a war where it was almost certain all would be killed. Because the devotee’s son was injured, he was the only one not taken. “How blessed are you to have your son!” the neighbors said. The devotee replied, “Who’s to say?”
The Blessed Lord Sri Krishna instructs in the Bhagavad-gita:
duhkhesv anudvigna-manah
sukhesu vigata-sprhah
vita-raga-bhaya-krodhah
sthita-dhir munir ucyate
One who is not disturbed in spite of the threefold miseries, who is not elated when there is happiness, and who is free from attachment, fear and anger, is called a sage of steady mind. (Bhagavad-gita 2.56)
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