Mata Gautami & the Supreme Law of Divine Hukam
This story is of Mata Gautami, as narrated in the katha of Vyas Ji and written in Shreemad Bhagwat.
This katha gives us a deep spiritual message about Divine Hukam (God’s command).
Devi Gautami lived like a saintly woman while remaining within family life — a true Grahast Sanyasi. She was deeply connected to God through intense devotion, tapasya, and constant naam jaap.
One day, a snake bit her young son. Seeing the child lifeless, people brought him to Mata Gautami. Holding her child, Mata Gautami, filled with divine power gained through her bhakti and mantra jaap, immediately chanted sacred mantras and called upon the snake that had bitten her son.
Bound by her spiritual power, the snake appeared before her. Mata Gautami angrily questioned it:
“Don’t you know this child is my son? How could you do this? With my shraap, I can destroy you and your entire lineage. Tell me—why did you do this?”
The snake humbly replied,
“Mother, it is not my fault. I acted under Hukam. I was commanded to do so.”
Mata Gautami asked,
“Who commanded you?”
The snake answered,
“Mrityu Devta — the deity who decides death.”
With her spiritual power, Mata Gautami then summoned Mrityu Devta. Folding his hands, he appeared and said,
“Yes, Devi, you have called me?”
Mata Gautami said,
“How dare you decide the death of my child? Don’t you know who I am? Don’t you know my tapasya and devotion?”
Mrityu Devta humbly replied,“Mother, I seek forgiveness. But I too act under command. I only followed the order given to me.”
Mata Gautami asked,
“Who commanded you?”
Mrityu Devta replied,
“Kaal Devta — the deity of time.”
Mata Gautami then called upon Kaal. When Kaal appeared, she said,
“You know my power, yet you ordered my son’s death?”
Kaal respectfully replied,
“Mother, I only act as per God’s command.”
At that moment, Mata Gautami realized a profound truth. Though she possessed immense spiritual power, she could not summon God or question Him directly. She understood that everything happens under God’s Hukam.
This same truth is explained by Guru Nanak Dev Ji in Japji Sahib:
“Hukume andar sabh ko, bahar hukam na koye.
Nanak hukume je bujhe, ta houme kahe na koye.”
Everything exists and happens within God’s Hukam. Nothing is beyond it.
When one truly understands Hukam, there remains no complaint, no question—only acceptance and surrender.
This katha teaches us humility, faith, and the ultimate truth that even the greatest powers bow before the Divine Will of God.
The Lesson of Mata Gautami’s Katha
· This divine katha teaches us:
· Even the greatest spiritual powers bow before God’s Will
· True wisdom lies in acceptance, not resistance
· Tapasya is fulfilled only when it leads to humble surrender
· Divine Hukam is absolute, compassionate, and perfect