HINDU ENCYCLOPEDIA

सनातन धर्म भूमिका

Meaning of "karma"

Word

Karma

Sanskrit

कर्म

IAST

karma

In General

Karma, derived from the Sanskrit root kri, which means to act, do, or make, means any kind of action, including thought and feeling. It also means the effects of action. Karma is both action and reaction, the metaphysical equivalent of the natural phenomena: For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. It is karma operating through the law of cause and effect that binds the jiva or the individual soul to the wheel of birth and death.

The term Karma denotes the consequences of morally significant choices one make psychologically, spiritually and physically. Karma is the moral principle which determines the reward of good and bad action by cause and effect. Hindu Religion does not accept the divine intervention of a higher entity for happening in this life. By this doctrine it is assumed that events in a person’s life are determined by karma in this life or previous life and no action will go vein. Good and bad action will have its respective effect if not in this life may be in some other life in future.

Freedom from karma is the ultimate state. But nobody can live without doing Karma (action). Bhagavad Gita promotes the idea of karma phala tyaga (not expecting the fruit of action). If you expect fruit of action, it may create more karma. So destroy the karma phala hetu (the cause of karma) and be free.

There are three forms of karma: sanchita, agami, and prarabdha. Sanchita karma is the vast store of accumulated actions done in the past, the fruits of which have not yet been reaped. Agami karma is the action that will be done by the individual in the future. Prarabdha karma is the action that has begun to fructify, the fruit of which is being reaped in this life.

Veda

Karma is a logical conclusion to Vedic thought. The idea is available in veda samhita, though the exact word is not used. Concept of karma is very much available in Upanishads.

Purana

Karma and rebirth is illustrated in the Puranic stories.

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