Episode # 1232 – “None can escape their “Karma” & “Karma-Phalam” – Vidura explains to King Dhritarashtra!!!

In the previous episode, we had continued our discussion on Vidura’s key points pertaining to “Dharma” and the practicality of this world. Vidura talks about all these to King Dhritarashtra, who is currently brooding over the loss of his dear son Duryodhana in the Kurukshetra battlefield. Vidura explains how birth and death forms a vicious cycle in this world and everything which is created, has to face destruction at some point or the other. Moreover, Vidura underscores the important point that Duryodhana should consider himself to be extremely fortunate because, after all the “Adharma” that he did towards Yudishtra & Co., he still had the opportunity to attain “Veera-Svargam”, instead to being pushed into the treacherous “Naraka-Lokha”. Hence, Vidura tries to motivate King Dhritarashtra to come out of his grief and move on with life. Moreover, Vidura once again puts a riddle to King Dhritatashtra – Which is that one thing which follows us everytime whenever we perform any action in this world, including sleep? Especially when we’re sleeping, it is always awake and watching us! As usual, King Dhritarashtra doesn’t know the answer, and Vidura is now going to give an important accord which is quite applicable to all of us as well! 

So moving on thus, as King Dhritatashtra is not in a mood right now to listen to riddles from Vidura, he openly asks Vidura for the answer. Upon asking thus, Vidura explains – “Oh King Dhritarashtra! It is nothing but your “Karma” (Actions) and “Karma-Phalam” (Resultant of your actions). Thus, whenever you perform any action, your “Karma” keeps following you! When you sleep, your “Karma” doesn’t sleep along with you, but it keeps watching you! Bhagawan is very smart – He knows when to add points to your “Karma” and how! He is the best judge in this world with regards to differentiating which is good and bad. Bhagawan keeps an account of all our “Karma” that we perform and keeps updating it accurately every passing minute! While we go to bed every night, Bhagawan keeps watching us through our “Karma” and is waiting for an opportunity to unleash the “Karma-Phalam” at the right time and at the right place! Oh King Dhritarashtra! Imagine the extent of “Karma” that Duryodhana has accumulated throughout his life – Especially the bad ones (“Paapa Karma”). If he doesn’t experience the resultant (“Karma Phalam”) for whatever he has done, how will it balance? Every action has an equal and opposite reaction in this world, isn’t it? Hence, if Duryodhana escapes from all these “Karma Phalams”, how will he be released into the ultimate “Moksha”? Oh King Dhritarashtra! Please understand one thing clearly – “Moksha” is very difficult to attain (or even impossible to attain) if we do not wash away our “Karma-Phalam”. Please understand that Duryodhana has done just that and so are we! You have a “Karma-Phalam” of mourning the loss of your dear sons and you are currently experiencing it. Let it be. Do not frown over it or do not try and fix blame on someone else over this loss!” 

As Vidura says thus, King Dhritatashtra asks a follow-up question – “Oh Vidura! I understand the effect of my “Karma” and my “Karma-Phalam”. However, please explain to me – What will happen to my “Karma” after I pass away? Now, Duryodhana has passed away, hasn’t’ he?  So with this, has his “Karma” and “Karma-Phalam” come to an end?” For this, Vidura gives an important clarification thus, “Oh King Dhritarashtra! Please understand – “Karma” doesn’t end when your current birth comes to an end. Your “Shareeram” (Physical body) is destroyable in nature and you keep taking different “Shareerams” in different births. However, your “Karma” and “Karma Phalam” keep coming at you even when you take different births. This is because your “Atman” is “Nithyam” (Permanent). Your “Atman” doesn’t change with several births and is a constant at all times. Hence, your “Karma” follows your “Atman” and whenever you’re taking subsequent births, you will still be washing away your pending “Karma-Phalams” from your previous births. Of course, you will also keep adding more “Karma” to your present birth with whatever “Shareeram” you get. Thus, the “Karma” cycle is virtually a never-ending process and it constantly keeps coming at you! Oh King Dhritarashtra! Now that Duryodhana has passed away – His “Karma Phalam” might not be over. For all the “Punya-Karma” that he  might have done over the past several births, he has currently attained the “Svarga Lokham”. But this is not going to last long. He will once again be pushed into this world at an appropriate time, to start experiencing all the “Karma-Phalam” for whatever he has done!” 

Now this is  a very important explanation that Vidura is giving to King Dhritarashtra and of course to all of us as well. So for today, let us ponder over these points and reflect upon ourselves. We shall wait till the next episode to discuss more on this! Stay tuned!