35. Karma-Phal may be Deceptive


We are usually not prescient enough to understand whether the karma-phal (fruits of action) we desire now will be good for us in future. As in a failed relationship, at one moment, the karma-phal a couple desired was to be together but after some time they want to separate. Many of the regrets people experience today arise from receiving the very karma-phal they once desperately desired, which later proved to be disastrous.

On the contrary, based on general experience, many feel that the best thing that happened to them was not receiving the karma-phal coveted by them at some point in time in the past.

These experiences gathered over time will help us understand the iconic verse 2.47 in the Gita, where Krishna says that we have the right to do karma (action) but have no right over the karma-phal.

These experiences can be used to see this verse through the lens of polarity or duality (dwandwa). The world is polar and everything exists in its polar opposite. The same applies to karma-phal also.

In the first case of failed relationship, a pleasure (sukh or victory or profit) polarity turned into pain (dukh or defeat or loss) polarity in due course of time. In the second instance, the opposite happened.

Krishna’s emphasis throughout the Gita is on transcending these everlasting polarities by being aware of them. The desire for karma-phal is one such polarity which should be dropped. 

The Creator (consciousness, chaitanya, creativity) has experience of running this universe for more than 13.8 billion years. How can he falter when it comes to our karma-phal? Certainly, He will not. We get what we deserve, but not what we desire.


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