Thoughtful insights | The Unseen Threads: How Karma Weaves Our Destiny

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Thoughtful insights | The Unseen Threads: How Karma Weaves Our Destiny

Sunday, 18 May 2025 | Dr Tanu Jain

Thoughtful insights | The Unseen Threads: How Karma Weaves Our Destiny

Whether in moments of quiet charity at a traffic light or in the grand choices that define our paths, karma watches, records, and returns — all with unerring precision

It was a quiet Saturday morning as I travelled from my office to Central Delhi. The streets were just waking up, and the city felt softer, almost vulnerable, in that early hour. Our car halted at a red light, and out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a beggar standing by the roadside, his hand outstretched. Without thinking, I instinctively began rummaging through my bag, searching for some loose change. The light was about to turn green, and in that moment of quiet panic — hurrying to give him something before we sped off — I handed over the coins I could quickly grab. As we moved ahead, something deep inside me shifted. I sat back and stared out of the window, but my mind was no longer on my destination. I couldn’t stop thinking: Life is so heartbreakingly different for each of us. We pass by these moments every day — moments that force us to confront the stark inequalities of life. Why was I in the comfort of a car while that man stood on the street, hands empty, and eyes weary? What separated our destinies? Couldn’t I have been born in his place?

The answer that echoed within me was a single, heavy word: karma.

I remember a family member who had met with a severe accident. When I visited him, bruised and broken, he smiled faintly and said, “Beta, karma hai. Achha hai thode mein kat gaye.” His words stayed with me — such raw acceptance of suffering, as though he knew that karma was the unseen ledger keeping score. We all ask the same heart-wrenching questions: Why do terrible things happen to good people? Why does fortune so often favour those who act without conscience? Why does life sometimes feel so random? Why does it seem as if God — or fate — is toying with us? No word addresses these questions with as much depth and clarity as karma. Yet sadly, karma has been oversimplified to a cliché or shrouded in mysticism. But to truly understand it is to gain insight into the very fabric of existence.

Karma is precise, mathematical, and even clinical in its operation. Every thought, every action, every intention plants a seed — seeds that grow and bear fruit, often when we least expect them to. Karma is not about punishment or reward in the way we casually think. It is about balance, correction, and learning it is a pulse of human life. It governs our joys, our pains, our rebirths, and our eventual liberation. For those who seek not just quick answers but a deeper, transformative understanding, karma offers a window into the very mechanism of the soul’s journey. In this story, Brahma — the creator himself — falls prey to ego and deceit. In a cosmic test of humility and truth, he falsely claims victory over Lord Shiva, thinking no one would dare question his word. But Shiva, the eternal upholder of dharma, exposes Brahma’s deceit by severing his fifth head. Even so, despite acting righteously, Shiva himself incurs the sin of Brahmahatya (slaying a Brahmin), and is cursed to wander as a Kapali, carrying the skull of Brahma as a reminder of his deed. His karmic burden only lifts when he enters Kashi, the sacred city where all karma dissolves. This tale teaches us something staggering: no being — no matter how exalted — is beyond the reach of karma. The laws of karma are so precise and impartial that even divine beings must bow before them.

As the Bhagavad Gita (4.17) so wisely tells us: “Gahana karmano gatih”

(The path of karma is unfathomable.)

Another poignant aspect of this story is the contrast between Brahma’s deceit and Vishnu’s humility. This stark difference reminds us of a timeless lesson from the Mahabharata:

“Satyam eva param dharmam”

(Truth alone is the highest dharma.)

The universe reverberates with truth. Even small lies can have vast, ripple effects, and the path of truth — though often harder — is the only one that leads to real spiritual growth. The culmination of Shiva’s journey — his karmic absolution in Kashi — is rich with symbolism. Kashi is not merely a geographic location but a state of supreme spiritual consciousness.

We see the powerful hand of karma in so many ancient stories — lessons that still resonate deeply today. Take King Dasharatha, whose heart-wrenching fate was sealed when he accidentally killed Shravan Kumar’s parents’ only son; years later, he himself died in unbearable sorrow, separated from his beloved son, Rama. Even Lord Rama, despite being the embodiment of righteousness, endured exile, battles, and personal heartbreak, showing us that no one, not even the divine, escapes karma’s balancing act. I often think of these stories when I face personal trials — like watching a loved one suffer unexpectedly or encountering hurdles that seem unfair. At such times, I remember that karma is at work, silently weaving its justice, often across lifetimes. I realize that our own struggles — though painful — are not without meaning. They are part of a larger tapestry, teaching us humility, patience, and acceptance, reminding us that every act, every word, and every thought carries weight.

The story of Shiva, Rama and Brahma is a mirror — inviting us to reflect on our own karmic patterns, to act with integrity, and to walk the path of liberation. It is a mirror held up to each of us, reflecting the timeless truths of existence. Karma is not some distant cosmic law; it is an intimate force, intricately woven into the very fabric of our daily lives. Whether in moments of quiet charity at a traffic light or in the grand choices that define our paths, karma watches, records, and returns — all with unerring precision. Ultimately, the journey of karma is not about punishment or reward but about awakening — to the truth of who we are and the freedom that lies in living with conscious intent.

— The author’s views are personal. (The author is a civil servant at the Ministry of Defence and a spiritual speaker)

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