Talk:Sharing and Transference of Karmaphala between Individuals/Groups:No Transfer of Karma Possible

By Vishal Agarwal

The first view states that there is an exact correspondence between the doer and the reaper, even if the two are separated by lifetimes. The phenomenon of rebirth is a corollary to the law of karma. Therefore, if one does not reap the fruit of his deeds in this lifetime, he will reap them in a future lifetime. No karma can be transferred from oneself to another.

Just as a calf recognizes his own mother from among thousands of cows, likewise the deeds performed earlier locate their correct doer at a later time. Mahābhārata 12.181-16 Lord Shiva said to Devi Parvati – “Whatever deed one performs, that very fruit he obtains (i.e., the fruit or results are consistent with the deed performed). The Jīva reaps the fruit of his own Karma. No one else is entitled to the fruit of the karma of another. Mahābhārata 13, chapter 145 (Southern recension).

No one takes the good and bad fruit of anyone else’s virtuous and evil karma. In fact, everyone reaps the fruit of his own karma. Mahābhārata 12.280.2

Man is born alone; man dies alone; he enjoys his merits by himself; he reaps the bitter fruits of his sins by himself. Garuda Purāṇa 2.12.22

In this view, no transfer of Karma takes place even between family members and generations within the same family. Every individual has his own personal, individual and separate stock of the fruit of Karma that they alone have performed in previous lives or earlier in the present life.

There is no connection between the deeds of a father and his son, of the deeds of the son and his father. Bound by his own karma, each individual treads his own path, and reaps the fruit of his own karma. Mahābhārata 12.153.38

This point needs emphasis because one often does virtuous or evil deeds for the sake of his family members, friends or other loved ones. But in this viewpoint, even if evil Karma is done for the sake of others, the doer alone reaps the fruit and never those for whose sake it was done.

For the sake of one’s wife and children, one does several evil deeds and incurs evil result. But one has to suffer the results of his karma alone, whether in this world or in the next. Mahābhārata 12.174.25

In this connection, we read of the story of Maharshi Valmiki and his transition from a highway robber to an esteemed Sage and author of the Hindu scripture of Ramayana.

Story: How the Dacoit Ratnākara became a Rishi

Rishi Valmiki is called the ‘Ādi Kavi’ or the first poet in the Sanskrit language. He wrote the Ramayana, the story of the life of Lord Rama in 24,000 verses. The Ramayana has become so popular that even outside India, people in many countries like Indonesia, Thailand, Burma, Laos, Malaysia, China, and Japan have their own versions of Ramayana based on Rishi

Valmiki’s original version.

Thousands of years ago, a dacoit named Ratnākara (also called Valya Koli) lived in the forests of north India. He earned his living by robbing and killing travelers who were passing through the forest. He would steal their belongings and food and take them home to feed his own children and wife.

One day, Sage Nārada was passing through the forest. Suddenly, Valya came from behind a bush and threatened to kill Nārada unless he gave up his belongings. Nārada asked Valya as to why he lived this life of robbing and killing. “To feed my family,” replied Valya. Nārada then asked him, “Don’t you know it is a bad crime to kill and steal from others? You will get bad Karma (i.e. fruit of action), and suffer punishment for it later. Will your family also share your bad Karma with you just like you share your loot with them?” “Of course, I will go and ask them and confirm it for you.” said Valya. But when Valya asked his wife and children if they will also share his bad Karma, they refused. They all said, “It is your duty to take care of us and feed us. This does not mean that we should also share your bad Karma with you.” Now Valya was very sad, because the family whom he loved and for whom he did all the crimes was unwilling to share his bad deeds too. He realized that we all pay alone for our evil deeds and earn good fruit alone for our good deeds. Valya then decided to mend his ways and become a good person.

So he rushed back to Nārada to tell him how sorry he was for all that he had done so far. “How can I make good my bad deeds and become a good person?” Sage Nārada asked him to sit in meditation, and continuously chant the name of Rama till he returned. So Sage Valya sat at one place, and chanted ‘Rama-Rama’ without moving for many years till termite ants made an ant-hill (called ‘Vālmīki’) and completely covered his body. And therefore, he came to be known as Vālmīki. Finally, a Divine voice from heaven said that Īshvara is pleased with the devotion of Vālmīki and he can come out of the ant-hill. Rishi Nārada appeared and told Vālmīki that now he was a reformed person. He narrated to him briefly the life-story of Rama, who was then the King of Ayodhyā.

In the course of time, Vālmīki became a Saint and a great poet. He composed the Ramayana, the story of the beautiful character of Lord Rama. The Ramayana written by him became famous all over the world. Even today, millions of people read the Ramayana and learn from the good virtues and deeds of Rama so that they can themselves lead better lives.