Talk:Who implements the Law of Karm

By Vishal Agarwal

The Law of Karm assumes that Bhagavān is all-knowing and just. He gives us the fruits of our actions, He is not arbitrary, He is not vindictive or capricious. A lot of new agers, however believe that Karm is a self-operating law with no intervention needed from God whatsoever. Hindu Dharm rejects this viewpoint. It requires an Īshvara as the dispenser of justice, and the fruit of our Karm.

The capacity of Bhagavān in being the implementer of the Law of Karm derives from the fact that He is all-pervading, eternal, immanent, witness, all-knowing, impartial, just and merciful.

Being omniscient, Varuna looks at all the wonderful acts which have been done and which will be done in the future. Rigveda 1.25.11

The great Ruler of all these worlds, beholds us as if from near at hand. The man who thinks he acts secretly – the Devas know all this of him. Atharvaveda (Shaunakīya) 4.16.1

When one stands or walks or moves in secret or goes to his lying down or rising up, when two sit together to discuss a secret, King Varuna knows, as he is the third one present. Atharvaveda (Shaunakīya) 4.16.2

Oh Varuna, your fatal snares that stand stretched seven by seven and threefold – let these all catch up the man who tells a lie but pass by one who speaks the truth. Atharvaveda (Shaunakīya) 4.16.6

The one Deva, hidden in all beings, all-pervading, the inner ātmā of all beings, the overseer of all karm, who dwells in all beings, the witness, the knower, the only one who is not tainted by the Guṇas. Yajurveda, Shvetāshvatara Upanishad 6.11

That Great Unborn is the giver of food to everyone and is also the giver of wealth. Yajurveda, Brihadāraṇyaka Upanishad 4.4.22

He alone gives bliss. Yajurveda, Taittirīya Upanishad 2.7

The fruit of our Karm comes from Brahman because that possibility alone is the logical one. Brahmasūtra 3.2.38

The Ātmā alone is the entire multitude of Devas. The Universe rests on the Ātmā because it alone connects the embodied souls (individual souls) with their karm. Manusmriti 12.119

None is especially dear, friendly, inimical, or unacceptable to the Bhagavān. If a devotee seeks Him, He blesses him in a manner suited to his approach, just as the Kalpataru (heavenly wish-granting tree) confers the desired objects on one resorting to it. Bhāgavata Purāṇa 10.38.22

Īshvara, the Dispenser, is the One who gives happiness and sorrows, and what is dear and what is not dear to all creatures on the basis of their past Karm. Īshvara indeed is the Bhagavān of everyone. Mahābhārata 3.30.22

Just as space is all-pervading, Īshvara too pervades all creatures (as a witness) and determines their measure of happiness and sorrows depending in their Karms. Mahābhārata 3.30.24

Sometimes, the following verses from the Gita are cited to prove the opposite – that Īshvara is not the judge of our karms-

The Bhagavān does not create either the agency or the actions of the world. Nor does he connect karm with the fruit. Indeed, it is one’s own nature that proceeds (works these out). Gita 5.14

The All-pervading Soul does not take on the evil or merit of anyone. Gita 5.15ab

However, in my opinion, these verses refer not to the Paramātmā but to the Jīvātmā that has mastered (‘the Lord’) its senses and sits like a King within its body as stated in the preceding verse Gita 5.13.

It is also called ‘vibhu’ or ‘All Pervading’ because it has overcome the limitations of its ego (ahaṃkāra) and ownership (asmitā) by giving up desires and attachment to the fruit of its karm, as stated in Gita 5.12.

In short, from the context, it is clear that a spiritually enlightened Jīvātmā is the subject of these verses.