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This is technically known as vicarious atonement and though it is natural it does not deny the propriety of natural causality. It is only supplementary to the natural law and is therefore to be interpreted not as its violation but as its fulfilment.
Indian thought recognizes this and admits that this sort of fulfilment of law by compassion or grace does not militate against the rigidity of the law of karma.
In the Nyaya-vaiseṣika system of ancient India which reflects in this matter the spirit of entire Indian philosophy the definition of Bhoga as Sukhaduhkhānyatarasāksatkara ( सुखदु:खान्यतरसाक्षात्कार ) has been purposely interpreted as Svasamvettasukhaduḥkhānyatarasāksātkāra ( स्वसंवेत्तसुखदुःखान्यतरसाक्षात्कार ).
The implication is that Bhoga in the technical sense is the consequence of karma and this karma can only refer to the Adṛṣṭa inhering in one's own Atma. This shows that the experience of pleasure and pain resulting from the Adṛṣṭa inhering in another Atmā is not Bhoga. This sort of experience is found in Yogins who are powerful and compassionate. This experience is really vicarious. It is a fact that all great compassionate souls with great yogic powers excercise this power of having direct experience of the fruits of action belonging to other souls. It is indeed Bhoga but it is vicarious and it does not in any way violate the law of karma.
We may be reminded in this connection of the views of some advanced Mahāyāna Buddhists who are inclined to think that True Karuņā is sometimes found to function as an active power (Karuņābala). In such cases the mere appearance of karuņa or compassion is enough to mitigate or even remove finally the sorrows of other people. The sorrows are there in consequence of the evil action of the person concerned but instead of being suffered they are allowed to be removed altogether not partially by the active compassion of the saint concerned. This is a sort of vicarious atonement but it does not militate against the central law of justice which is implied in the law of karma,
