Theory of Karman in Indian Thought

Author(s): Koshelya Walli
Publisher: Bharat Manisha

Page 44

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ing the names of sins. Visnu and Katyayana refer to nine and five kinds of sins respectively.1
GENERAL PRINCIPLE OF KARMA
The consequences of Karma are inevitable. Every cause has its effect. It is a natural law and cannot be challenged in ordinary course or life. The Dharmasutras, Upaniṣads and Puranas are living testimony to this effect. Gautama in his noted Dharmasutra" ays that deeds do not perish. Sankara2 refers to this in his commentary on Brahmasutra. Markandeya Purāņa3 says that man is not free from good or bad deeds without enjoying the fruits thereof. Bhaviṣya Purana says in a positive tone that a sinful deed, done and not enjoyed the fruits thereof, does not get destroyed even for hundred Kalpas. Essentially one should perform Prayaścitta. This is based on Satapatha Brāhmaṇa. The Bṛhadaranyakopanisado emphatically remarks that a man becomes whatever he practises and in the way he behaves. A doer of good deed becomes good and that of bad deed becomes bad. According to some a man is desirous by nature; his desires make him to determine and decide accordingly. Whatever he decides to do, accordingly he gets the fruit. The Chandogya Upanisad makes us to understand that whetever a man does in this world, seeds
5. Kātyāyana~~महापापं चातिपापं तथा पातकमेव च । प्रासङ्गिकं चोपपापमित्येवं ef 11 Mitäkṣara on Yajnavalkya III. 342 Viṣņu dharmasūtra
33.3-5
6. Gautama Dharma Sutra 19.5-fat Masakari (Bhaiyakāra on Dharmasūtra ) Quotes Samkara—
यथा पृथिव्यां वीजानि रत्नानि च पयोविधौ । एवमात्मनि कर्माणि तिष्ठन्ति प्रभवन्ति च ॥ 7. Brahma Sūtra IV.I-13 Samkara Bhāṣya "fa'afè quifu aîgrà' zfà” 8. Märkandeya Purana ( XIV.17) ¤à gu qi a परित्यजति । भोगात् च पुण्यापुण्ये निबोध मे ।
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9. Bhaviṣya Purana XIX. 27 says:नामुक्तत्वान्यथा नाशः कल्पकोटिशतैरपि । 10. Satapatha Brahmana V 2.2-27 11. Bṛhadaranyakopanisad IV.4.5