Mohapatra 1

Mayank Mohapatra
Ms. Jyoti P.
Thesis Paper
29 November 2016

Karma and Dharma the dual carriageway of existence

See Karma, make Dharma1 this quote might feel out of context but thats the only quote you
find on Google search and its perhaps since these two laws of life have never been thought of as
related to each other, but as a matter of fact they indeed are. But first before start to explore the
relation between these two carriageways of life we need to know what exactly these two words
Karma and Dharma mean.
Karma has no menu. You get served what you deserve.2
Karma is a word that is used by us much too often for everything that bestows upon one we
regard it as their Karma. But have never actually inquired what Karma actually means, Karma
simply means action, work or deed. It is a spiritual phenomena here intent and actions of an
individual (cause) influence the future of that individual (effect); it works like a cause and effect
relationship. Karma, although an universal phenomena has been variously interpreted by
different religions. The Buddhist principle of Karma states Karma is remembrance of previous
lives, and insight into the death and rebirth of beings throughout the cosmos 3. Paradoxically
according to Jainism Karma It is adverted as karmic dirt, since it consists of very subtle
particles of matter that pervade the entire universe 4. Karma according to Hinduism is narrated
very well in Mahabharata which we will closely analyze in the later part of the paper.
As a man himself sows, so he himself reaps; no man inherits the good or evil
act of another man. The fruit is of the same quality as the action.
Mahabharata, xii.291.225
The spiritual phenomenon of Karma has been reflected in Mahabharata numerous times.
Sometimes Karma took effect in only an instance and other times it took many lifetimes but it
surely did take place. It is like there is a Karmic life sheet where all your actions are recorded
and repaid therefore maintaining equilibrium. For instances Vasus (8 gods) had to take rebirth a
humans for stealing cows, Draupadi got 5 husbands because of her Karma in her previous births
as Nalayani and her demand to Shiva, Vasudev and Devaki had to witness the killing of their 7
childs because of their karma while these Karmas took long to come into effect certain Karmas
are repaid instantaneously like Puru taking the curse of his father and as a reward getting to rule.
Although he had a elder brother, Gandhari witnessing the death of her own child because she by

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mistake killed the 100 eggs of a lizard, no matter how petty the act was it was law of Karma,
howsoever innocent, it had a reaction.
You are dharma. You are a wheel. And the wheel of dharma spins.6
Dharma is a key concept with multiple meanings in the Indian religions Hinduism, Buddhism,
Sikhism and Jainism. There is no single word translation or single meaning for dharma in
western languages. Dharma is like water taking the shape of the utensil its poured into. Dharma
according to Hinduism consists of rights, duties, laws, virtues, conduct and right way of
living7. In Buddhism dharma means "order and cosmic law8. For Sikhs, dharm means the
"path of righteousness"9. Hence, this leaves one to ponder over what is the actual meaning of
Dharma. As per definition given in the oxford dictionary Dharma means the eternal law of the
cosmos, inherent in the very nature of things. Dharma root is "dhri", which means to support,
hold, or bear. It is the thing that regulates the course of change by not participating in change,
but that principle which remains constant. Dharma has been central theme in Mahabharata.



Nothing is higher than Dharma. The weak overcomes the stronger by Dharma, as over a king.
Truly that Dharma is the Truth (Satya); therefore, when a man speaks the Truth, they say, "He
speaks the Dharma"; and if he speaks Dharma, they say, "He speaks the Truth!" For both are one.
Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, 1.4.xiv10
Astika states The Kurukshetra war was about dharma. And dharma is not about justice it is
about justice; it is about empathy and wisdom. Dharma is not about defeating others, it is about
conquering ourselves. Everybody wins in dharma. 11 After reaching the gates of swarga the god
Yama, referred to as Dharma, is portrayed as taking the form of a dog to test the Dharmraj
Yudishthira, who is told he may not enter paradise with such an animal, but he rejects church and
refuses to abandon his companion, for which he is praised by Dharma. Mahabharata closely
depicts the various kinds of dharma Vyakti dharma - the dharma of an individual (Karna picking
weapons against his brothers obliged by his vow/friendship to Duryodhan), Parivarika dharma family dharma/kutumba dharma (were supposed to protect Draupadi which they failed to do),
Samaja dharma - societal dharma (Yudhistra ruling his kingdom post war even after losing the
interest to rule), Rashtra dharma - national dharma, Manava dharma - the dharma of mankind
(marriages of the Pandavas so as to continue life), Varna dharma - professional dharma (being a
Kshatriya and protecting the people i.e, Bheem saving the Brahman couple), apad dharma exceptional/abnormal situational dharma, Yuga dharma - dharma applicable for an age, Ashrama
dharma - dharma for stage of life (Shantanu, Pratipa retiring and letting their sons rule).
One shall carry out their duty. Their dharma. What people experience is their Karma - the results
of your Good or Bad intentions, statements, performance, and ones acts - mostly based from the
current birth and very little of past birth. One can't escape from Karma and cannot exchange it

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with ones extra good deeds in order to reduce ones karma. Ones good work it will add to their current assets - but ones current liabilities are to be cleared.
Karma and Dharma are the phenomenas on the wooden wheel referred to as life. This wheel of
life keeps spinning due to Karma and Dharma and never stops. An individual starts his journey
on the periphery of this wooden wheel that spins leading the individuals to get crushed time to
time. The goal of human is to move to the centre of this wheel preventing one from getting
crushed. This path from the edge to the centre can only be achieved through centering oneslf,
walking on the path of righteousness and observing ones own actions.
Citations
1. Gary Gach
2. Anonymous
3. Bhikkhu, pg.45
4. Tirthankara
5. Hopkins, pg.581
6. Anonymous
7. Rossen, pg.193
8. RRig Veda 3.17.1
9. Pashaura Singh
10. Upanishad, 1.4.xiv
11. Pattanaik, pg.6

Bibliography
1. Primary source: Pattanaik, Devdutt. Jaya. USA: Penguin Publishers, 2010. Print.
2. Secondary source: "Karma", by Thanissaro Bhikkhu. Access to Insight (Legacy Edition),
8 March 2011,http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/thanissaro/karma.html
3. Secondary source: Krishna Matilal, Bimal Krishna. Ethics and Epics: Philosophy,
Culture,
and
Religion
Spectrum.spectrummagazine.org/article/filmreviews/2008/01/07/Kite-runner-redemption-truly-free. 01/07/2007. Web.
4. Secondary source: Swami Prabhupada, AC Bhaktivedanta. Bhagvad Gita As It Is.
California: Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, 1972. Print.

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/thanissaro/wings.pdf