Talk:Time Lag between Action and Result: Karmavipāka or the ‘Ripening of Karma’
By Vishal Agarwal
Some karma-s ripen to yield fruit after death, others ripen in this very life, yet other karma-s either in this life or the next; the determining factor (in what the fruit will be) is the intent (in the mind of the doer while acting). Yājñavalkya Smṛti 3.133
Just as the flowers bloom and fruit emerge at the right time, and no one can push a plant to flower and yield fruit, in the same way, the results of karma are performed at the right time. Mahābhārata 13.7.23
If we throw different types of seeds on the same plot of ground, they will germinate at different times. And even after germination, they will generate fruit at different times. For example, a coconut tree will take several years before its tree yields coconuts, whereas wheat or rice will give grains within the same season. There is a slight difference in the time in which different grains of wheat will take to sprout even if thrown on the same plot of land. Similarly, the fruit of our past actions is reaped only at the ‘right’ time, whether in this life or the next. This is called ‘ripening of karma"’.
There is a time lag – short or long – between when we do the karma, and when we reap its fruit. For example, if we are thirsty, we drink water, and the feeling of thirst is gone immediately. If we want to gain or lose weight, we must go on a diet and exercise regime. It will take some time (several weeks or months) to reach the desired weight.
Another illustration explains this time-lag:
“Adding a gallon of clear water to a filthy swimming pool won’t make the pool appreciably clearer. However, if there is a slow and steady flow of pure water coming into a reservoir, and dirty water is flowing out at the same rate, the clarity of the accumulated water necessarily will keep improving until it is almost crystal clear. Similarly, it generally takes weeks or months to lose an appreciable amount of weight. The same applies to a “sin-loss” program or a commitment to transform one’s thinking. Some time usually passes before we see the positive effects reflected in our life. [1]
Another illustration of the same type of action leading to fruit immediately and after some time is given below:
“The stored impressions wait for an opportunity to come to the surface and bring their reactions. You do not always get the reactions in the same order in which you perform the actions; it depends on the nature of the actions performed. If you eat some undesirable food and soon thereafter put your finger into a candle flame, your first karma is eating the food and your second is putting your finger into the flame. But the second karma brings a result immediately. The first karma may not germinate for one or two days; then you will get a stomach-ache. Whatever you have done, you will surely have to get the reaction. There is no getting away from karma. It is like a boomerang that comes back to one who throws it.” [2]
And if we want to purify our ātmā, it takes years of spiritual discipline to do so. It may take several lifetimes. Some immature and short-sighted people think that they can cheat the law of karma because other evildoers are not seen to reap the fruit of their evil actions. Our sacred texts warn us not to fool ourselves in this regard and remain steadfast on the path of doing virtuous deeds:
Ṛṣi Śukrācārya said – Adharma does not yield fruit quickly, just as the cow yields milk only after being looked after for a long time. Instead, adharma gradually gnaws at the roots of the doer. Mahābhārata 1.80.2
Ṛṣi Lomaśa said to Yudhiṣṭhira – O King, adharma initially causes one’s progress, gets the doer riches that cause happiness, enables him to conquer his enemies but eventually leads to his complete ruin down to the roots. I have seen many demons etc. become powerful through adharma in the beginning, but they eventually get destroyed. Mahābhārata 3.94.4–5
Let him, though suffering in consequence of his righteousness, never turn his heart to unrighteousness; for he will see the speedy overthrow of unrighteous, wicked men. Manusmṛti 4.171
Unrighteousness, practiced in this world, does not at once produce its fruit, like a cow does not yield milk right after its birth; but advancing slowly, it cuts off the roots of him who committed it. Manusmṛti 4.172
He prospers for a while through unrighteousness, then he gains great good fortune, next he conquers his enemies, but (at last) he perishes branch and root. Manusmṛti 4.174
Yudhiṣṭhira said – Do not have doubts about dharma or the devas if you do not see results of your good deeds promptly. Instead of finding faults with dharma or the devas, continue to perform worship and give charity diligently. Mahābhārata 3.31.38
Certain types of puruṣakāra karma like extremely heinous crimes (e.g. killing a brahmacārin or a woman) typically bear a negative result within this very life. But most of the good or bad actions are quite trivial, and they may or may not bear results in this life, or much later in the same life. If they do not bear fruit in the present life, they get added to the store of sañcita karma.