QUESTIONER: “Sir, how can one escape Prarabdha? The effect of action performed in previous births?”
Sri Ramakrishna: “No doubt a man experiences a little of the effect; but much of it is cancelled by the power of God’s name. A man was born blind of an eye.
This was his punishment for a certain misdeed he had committed in his past birth, and the punishment was to remain with him for six more births. He, however, took a bath in the Ganges, which gives one liberation.
This meritorious action could not cure his blindness, but it saved him from his future births.” (193)
Disciple: Can the effect of Karma be made null and void? The Scriptures say that knowledge alone can destroy Karma. Still one must reap the result of Prarabdha Karma.
Mother: The result of Karma is inevitable. But by repeating the Name of God, you can lessen its intensity. If you were destined to have a wound as wide as a ploughshare, you will get a pin-prick at least. The effect of Karma can be counteracted to a great extent by Japa and austerities. This was the case with king Suratha. He had worshipped the Goddess by slaughtering a lakh of goats. Later on, these hundred thousand goats killed the king with one stroke of the sword; he did not have to be born a hundred thousand times. That was because he had worshipped the Divine Mother. Chanting God’s holy Name lessens the intensity of Karmic effects.
Disciple: Is the effect of Karma destroyed by austerities and Japa?
Mother: Why not? It is good to do the right kind of work. One feels happy in doing good and one suffers by doing evil.