Shvetashvatara Upanishad 6.4

The Lord Beyond TimeYajur Veda

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Shvetashvatara Upanishad 6.4
intermediate
आरभ्य कर्माणि गुणान्वितानि भावांश्च सर्वान्विनियोजयेद्यः। तेषामभावे कृतकर्मनाशः कर्मक्षये याति स तत्त्वतोऽन्यः॥

ārabhya karmāṇi guṇānvitāni bhāvāṃśca sarvānviniyojayedyaḥ | teṣāmabhāve kṛtakarmanāśaḥ karmakṣaye yāti sa tattvato\'nyaḥ ||

"...He who initiates actions connected with qualities and assigns all states of being - in the absence of these, there is destruction of karma performed; on the destruction of karma, the soul departs, being in truth other (than the body)."

What This Means:

God starts karma-connected actions and assigns all states. When these cease, accumulated karma is destroyed. With karma destroyed, the soul leaves - it is truly other than the body.

Going Deeper:

Liberation sequence: karma cessation leads to freedom. The soul (tattva - the true reality) is ultimately distinct from the karma-body complex.

How To Apply This:

Work toward the exhaustion of karma. Know that your true self is different from the body and its actions.

#karma destruction#liberation#soul distinct from body