From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

By Swami Harshananda

Sometimes transliterated as: Karmavipaka, KarmavipAka, Karmavipaaka

Karmavipāka literally means ‘fruition of karma’.

Karma theory is the extension of the proverb, ‘As you sow, so shall you reap!’ to the spiritual field. All the actions done by us have a twofold effect:

  1. That which is seen here and now.
  2. Their future effect, depending upon whether they are puṇya[1] or pāpa.[2]

The ripening of a part of the accumulated karma, to give its result is called ‘karmavipāka’.

See also KARMA.


  1. Punya means good.
  2. Pāpa literally means bad.