1. material action performed according to scriptural regulations;
2. action pertaining to the development of the material body;
3. any material action which will incur a subsequent reaction;
4. the material reaction one incurs due to fruitive activities;
This Sanskrit word means ‘action’ or, more specifically, any material action that brings a reaction binding us to the material world. According to the law of karma, if we cause pain and suffering to other living beings, we must endure pain and suffering in return; One of the five tattvas, or Vedic ontological truths: the activity or work which the embodied living entity performs with the karmendriya, as well as the resultant reaction. The soul receives the due reaction to work by taking his next birth in a subhuman species, or the human species, or a superhuman species. Or the soul may be liberated from birth and death altogether. All this depends upon whether the karma performed within this lifetime is ignorant, passionate, good or transcendental. Karma dedicated in sacrifice as directed by Vedic injunctions raises the quality of a human being’s work. Sacrifice culminates in activity dedicated only to Lord Kṛṣṇa’s service. Such transcendental karma is called naiṣkarma.
