25+ Sanskrit Quotes on Karma with Meaning: Life-Changing Wisdom from Ancient Texts
- prashant kumar
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
Karma, the universal law of cause and effect, lies at the very heart of Indian philosophy. Whether you're exploring spiritual wisdom or seeking motivation to face life’s challenges, Sanskrit quotes on Karma provide timeless insights that resonate across generations.
In this blog, we’ll explore the most powerful Sanskrit karma quotes—along with their English meanings, explanations, and where they’re found. These pearls of wisdom from the Bhagavad Gita, Upanishads, and other ancient scriptures will inspire your daily actions and help you live a life of purpose.
📚 What Is Karma According to Sanskrit Philosophy?
The word Karma (कर्म) in Sanskrit literally means action. In Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, Karma is understood as the principle where every action has consequences—positive or negative.
In simple words:
As you sow, so shall you reap.
This belief encourages self-responsibility, righteousness (dharma), and conscious living.
🌟 Top 25+ Sanskrit Quotes on Karma with English Meaning
Let’s now dive into the most profound karma quotes in Sanskrit.
🕉️ 1. कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन।
Karmaṇy-evādhikāras te mā phaleṣhu kadāchana – Bhagavad Gita 2.47
Meaning: You have the right to perform your duties, but not to the fruits of your actions.
Explanation: Focus on your work, not on the outcome. Attachment to results causes stress and ego.
🕉️ 2. यद् यद् कर्म करोमि तत्तदकिलं शंभो तवाराधनं।
Yad yad karma karomi tat tad akilaṁ śhambho tava ārādhanam – Shiv Mahimna Stotra
Meaning: Whatever work I do is all an offering to You, O Lord Shiva.
Explanation: Turn every action into a form of devotion or service, purifying the mind from selfish motives.
🕉️ 3. कर्मणा जायते जन्तुः कर्मणैव विलीयते।
Karmaṇā jāyate jantuḥ karmaṇaiva vilīyate – Manusmriti
Meaning: A being is born due to karma, and it is karma alone that causes his end.
Explanation: Karma governs our entire cycle of birth, life, and death.
🕉️ 4. न हि कश्चित्क्षणमपि जातु तिष्ठत्यकर्मकृत्।
Na hi kaśchit-kṣhaṇam-api jātu tiṣhṭhaty-akarma-kṛit – Bhagavad Gita 3.5
Meaning: No one can remain without performing action even for a moment.
Explanation: Action is constant, even thinking is an action. So, better to act mindfully.
🕉️ 5. स्वकर्मणा तमभ्यर्च्य सिद्धिं विन्दति मानवः।
Svakarmaṇā tam abhyarchya siddhiṁ vindati mānavaḥ – Bhagavad Gita 18.46
Meaning: By worshipping the Lord through one’s own duty, a person attains perfection.
Explanation: Your daily work is a path to spiritual progress when done selflessly.
🧘♂️ Sanskrit Quotes on Karma and Dharma
These quotes highlight how karma and dharma (righteous duty) go hand-in-hand.
🕉️ 6. धर्मेण पापं अपुनाति कर्मणा।
Dharmeṇa pāpaṁ apunāti karmaṇā
Meaning: Through righteous duty (dharma), one can wash away sins committed by karma.
🕉️ 7. कर्म फल त्याग से जीवन मुक्त होता है।
Karma phala tyāga se jīvana mukta hotā hai
Meaning: By renouncing the fruits of karma, one attains liberation in life.
🕉️ 8. न हि धर्मादपि कर्म श्रेष्ठं।
Na hi dharmād-api karma śreṣṭhaṁ
Meaning: There is no action greater than fulfilling your righteous duty.
🔄 Quotes on Karma and Rebirth (Punarjanma)
These verses reveal how karma shapes our future births.
🕉️ 9. कर्मगुणसंयोगात् सत्त्वासत्त्वयोः जन्म।
Karma-guṇa-saṁyogāt sattvā-sattvayoḥ janma
Meaning: Birth into happiness or suffering is a result of the combination of karma and qualities (guṇas).
🕉️ 10. तथा कर्माणि जन्तूनां जन्मान्तरकृतानि च।
Tathā karmāṇi jantūnāṁ janmāntara-kṛitāni cha
Meaning: Every being carries karmas not only from this life but from past lives too.
🕉️ 11. न कर्मणा लिप्यते पापेन।
Na karmaṇā lipyate pāpena – Isa Upanishad
Meaning: He who performs his duties selflessly is not bound by sin.
🔔 Quotes for Karma in Daily Life
These Sanskrit quotes can inspire your everyday mindset and discipline.
🕉️ 12. शुभं करोति कल्याणं।
Śubhaṁ karoti kalyāṇaṁ
Meaning: May your actions bring goodness and well-bein
🕉️ 13. कर्म करो, फल की इच्छा मत करो।
Karma karo, phala kī icchā mat karo
Meaning: Do your work; don't obsess over outcomes.
🕉️ 14. सर्वं कर्माखिलं पार्थ ज्ञाने परिसमाप्यते।
Sarvaṁ karmākhilaṁ pārtha jñāne parisamāpyate – Bhagavad Gita 4.33
Meaning: All actions ultimately culminate in knowledge.
Explanation: Wisdom dawns through selfless action and devotion.
🌺 Sanskrit Quotes on Good and Bad Karma
🕉️ 15. यथाकर्म कुरुते लोकः तथा फलम्।
Yathākarma kurute lokaḥ tathā phalam
Meaning: As is the action, so is the result.
🕉️ 16. कर्मजं दोषं कर्मणा नाशयति।
Karma-jaṁ doṣaṁ karmaṇā nāśayati
Meaning: The faults caused by past karma are destroyed by good karma.
📿 Sanskrit Shlokas on Karma for Instagram, Status & Tattoos
Looking for short and aesthetic Sanskrit karma quotes? Here are some great options:
✨ 17. कर्म करो, फल की चिंता मत करो।
Translation: Do your karma, don’t worry about results.
✨ 18. कर्म ही धर्म है।
Karma hi dharma hai – Action itself is duty.
✨ 19. कर्मणि एव अधिकारः।
You only have a right to action.
✨ 20. कर्म का फल मिलता ही है।
Karma kā phala miltā hī hai – Karma always bears fruit.
📖 Where Are These Karma Quotes Found?
Bhagavad Gita (Chapters 2, 3, 4, 18)
Upanishads (Isa, Katha, Mundaka)
Manusmriti
Mahabharata
Puranas (Shiva Purana, Vishnu Purana)
Related Reads :- Brotherhood Quotes for instagram captions
🙋♀️ FAQs on Sanskrit Quotes About Karma
1. What is the most famous Sanskrit quote on karma?
“कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन” (You have the right to action, not the fruits) – Gita 2.47.
2. Are Sanskrit karma quotes relevant today?
Absolutely. They teach us discipline, detachment, and how to handle failure and success with grace.
3. Can I use these quotes for social media bios or captions?
Yes! They are perfect for Instagram bios, tattoo ideas, and motivational quotes.
4. How can I apply karma yoga in daily life?
Do your work sincerely, without ego or excessive attachment to results. That’s karma yoga.
📝 Final Thoughts
The beauty of Sanskrit quotes on karma is that they’re timeless, universal, and deeply practical. Whether you’re struggling with life’s uncertainty or looking for purpose, these shlokas guide you to act with faith, courage, and integrity.
Use these Sanskrit quotes not just for social captions—but as daily reminders that every action matters.
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