Prarabdha Karma

Prarabdha is the karma phalas (fruits / reward) allotted at the time of birth by the providence. Though the events are to be fullfilled within the life span of the individual it is not in sequel, that is the events have no systematic time period. Hence some say that the Prarabdha karma if it is to yield bad results it can be altered to some other time. This can be done by Siddhis and Yogis who have the capacity to for see the Karma phalas. {In this we are not in a position to control it until we have Siddhis and once we have it we are least bothered about it as we know at that time that this is to happen and has to happen.}

To give authenticity to this there come a story in Mahabharatha.

At the time of Rajasuya yajna Yudhishthira selects Duryodhana as in charge to look after the needs of the guests. Duryodhana taking the opportunity hatches the plan to empty the treasury of the Pandavas. Lord Krishna knowing this looks into the Prarabdha karma of Duryodhana and find that due to his past life actions Duryodhana has a period in his life span where in the amount he spends on the guests will be doubled. Then Lord Krishna will see to it that the Prarabdha karma phala is used off at the time of Rajasuya Yajna. Hence at that time the Pandavas treasury is doubled.

This is a small story which emphasizes that the Prarabdha Karma is inevitable; it so happens that Lord Yama visits Sriman Narayana in Vaikuntha. At the entrance to his right he finds Garuda the vehicle of the Lord who acknowledges him and to the left he sees a small sparrow. Looking at the sparrow Yama make a surprise gesture and walks inside.

The Sparrow who saw Yama making a surprise gesture thinks that his time is up and Yama is going to take him away to Yamaloka and it starts trembling. Seeing this Garuda tells the sparrow not to worry and he would help it. Garuda who could fly at the speed of wind asks the sparrow to sit on his back and take it to far Gandhamadana Parvatha.

He then tells the sparrow not to worry and get back to the entrance of Vaikuntha. After sometime Yama comes out and finds the sparrow missing. Garuda who was proud of what he had done, asks Yama what he was searching for. Yama enquires about the sparrow. Garuda tells him now that the sparrow is not there he cannot take it to Yamaloka. Then Yama asks Garuda to tell where he had taken the sparrow to. Garuda tells him he has left the sparrow on the Gandhamadana Parvatha.

Listening to this Yama is amazed to the intricate design Lord Sriman Narayana has made and tells Garuda that when he came to Vaikuntha he was surprised and wondered how the small sparrow which was supposed to be killed by an eagle on Gandhamadana Parvatha at a very few minutes would reach there.