Become free of karma through the knowledge of the Self

Yog of Knowledge and Action 

Chapter 4, Verse 37

 

yathaidhāṁsi samiddho’gnih 

bhasmasāt kurute’rjuna 

jñānāgniḥ sarva karmāṇi 

bhasmasāt kurute yathā

 

As a kindled fire turns its fuel to ashes, O Arjuna, so the fire of knowledge turns all karma to ashes.

 

When fuel is put into a fire, the fuel is burned and disappears. In a similar way, when one has the knowledge of the Self, the ignorance which makes people identify themselves with the body is burned and also disappears. All doubt is removed and all the karma from this life and the past lives is burnt.

 

“O Arjuna, the fire of knowledge.” – when one really wants to surrender to God and attain Him, whatever one does, is only for Him. Every meditation that one does, is only on Him. Every action that one does in the world, is only to serve Him. Like that, one will become like Him. And as He is not bound by any karma, one will also become free of karma through the knowledge of the Self. All His qualities and His tendencies will awaken inside of oneself.

Bhagavad Gita