If Everything Is Karma, Why Do We Still Punish?
Question
Ma’am, we say that we are suffering because of our past karma — that our present circumstances are the result of what we did in previous lives. If that is an established law of karma, then why do we still punish people? Why have we created systems of law and justice if everyone is only experiencing the result of their own past actions?
Answer
That’s a very good question. See, the first thing is this — the person who commits a wrong action usually doesn’t even realize that they are doing wrong. They don’t think about why they are acting that way, or that they will one day have to face the consequences of those actions.
If you tell such a person, “Brother, you’ll have to bear the result of this — you’ll have to face the fruit of your actions,” they’ll reply, “Who’s seen any result? Who knows if there’s any such thing? I only believe what I see right now.”
So the person who keeps doing wrong doesn’t actually believe in the law of karma — that’s why they continue acting wrongly.
But when someone truly understands that the biggest universal law is the law of karma, they stop immediately. Because they know that no wrong action can ever escape its result — it will return to them in some form.
Now, sometimes a person may forget this law for a moment and commit a wrong deed. When they remember later, they realize, “Yes, according to karma, I’ll have to bear the result of this.”
At least in that realization, awareness is born. Even if they’ve already done the wrong, they become more careful in the future.
But the wrong that’s already done — that result must still come. That’s inevitable.
Now, as per our scriptures, when someone does wrong, we have four ways of correction — Saam, Daam, Dand, and Bhed.
These are the four approaches:
Saam (Counsel) — explaining calmly, persuading with understanding.
Daam (Pressure or Control) — restraining through discipline or authority.
Dand (Punishment) — when persuasion fails, punishment is applied.
Bhed (Strategy or Indirect Means) — using insight or indirect methods to correct.
So your question is — if a person is doing wrong because of their past karma, why do we still punish them?
We punish them not because we are adding to their suffering, but because punishment becomes a part of their learning process. It helps break their wrong understanding — the belief that what they’re doing is right.
Usually, the wrongdoer doesn’t think they’re wrong. They justify their actions — “I’m right, I’m doing what I have to.”
To break that delusion, we must sometimes act through external means — counsel first, then punishment if needed.
Even punishment doesn’t always correct instantly. Some people understand after one warning; some never change even when facing severe consequences. That’s why the order of correction — Saam, Daam, Dand, Bhed — exists.
First, try to make them understand peacefully. If that fails, apply control. If that also fails, then punishment. And if even punishment doesn’t work, then indirect strategy (Bhed-niti) is used.
Follow-up Comment
Yes, and this applies to all levels of the mind — to the ordinary mind and the higher, awakened mind as well.
The ordinary mind says, “I haven’t done anything wrong.”
But the higher mind, which has turned toward awareness, says, “Yes, I made a mistake, and I’m ready to bear the result.”
We can see this clearly in daily life — sometimes we refuse to admit our mistakes, and at other times we immediately acknowledge them and even ask for forgiveness.
Why does this difference occur?
It happens because when we refuse to admit our mistake, we are under the influence of ego — the lower mind.
When we humbly accept our fault, that means the higher mind is active.
Our mind keeps shifting — sometimes it moves downward (toward ego and pride), sometimes upward (toward awareness and humility).
That’s why it’s said — the mind is restless and unstable.
When we deny our mistake, the lower mind dominates.
When we admit and correct ourselves, the higher mind takes charge.
So, both the law of karma and human justice work together — karma handles the unseen balance of the universe, and human law acts as the immediate correction for the mind that doesn’t yet understand.