How knowledge undoes action

सञ्चितं कर्म ब्रह्मैवाहमिति निश्चयात्मकज्ञानेन नश्यति । आगामि कर्म अपि ज्ञानेन नश्यति किंच आगामि कर्मणां नलिनीदलगतजलवत् ज्ञानिनां सम्बन्धो नास्ति । किंच ये ज्ञानिनं स्तुवन्ति भजन्ति अर्चयन्ति तान्प्रति ज्ञानिकृतं आगामि पुण्यं गच्छति । ये ज्ञानिनं निन्दन्ति द्विषन्ति दुःखप्रदानं कुर्वन्ति तान्प्रति ज्ञानिकृतं सर्वमागामि क्रियमाणं यदवाच्यं कर्म पापात्मकं तद्गच्छति । सुहृदः पुण्यकृतं दुर्हृदः पापकृत्यं गृह्णन्ति ।

sañcitaṃ karma brahmaivāhamiti niścayātmakajñānena naśyati | āgāmi karma api jñānena naśyati kiṃca āgāmi karmaṇāṃ nalinīdalagatajalavat jñānināṃ sambandho nāsti | kiṃca ye jñāninaṃ stuvanti bhajanti arcayanti tānprati jñānikṛtaṃ āgāmi puṇyaṃ gacchati | ye jñāninaṃ nindanti dviṣanti duḥkhapradānaṃ kurvanti tānprati jñānikṛtaṃ sarvamāgāmi kriyamāṇaṃ yadavācyaṃ karma pāpātmakaṃ tadgacchati | suhṛdaḥ puṇyakṛtaṃ durhṛdaḥ pāpakṛtyaṃ gṛhṇanti |

The stored action is destroyed by the firm knowledge 'I am Brahman alone.' The coming action too is destroyed by knowledge. And with the coming actions the knowers have no connection, as water does not cling to a lotus leaf. Further, to those who praise the knower, who serve and honor him, the merit of the knower's coming-action goes. To those who blame the knower, who hate him and give him pain, the whole sinful, unspeakable coming-action of the knower goes. Friends take on the merit; foes take on the demerit.

In plain words

The stored karma (sañcita) is destroyed by the firm knowledge 'I alone am Brahman.' The coming karma (āgāmi) too is destroyed by knowledge. Indeed, the knowers have no connection with coming karma, just as water does not cling to a lotus leaf. Moreover, those who praise, love, and honor the knower receive the good karma of the knower's actions; those who blame, hate, and cause him pain receive the bad karma. Friends take on the merit; enemies take on the demerit.

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