If Karma Was Real, Why Do the Worst People Still Win?
Nidhi | Sep 04, 2025, 09:58 IST
Krishna
( Image credit : Times Life Bureau )
Highlight of the story: We often wonder why corrupt leaders, greedy businessmen, and ruthless individuals rise to the top while honest people struggle. Does this mean karma is a myth? This article explores the deeper truth behind karma — why results are delayed, how collective karma works, and why success is not always the same as happiness. Drawing from ancient philosophy and spiritual wisdom, we uncover how karma operates beyond lifetimes and intentions, revealing why the “worst people” seem to win, and why their victories may not be what they appear.
न हि कश्चित्क्षणमपि जातु तिष्ठत्यकर्मकृत्।
(Bhagavad Gita 3.5)
"No one can remain without action, even for a moment. Everyone is driven to act, helplessly, according to the modes of nature."
We grow up with the belief that karma is an unbreakable law: good deeds bring good results, and bad deeds bring suffering. Yet the world seems to defy this. The corrupt rise to power, the greedy accumulate wealth, and the ruthless often dominate. Meanwhile, the honest and kind sometimes face struggle after struggle. Does this mean karma is just a comforting myth? Or is there more to it than we commonly understand?
The truth is, karma is not a quick-reaction system. It is vast, intricate, and operates on dimensions most of us rarely consider. Below are seven insights that help explain why the worst people sometimes seem to win — and why their victories may not be what they appear.
Sometimes the rise of corrupt leaders is not about their personal actions alone but about the collective karma of society. When dishonesty becomes normalized, it is often reflected in those who rule. In this sense, the worst rising to power is not an exception to karma, but an expression of how collective choices shape collective destiny.
Just as a seed takes seasons before becoming a tree, karma also takes time to bear fruit. Some actions ripen quickly, others slowly. A corrupt person may enjoy temporary success, but the consequences of their deeds are on their way. The delay does not mean karma is absent; it means it is patient.
Karma’s ultimate purpose is not to hand out riches or punishments but to guide the soul toward freedom. A corrupt person may appear to “win” in worldly terms but may be binding themselves tighter to the cycle of suffering. A person who struggles yet remains righteous may be quietly moving closer to liberation. What looks like loss may in fact be the greatest gain.
When we see the unjust thriving, it is tempting to think that life is unfair and karma has failed. But karma is not a quick fix; it is a long game. It accounts for lifetimes, collective choices, hidden intentions, and the soul’s journey toward freedom. The apparent victory of the worst people is only one scene in a far larger story.
The ancient wisdom reminds us: nothing goes unseen, nothing goes unbalanced. Time is vast, and karma is patient. What we mistake for victory may only be the beginning of a deeper fall — and what looks like defeat may be the soul’s quiet march toward liberation.
(Bhagavad Gita 3.5)
"No one can remain without action, even for a moment. Everyone is driven to act, helplessly, according to the modes of nature."
We grow up with the belief that karma is an unbreakable law: good deeds bring good results, and bad deeds bring suffering. Yet the world seems to defy this. The corrupt rise to power, the greedy accumulate wealth, and the ruthless often dominate. Meanwhile, the honest and kind sometimes face struggle after struggle. Does this mean karma is just a comforting myth? Or is there more to it than we commonly understand?
The truth is, karma is not a quick-reaction system. It is vast, intricate, and operates on dimensions most of us rarely consider. Below are seven insights that help explain why the worst people sometimes seem to win — and why their victories may not be what they appear.
1. Karma does not end with one lifetime
Chess
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2. Success is not the same as fulfillment
Win
( Image credit : Freepik )
3. Collective karma shapes leaders
4. Karma is a teacher, not a punisher
‘Sorry’ Can Save Your Relationship
( Image credit : Freepik )
5. The results of actions have a time lag
6. Intention matters as much as action
Therapy
( Image credit : Freepik )
7. The real fruit of karma is liberation, not luxury
The story is never over
The ancient wisdom reminds us: nothing goes unseen, nothing goes unbalanced. Time is vast, and karma is patient. What we mistake for victory may only be the beginning of a deeper fall — and what looks like defeat may be the soul’s quiet march toward liberation.