Krishna’s Death Isn’t What You Think, It Was Rama’s Karma(What Goes Around Comes Around)

“कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन। मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि॥”

Most people think of Rama and Krishna as separate divine figures in separate eras. Rama belongs to the Ramayana, Krishna to the Mahabharata. But what if their lives were connected by the invisible hand of karma? Rama killed Bali, the mighty monkey king, from a distance using his bow. It was done to uphold dharma and help Sugriva reclaim his throne. Yet, even righteous acts carry consequences. Some interpretations suggest that Krishna’s death centuries later was the cosmic balancing of Rama’s action. Karma, it seems, spares no one—not even avatars.
Yes. Hindu philosophy teaches that karma is not limited to a single life. Every action, whether small or great, shapes the future. Texts like the Garuda Purana and Vishnu Purana repeatedly assert that deeds ripple through time. Rama’s act, though just in context, left a karmic mark that later influenced Krishna’s life.
Rama killed Bali while he was fighting his brother Sugriva. Dharma justified the act, but killing from a hidden place complicates it ethically. Even righteous deeds can carry karmic weight. This reminds us that ethical actions are rarely black-and-white—cosmic law still tracks every choice.

Krishna was killed by Jara, a hunter who mistook him for a deer. On the surface, it seems random. But from a karmic perspective, it reflects the balance of past actions. Rama’s deed and Krishna’s death, separated by centuries, show how karma connects events across time.

Yes. Avatars appear to restore dharma, but they do not escape karma. Krishna’s death reminds us that cosmic law is impartial. Every action, divine or human, can return in unexpected ways.

These epics are not just stories; they illustrate the continuity of karma. Rama’s actions ripple into Krishna’s era, showing that dharma and cosmic justice persist across time. It’s a lesson that our deeds, intentional or not, have lasting consequences.

The concept of punarjanam, or reincarnation, ensures that karma is never lost. Krishna’s death, seen as a consequence of Rama’s act, demonstrates this vividly. Past deeds, whether virtuous or flawed, eventually come full circle.

Every choice we make matters. Ethical decisions, even justified ones, can ripple in ways we cannot foresee. Karma is a reminder to act with mindfulness and awareness. The story of Rama and Krishna encourages us to think beyond immediate results and consider long-term consequences.

The story is relatable. Like Rama and Krishna, we all make choices with uncertain outcomes. Karma works quietly but consistently, teaching us accountability and reflection. Even divine figures illustrate what it means to live with awareness of our actions.