Why Are We Born Again & Again? The Gita’s Take on Karma & Rebirth
Nidhi | Jul 16, 2025, 12:11 IST
( Image credit : Times Life Bureau )
Highlight of the story: Why do we come back to this world again and again? This article explores the Bhagavad Gita’s timeless answer: it is our own karma that keeps us bound to the cycle of rebirth. You’ll discover how your thoughts, actions, and desires create this cycle, why death is not the end, and how the soul carries its past forward. Most importantly, you’ll learn what Krishna teaches about breaking free — through knowledge, detachment, and surrender. If you want to understand samsara and find real release, this lesson is for you.
Why do we return to this world again and again? Why does life feel like a circle that never quite closes — birth, struggle, death and then birth once more? This is one of the oldest questions known to seekers of truth. The Bhagavad Gita, Krishna’s timeless dialogue with Arjuna, gives us an answer that is simple yet profound. It says our karma binds us here.
Our actions, thoughts and deepest desires do not vanish when the body dies. They follow us like seeds carried in the wind, ready to grow again. This cycle is not a punishment but a chance to learn and awaken. The Gita does not just show why we keep returning. It shows us how we can choose to break free.
“The soul is never born and never dies; nor does it ever cease to be. It is unborn, eternal, ever-existing and primeval; it is not slain when the body is slain.” (Gita 2.20)
Bodies come and go, but the soul carries the subtle impressions of every thought and action forward into another life.
The soul carries these seeds — the consequences of past actions — into its next birth. In this way, karma becomes the unseen thread connecting one life to the next. Nothing is lost. What we sow must one day be reaped.
“It is desire, it is anger, born of the mode of passion, all-consuming and all-polluting — know this to be the enemy here.” (Gita 3.37)
Unfulfilled desires become seeds for future births. Until they are fully understood and released, the soul must keep coming back.
The Gita describes the three gunas, or qualities, which shape our inner nature: sattva (purity), rajas (activity) and tamas (ignorance). These qualities guide our thoughts, choices and actions.
When sattva dominates, a person’s mind becomes calm and clear. Rajas keeps one restless and driven by ambition. Tamas clouds the mind with confusion and laziness. When death comes, the dominant quality shapes the next birth.
“Whatever state of being one remembers when he quits his body, that state he will attain without fail.” (Gita 8.6)
If the mind clings to desires, fears or regrets, those impressions continue to bind the soul. But if the mind rests in the divine, the chain can finally break.
The Gita teaches that the way to weaken karma’s grip is not to stop acting, but to stop clinging to results. This is the essence of Karma Yoga: to work with full effort but without selfish attachment.
When actions are offered to something higher, they no longer leave behind binding residue. The seeds of karma are burned before they can sprout.
Karma Yoga alone is not enough. Krishna also teaches the paths of Jnana (knowledge) and Bhakti (devotion).
Self-knowledge burns away the ignorance that makes us believe we are this body or mind alone. When we see ourselves as the witness, untouched by actions, karma loses its power.
Devotion transforms desire. When love turns toward the divine instead of fleeting pleasures, old karma dries up at its roots. Bhakti gives us the strength to surrender our ego and let go.
“Abandon all varieties of dharma and simply surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear.” (Gita 18.66)
Surrender is not giving up on life but giving up the illusion that we are the doers of everything. In that trust, the chain of karma dissolves and the soul remembers its own freedom. The Gita’s message is clear. Rebirth is not punishment but a chance to grow, to learn and to remember who we really are. Life after life, we carry the seeds of our own thoughts and actions. But Krishna’s promise is equally clear. We do not have to stay caught in this endless loop.
Your karma keeps you here, but your awareness, your clarity and your devotion can set you free. Every action you take today can plant seeds of bondage or seeds of freedom. The choice is always yours.
May you remember that behind all your roles and changing bodies, you are the eternal soul — untouched, unchanging and forever free.
Our actions, thoughts and deepest desires do not vanish when the body dies. They follow us like seeds carried in the wind, ready to grow again. This cycle is not a punishment but a chance to learn and awaken. The Gita does not just show why we keep returning. It shows us how we can choose to break free.
1. The Soul Is Eternal, the Body Is Not
Soul
( Image credit : Pexels )
“The soul is never born and never dies; nor does it ever cease to be. It is unborn, eternal, ever-existing and primeval; it is not slain when the body is slain.” (Gita 2.20)
Bodies come and go, but the soul carries the subtle impressions of every thought and action forward into another life.
2. Karma Travels Beyond Death
Death
( Image credit : Pexels )
The soul carries these seeds — the consequences of past actions — into its next birth. In this way, karma becomes the unseen thread connecting one life to the next. Nothing is lost. What we sow must one day be reaped.
3. Desire Keeps You Here
Desire
( Image credit : Freepik )
“It is desire, it is anger, born of the mode of passion, all-consuming and all-polluting — know this to be the enemy here.” (Gita 3.37)
Unfulfilled desires become seeds for future births. Until they are fully understood and released, the soul must keep coming back.
4. Your Inner Nature Guides Your Next Life
When sattva dominates, a person’s mind becomes calm and clear. Rajas keeps one restless and driven by ambition. Tamas clouds the mind with confusion and laziness. When death comes, the dominant quality shapes the next birth.
5. Death Is Not an End but a Doorway
Krishna' death
( Image credit : Times Life Bureau )
“Whatever state of being one remembers when he quits his body, that state he will attain without fail.” (Gita 8.6)
If the mind clings to desires, fears or regrets, those impressions continue to bind the soul. But if the mind rests in the divine, the chain can finally break.
6. Detachment Weakens Karma’s Hold
When actions are offered to something higher, they no longer leave behind binding residue. The seeds of karma are burned before they can sprout.
7. Knowledge and Devotion Burn Old Seeds
Self-knowledge burns away the ignorance that makes us believe we are this body or mind alone. When we see ourselves as the witness, untouched by actions, karma loses its power.
Devotion transforms desire. When love turns toward the divine instead of fleeting pleasures, old karma dries up at its roots. Bhakti gives us the strength to surrender our ego and let go.
8. Surrender: The Final Freedom
Surrender
( Image credit : Pexels )
“Abandon all varieties of dharma and simply surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear.” (Gita 18.66)
Surrender is not giving up on life but giving up the illusion that we are the doers of everything. In that trust, the chain of karma dissolves and the soul remembers its own freedom.
How to Break the Cycle
Your karma keeps you here, but your awareness, your clarity and your devotion can set you free. Every action you take today can plant seeds of bondage or seeds of freedom. The choice is always yours.
May you remember that behind all your roles and changing bodies, you are the eternal soul — untouched, unchanging and forever free.