Karma

Karma means action — any deliberate action produces a visible result (dṛṣṭa-phala) and an invisible result (adṛṣṭa-phala) that ripens in the future as puṇya (merit) or pāpa (demerit). It is not 'destiny' — it is the law of cause and effect applied to human actions. Karma-yoga (action with an attitude of offering to Īśvara) neutralizes karmic accumulation.