વૈશેષિક દર્શનમાં કર્મવિચાર

Summary

This Gujarati article examines the concept of karma in the ancient Vaisheshika philosophical system. Vaisheshika enumerates six or seven categories and approaches metaphysics in a scientific manner. Karma (action) is defined as motion and is considered one of the causes of conjunction and disjunction, serving as a fundamental category for understanding physical phenomena. The article highlights that Vaisheshika posits an unseen force called adrsta responsible for the moral retribution of actions; this invisible karmic force ensures that virtuous deeds yield pleasure and vice leads to pain, even across lifetimes. While the system embraces a naturalistic approach, it still requires an omniscient Ishvara (God) to administer the law of karma because adrsta itself cannot ensure proportional distribution of results. The article examines debates between Vaisheshika and other schools on whether karma is inherent in the soul or produced externally and emphasises that the soul remains distinct from the body but experiences the fruits of karma through connection with the body.