Success and Failure Born from Past Karmic Imprints

Every soul has a long journey that continues birth after birth until it becomes completely purified and free from desire, anger, pride, attachment, and jealousy. In this journey, we often observe that despite sincere effort, success does not appear, or appears only partially. No matter how hard we try, the result sometimes disappoints. We repeatedly ask ourselves, “Why is my fate like this?” While striving is in our hands, success proportional to our efforts is not. The stories in the *Guru Charitra* show that each person carries different karmic conditions—destiny (*yoga*) and karmic consequences (*bhoga*). These make life easier or more difficult. Only when the Guru’s grace descends do expected results begin to manifest.

We may not understand what the Guru does, but the truth is simple: desired results appear only when the Guru alters our accumulated karma (*sanchita*) and destiny (*prarabdha*). At birth, the planetary positions—combinations and placements in various houses—reflect our past karmic store. This language of planets is the horoscope. The horoscope continuously gives subtle indications, yet most people fail to understand this cosmic design. We interpret things based on imagination, social advice, or personal desires and then blame fate when results do not materialise.

We assume our failures will last forever and continue living unhappily. But these difficulties are simply the results of actions performed in previous births. Consider the story of Valya Koli (Ratnakar). In his earlier birth he accumulated great merit, yet in this birth he lived as a robber due to karmic tendencies. Only Narada’s intervention transformed him.

When a child is born and begins to grow, we imagine many things for its future. We think, “I will educate the child well; I will shape its destiny.” Yet we rarely observe the child deeply—how it plays, responds, or what naturally interests it. We overlook these signs, thinking, “It is only a child.” But the child behaves according to its inherited planetary patterns. Only when schooling begins do we notice whether it is lazy, careful, studious, restless, or distracted. These tendencies reveal its innate karmic blueprint.

A child can change through environment, culture, and personal effort. Such change does not erase deep karmic destiny but can make the child wiser and more balanced, which itself greatly uplifts life.

Here is a real example: a businessman from Pune struggled for years. His work required enormous effort. Relationships with workers and relatives brought stress. Nothing was smooth; delays were constant. After examining his horoscope and performing the required Vedic remedies to remove karmic blocks, everything changed. His business became orderly, work progressed quickly, exports increased, and he rose as a successful entrepreneur.

Another example: a brilliant medical student in Aurangabad failed his M.S. (Surgery) examination six times. His father was a renowned surgeon, and the boy’s surgical skill was even better. But during exams, something went wrong every time. This was not lack of intelligence; it was a karmic block reflected in his horoscope. Once that karmic defect was removed, he passed easily.

This is how life works. Sometimes, despite careful thinking and sincere effort, a small unconscious mistake leads to failure. We see others succeed easily while we struggle endlessly. As time passes, the weight of repeated failure grows, and a person starts believing, “This is my destiny; nothing will change.” Negative thinking increases, and the person becomes inactive, discouraged, and hopeless. But all this is due to past karmic imprints (*poorva-sanchita*), which can be clearly understood from the horoscope. Unless these karmic defects are removed, a person repeats the same failures regardless of effort.

Even when a person begins to succeed, just before victory something unexpected may occur and the success slips away. This pattern can repeat many times. People take half a lifetime to realise that such patterns exist.

The truth revealed in the *Guru Charitra* is this: until past karmic seeds are burnt away by the Guru’s grace or through proper spiritual remedies, the soul cannot escape the cycle of suffering. Therefore, one must seek the guidance of a Sadguru and remain in his presence.