What is Prarabdha, Sanchit, and Kriyaman Karma? How do they affect our lives?

Sanchita Karma and Prarabdha Karma are parts of the doctrine of Karma itself. The doctrine of Karma states that whatever actions we perform, good or bad, bear certain fruits that keep accumulating in our invisible account. This vast accumulated storehouse of the fruits of good and bad actions, gathered over many lifetimes, is called "Sanchita Karma." From these Sanchita Karmas, many major events of our future lives are determined -- such as what kind of family we will be born into, what kind of life partner we will receive, how and when our death will occur, and how various events of joy and sorrow will unfold.

Prarabdha Karma is formed from our Sanchita Karmas and determines the destiny of our present life. The destiny of our current life has already been determined.

A very large portion of Sanchita Karmas consists of those whose fruits have not yet ripened, so to speak, and which will manifest in future lives as our Prarabdha. That is to say, Prarabdha is that portion of our life which has already been fixed. In reality, Prarabdha is a kind of steel framework of our life, within which we must operate. It confines the fruits of our efforts within this framework. Breaking out of this steel frame is extremely difficult. But the Gita teaches us how to face the harsh effects of this Prarabdha with ease and cheerfulness, and to live life happily!

Kriyamana Karma is that which we are performing right now, at this very moment. It is through these actions that our storehouse of Sanchita Karmas will be enriched and will manifest as our Prarabdha (destiny) in future lives, and to some extent in this life as well.

Prarabdha is of three types: extremely severe Prarabdha, moderate Prarabdha, and mild Prarabdha.

Mild and moderate Prarabdha can be more or less mitigated through ordinary worship of Devatas, Devis, and Ishvara. Erasing severe Prarabdha is very difficult -- almost impossible, but not entirely impossible.

Through sadhana of God, through bhakti, through worship, through supreme spiritual knowledge, the entire storehouse of our Sanchita Karmas can also be burnt to ashes, and in this way rebirth can be prevented. This is possible through Parama Jnana (supreme knowledge) and also through Para Bhakti (supreme devotion).

However, such supremely enlightened sages and saints of Para Bhakti are extremely rare.

I have already answered your first question about the difference between Prarabdha, Sanchita, and Kriyamana Karmas.

Today I answer your second question: "Is there any parameter to know whether my life has become blessed?" There are several parameters for determining whether one's life has become blessed, and different ones apply to different people. For those who have entered the spiritual path, the greatest parameter is whether they have become dear to God or not. How does one know this?

For this, you should look at the qualities given from the 13th to the 20th verse of the 12th chapter of the Gita and see whether these qualities have manifested in you or not. These are the very qualities which, according to the Lord, make a person dear to Him. There are approximately three and a half dozen of them. I give you a list of some key qualities and dispositions:

The very first quality is whether devotion to God is overflowing from your heart or not.

Along with this quality, examine whether the following dispositions, thoughts, and life values have blossomed within you:

Is there any living being toward whom you still harbor ill-will? If there is no such creature or person, then your life is blessed! Reflect and see -- do you not bear ill-will or hatred even toward a snake, even toward a Muslim?

Is your behavior toward all living beings friendly and compassionate? If yes, then you are dear to God and therefore blessed. Do your words and behavior agitate others, and do others' words and behavior agitate you? If not, then you are dear to God, and therefore your life is blessed.

Similarly, many other qualities and dispositions are described in the 12th chapter. Examine them and decide for yourself. Look at the first three verses of the 16th chapter, and if you measure up to them, then you are not only dear to God but your life has become blessed. I quote these three verses below:

Meaning: Fearlessness, complete purity of the inner being, steadfast abidance in the yoga of knowledge and control of the senses, charity, sacrifice, austerity, study of scriptures or {for those who cannot read, or even otherwise} having others read and listening, and simplicity-sincerity of mind;

Meaning: Ahimsa (not causing injury to anyone in any way -- by mind, speech, or body), truth {speaking truth and honoring truth}, absence of anger, renunciation, peace (keeping the mind calm and free from agitation and not causing agitation and unrest in others), not indulging in slander or complaint against anyone, compassion toward all beings, freedom from greed or covetousness, gentleness {of temperament and speech}, modesty, steadiness;

Meaning: Radiance, forgiveness, fortitude, cleanliness {outer and inner}, absence of treacherous nature, not craving excessive honor and respect for oneself -- all these, O Arjuna, are the marks of a person born with divine qualities (sampada).

Meaning: Fix your mind on Me, be devoted to Me, worship Me, bow down to Me! In this way you shall attain Me -- this is My solemn promise to you, for you are dear to Me.

If your life has become aligned with this verse, then your life has become blessed. Moreover, see how much you are absorbed in selfless service, rising above self-interest, because the Lord has held the conduct of "sarvabhutahiteratah" (being devoted to the welfare of all beings) as the ideal for everyone. But even this is not sufficient to consider life as blessed, because one outcome of all yogas is that your connection with all suffering is severed -- "duhkha-samyoga-viyogam yoga-samjnitam." Therefore, see whether your life has become joyful and blissful or not. If it has, then your life has become blessed.