Within the framework of Vishishtadvaita Vedanta as articulated by Ramanuja, karma occupies a pivotal yet ultimately subordinate position on the spiritual journey. Karma, understood as the cumulative effect of one’s actions—both ethical duties and ritual observances—serves as a binding force that shapes the soul’s experiences across lifetimes, perpetuating the cycle of birth and death. Every action, whether motivated by desire or performed selflessly, leaves an imprint that influences future circumstances, and thus, karma is seen as both the architect of destiny and the mechanism of moral justice within the universe.

However, the tradition does not regard karma as the highest or final means to liberation. Rather, karma is instrumental, functioning primarily as a means of purification. Engaging in karma yoga—performing one’s prescribed duties without attachment to outcomes—helps to cleanse the mind of egoism and prepares the soul for higher spiritual pursuits. This process of purification is essential, for it cultivates the proper disposition to receive divine grace and fosters the development of bhakti, or loving devotion toward God.

Despite its significance, karma alone is insufficient for attaining moksha, the ultimate liberation from the cycle of rebirth. Even the most scrupulous adherence to righteous action cannot, by itself, bridge the existential gap between the individual soul and the supreme reality. Liberation, according to Ramanuja, is granted through the grace of God, who transcends the law of karma and can, through compassion, alleviate the burden of past actions. Thus, while karma prepares and purifies, it is divine grace—accessed through wholehearted devotion—that ultimately liberates.

Karma, therefore, is best understood as a preparatory discipline, a sadhana that sets the stage for the soul’s ascent to higher forms of spiritual realization. When performed as an act of worship and surrender to Vishnu, karma is transformed from mere duty into an offering of devotion, aligning the individual with the divine will. In this way, karma’s true value lies not in its ability to deliver liberation independently, but in its role as a catalyst for spiritual readiness and as a gateway to the transformative power of bhakti and divine grace.