“Work done as an offering to Vishnu has to be performed, otherwise work binds one to this material world. Therefore, perform your prescribed duties for His satisfaction, and in that way you will always remain unattached and free from bondage.” (Bg.3.9)

“One who works in devotion, who is a pure soul, and who controls his mind and senses, is dear to everyone, and everyone is dear to him. Though always working, such a man is never entangled.” (Bg.5.7)

“The steadily devoted soul attains unadulterated peace because he offers the result of all activities to Me; whereas a person who is not in union with the Divine, who is greedy for the fruits of his labor, becomes entangled.” (Bg.5.12)

Here in these verses we see how a person gets the results of his or her actions. Work done selfishly, for one’s own pleasure or development, without considering its affects on others or the consequences, will certainly bind one to this material world. This describes the process of accumulating karma, which must be worked out through as many lifetimes as is necessary to arrive at a complete balance of all one’s actions. Practically speaking, however, to arrive at such a balance is impossible without incorporating the spiritual path into our life. All activities will have some degree of fault in them, which will entail karma and future births, which may be pleasant or miserable, heavenly or hellish.

So the only way we can become free from this karmic cycle of repeated births and deaths is to learn how to begin engaging in the service of the Lord. This consists of the genuine spiritual activities that nullify all of our karma, both good and bad. That is the way to be unentangled or get free from being bound to the ups and downs of material existence. Offering our service or the results of our activities to the Lord is the path to freedom.