The ancient sages classified karma into three types and used the symbol of Archery to explain them.
The stock of arrows in the archer’s case is the accumulated reserve of your karma from your past lifetimes, which are yet to ripen. It is sanchita karma or karma that is yet to fructify. The arrow that has left his bow is that part of sanchita karma you carry to work out in this lifetime. It is prarabdha karma or fructified karma-karma that is ripe to reap. The arrow in the hand is agami or future karma- karma that is yet to mature for your actions of this life.
The agami karma, if not neutralized, gets added to sanchita karma. While you may not know the cause of your sanchita karma, you can, however, choose your present actions to balance the negative effects of agami karma for your actions of this life. For instance, if you had inflicted pain on someone, you can do good that person to partly, if not fully, offset the bad karma that can add as a result of your negative action.
