In plain words
You may leave anything aside, but the result of karma you cannot leave aside. That result of karma comes of its own accord and seizes you. However much bad you do, you cannot escape suffering ten times as much sorrow.
God's grace can cancel the result of karma
Students! You may ask, ‘Is there no way at all to escape the result of karma?’ One can escape the result of karma. That is true. But when? Only when you become worthy of God's grace does it become possible. Pandits say, “The result of karma is inescapable; it follows close behind.” That is true. It does follow, but it does not trouble one who has become worthy of God's grace. How so? A small example: in a bottle there is a good, potent medicine. On the bottle it is written, ‘This medicine has this effect.’ On it there is also an Expiry date. Once that time limit has passed, the medicine loses its potency. Even if you take the medicine then, it has no effect. In the same way, by God's grace the result of our karma will Expire. So we must strive to become worthy of God's grace.
In the devotee lies the power that can change God's will
Īśvara granted Mārkaṇḍeya a life of 16 years. But Mārkaṇḍeya did not know this. When, on the evening before he was to complete sixteen years, Mārkaṇḍeya noticed his parents sitting sadly in a corner of the house and inquired the reason: “Son! When Īśvara granted you to us, He said you could live only 16 years. With today you complete sixteen years. Now the bond between you and us comes to an end. From tomorrow, who are you, and who are we?” they said. Grieved that this had not been made known to him until then, Mārkaṇḍeya said, “Had I known this beforehand, I would have put my time to good use, would I not!”