Puṇya

Merit, virtue, auspicious action — the accumulation of positive karma through ethical conduct, generosity, meditation, and reverence. Literally “that which purifies” or “the fruitful.”

In the [[Bhagavad Gītā]], [[Krishna]] teaches that puṇya binds the virtuous just as pāpa (sin) binds the wicked — both are chains of attachment to results. True freedom transcends both merit and demerit.

In Buddhist practice, puñña is actively cultivated through the “bases of merit” (puññakiriyavatthu): giving (dāna), ethical conduct (sīla), and meditation (bhāvanā). It creates favorable conditions for awakening.