"What goes around and comes around" is used to say that if someone treats other people badly he or she will eventually be treated badly by someone else. It is the same concept with Karma in Hinduism. According to etymologist Barry Popik, the first documented appearance of "What goes around comes around" is in the 1962 book Burn, Killer, Burn!The phrase "What goes around comes around" encapsulates the idea that the consequences of one's actions, whether positive or negative, will eventually return to them. This concept is akin to the principle of karma in Hinduism and other Eastern philosophies. The belief is that the universe has a way of balancing actions and reactions, ensuring that individuals receive outcomes that align with their deeds.
The expression suggests a moral and ethical perspective, emphasizing the interconnectedness of actions and their repercussions. Whether kindness or harm is sown, individuals may ultimately reap similar consequences in their own lives.
The phrase's documented appearance in the 1962 book "Burn, Killer, Burn!" reflects its emergence in popular language and its subsequent incorporation into discussions about cause and effect in various contexts.