Letters from Sri Ramanasramam, by Suri Nagamma

That means that Ishwara is only an Agent. He gives wages
according to the labour done. That is all. Without that sakti
(power) of Ishwara, this karma (action) will not take place.

That is why karma is said to be jadam (inert).”
What else could be the reply to the question of Krishna
Bhikshu? So I wrote accordingly to him. With the supernatural
powers of his sandals, Vikramarka went to Brahma Loka, the
world of Brahma, whereupon Brahma, being pleased, told
him to ask for a boon. Vikramarka said, “Lord, the Sastras
loudly proclaim that when you create living beings you write
on their foreheads their future life according to the results of
their actions in past lives. Now you say that you will give me a
boon. Will you rub out what has already been written on my
forehead, and write afresh? Or will you correct it by
overwriting? What exactly is done?” Brahma was pleased at
his intelligent question and said with a smile, “Nothing new is
done now. That which was already preordained according to
the karma of beings, comes out of my mouth. We merely say,
‘Yes, we have given you the boon.’ That is all. Nothing is given
anew. Not knowing that, people do penances for boons at our
hands. As you are an intelligent person, you have found out
the secret. I am very happy.” So saying he presented
Vikramarka with Brahmastram and sent him away. I remember
having read this story in my younger days.

In the tenth canto of Bhagavata, the same idea was given
in the exhortation of Lord Krishna to Nanda: to give up the
performance of a sacrifice to God Indra.