Shloka 15

Ruci and the Pitṛs: On Marriage, Debts (Ṛṇa), and Desireless Karma

Devanagari script

पञ्चयज्ञैस्तपोदानैरशुभं नुदतस्तव / फलाभिसन्धिरहितैः पूर्वकम शुभाशुभैः

Transliteration

pañcayajñaistapodānairaśubhaṃ nudatastava / phalābhisandhirahitaiḥ pūrvakama śubhāśubhaiḥ

Translation

Durch die fünf täglichen Opfer, durch Askese und durch Gabe—wenn sie ohne Absicht auf Lohn vollzogen werden—wird dein Unheil vertrieben, samt den früheren Taten, ob gut oder schlecht.

Word by Word

• पञ्चयज्ञैः: by the five sacrifices
• पञ्चयज्ञैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च (प्रातिपदिक) + यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन

• तपोदानैः: by austerities and gifts
• तपोदानैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक) + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन

• अशुभम्: inauspiciousness/evil
• अशुभम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अशुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• नुदतः: (of you) driving away
• नुदतः: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नुद् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (Present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन; ‘तव’ इत्यनेन सह (genitive absolute sense: of you who are driving away)

• तव: of you
• तव: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन

• फलाभिसन्धिरहितैः: devoid of expectation of results
• फलाभिसन्धिरहितैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक) + अभिसन्धि (प्रातिपदिक) + रहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (फलस्य अभिसन्धिः = फलाभिसन्धिः; तेन रहितः); पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन; विशेषण (of यज्ञ/तपोदान/कर्म)

• पूर्वकम्: in a prior/preceding manner
• पूर्वकम्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverbial usage) = in the manner of/preceded by

• शुभाशुभैः: by good and bad (acts)
• शुभाशुभैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक) + अशुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व (शुभं च अशुभं च); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in discourse to Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pañca-yajña, tapas, and dāna performed without desire for results purge impurity and neutralize prior karmic residues (both śubha and aśubha).

Vedantic Theme: Nishkama-karma as chitta-shuddhi; transcending duality of punya/papa by relinquishing phala-abhisandhi (fruit-intent).

Application: Perform daily duties, service, and giving as offerings; explicitly drop reward-seeking; keep a ‘phala-tyaga’ intention before action.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.88.16 (non-bondage through right causality/understanding)

FAQs

What is the importance of pañca-yajña in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents pañca-yajña, along with tapas and dāna, as daily purifiers that remove aśubha (inauspiciousness) when done selflessly, making them central to karmic cleansing.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in relation to karma?

It teaches that intention matters: actions done without craving results weaken karmic bondage, helping neutralize the weight of prior karma (both śubha and aśubha) that otherwise shapes the soul’s post-death trajectory.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain daily acts of duty—service, study, offering, charity, and self-discipline—while reducing “what do I get?” thinking; consistent, reward-free practice is described here as a direct antidote to inner and karmic impurity.