Shloka 16

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

Devanagari script

एवं न बन्धो भवति कुर्वतः कारणात्मकम् / न च बन्धाय तत्कर्म भवत्यनतिसन्निभम्

Transliteration

evaṃ na bandho bhavati kurvataḥ kāraṇātmakam / na ca bandhāya tatkarma bhavatyanatisannibham

Translation

So entsteht für den, der mit rechter Einsicht in die wahre Ursächlichkeit handelt, keine Fessel; und jene Tat, da sie der Anhaftung nicht nahe verwandt ist, wird nicht zur Ursache der Bindung.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• बन्धः: bondage
• बन्धः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• भवति: arises/is
• भवति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपदम्

• कुर्वतः: of (one) doing
• कुर्वतः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (Present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन; जनक-सम्बन्ध (of one who does)

• कारणात्मकम्: having the nature of a cause
• कारणात्मकम्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Predicate complement/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कारण (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (कारणं आत्मा यस्य/कारणात्मक); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of कर्म implied/act)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction)

• बन्धाय: for bondage
• बन्धाय: Sampradana (Dative/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th case), एकवचन; प्रयोजन/सम्प्रदान (for)

• तत्कर्म: that action
• तत्कर्म: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + कर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (तत् कर्म = that action); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• भवति: becomes/is
• भवति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपदम्

• अनतिसन्निभम्: only slightly resembling (bondage) / not closely akin
• अनतिसन्निभम्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Predicate complement/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनति (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + सन्निभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (अनतिसन्निभ = not very similar/only slightly resembling); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (of तत्कर्म)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in dialogue with Garuḍa/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Action done with right understanding of causality and without attachment does not generate bondage; such karma is not ‘akin to’ binding attachment.

Vedantic Theme: Karma does not bind the jnani/nishkama-karmi; bondage arises from ahankara and phala-sanga, not from action itself.

Application: Before acting, clarify intention and relinquish ownership; act as an instrument of dharma/Isvara; reflect after action without self-congratulation or guilt.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.88.15 (nishkama purification)

FAQs

What is the importance of non-bonding action (akarma-like karma) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that when action is performed with correct understanding of causality and without attachment-like impulse, it does not generate bondage.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It implies that liberation-oriented living depends not merely on actions, but on the inner orientation—actions done without attachment do not bind the soul to repeated consequences.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Do your duties responsibly, but reduce fixation on outcomes and ego-ownership; cultivate discernment so your work doesn’t become attachment-driven and binding.