Shloka 24

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

Devanagari script

तस्माद्वत्स कुरुष्व त्वं विधिवद्दारसंग्रहम् / आजन्म विफलन्ते ऽस्तु असम्प्राप्यान्यलौकिकम्

Transliteration

tasmādvatsa kuruṣva tvaṃ vidhivaddārasaṃgraham / ājanma viphalante 'stu asamprāpyānyalaukikam

Translation

Darum, liebes Kind, gehe nach den vorgeschriebenen Riten ordnungsgemäß die Ehe ein; sonst bleibt das Leben von Geburt an fruchtlos und verfehlt das Überweltliche (das höchste geistige Ziel).

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore/from that
• तस्मात्: Apadana (Source/Reason/अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात्-इत्यव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः; अपादानार्थे पञ्चमी-रूपं (ablatival ‘therefore/from that’)

• वत्स: dear child
• वत्स: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वत्स (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• कुरुष्व: do/perform
• कुरुष्व: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; अर्थः—कुरु (do/perform)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• विधिवत्: according to proper rule
• विधिवत्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधि + वत् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb: ‘according to rule’)

• दारसंग्रहम्: marriage (taking a wife)
• दारसंग्रहम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दार + संग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; समासः—दाराणां संग्रहः (taking/accepting a wife; marriage)

• आजन्म: from birth/throughout life
• आजन्म: Adhikarana (Temporal/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ + जन्मन् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; कालवाचक अव्यय (till birth/throughout life: ‘from birth’)

• विफलन्ते: become fruitless
• विफलन्ते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विफल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद; धात्वर्थः—विफल + भू (अर्थे) ‘become fruitless’ (they become futile)

• अस्तु: let it be
• अस्तु: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/benedictive sense), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; अर्थः—भवतु (let it be)

• असम्प्राप्य: without attaining
• असम्प्राप्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अ + सम् + प्र + आप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund): ‘not having attained’

• अन्य: other
• अन्य: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; ‘अलौकिकम्’ विशेषणम्/सहविशेषणम् (other)

• अलौकिकम्: non-worldly/otherworldly
• अलौकिकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + लौकिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; नञ्-प्रत्यय (not worldly)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Vidhivat dāra-saṅgraha (marriage according to rite) is urged as an āśrama-duty; neglect renders life 'fruitless' with respect to higher (otherworldly) aims.

Vedantic Theme: Varṇāśrama as preparatory framework: regulated life supports purification and eventual pursuit of mokṣa; dharma as a ladder toward the transcendent.

Application: Honor life-stage responsibilities with proper rites and ethical commitment; if marriage is chosen, do it conscientiously (consent, responsibility, ritual/values), aligning household life with spiritual goals.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: household/ritual space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana sections praising gṛhastha duties, śrāddha continuity, and the support of pitṛs through family line (general thematic parallel)

FAQs

What is the importance of marriage (dāra-saṅgraha) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames marriage performed according to proper rites as a key dharmic foundation; without it, one’s life is said to become fruitless with respect to attaining higher, otherworldly aims.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in Garuda Purana terms?

By stressing vidhivat dharma (properly performed duties and sacraments), it implies that spiritual and posthumous progress depends on living in alignment with prescribed dharmic structures rather than neglecting them.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Undertake major life commitments ethically and with due observance of dharma—treating family responsibilities and sacred rites as supports for inner discipline and long-term spiritual goals.