Shloka 10

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

Devanagari script

रुचिरुवाच / परिग्रहो ऽतिदुः खाय पापाया धोगतेस्तथा / भवत्यतो मया पूर्वंन कृतो दारसंग्रहः

Transliteration

ruciruvāca / parigraho 'tiduḥ khāya pāpāyā dhogatestathā / bhavatyato mayā pūrvaṃna kṛto dārasaṃgrahaḥ

Translation

Rucira said: “Possessiveness and hoarding lead to extreme suffering, and they become a sinful downward course as well. Therefore, from the beginning I have not taken a wife or entered household life.”

Word by Word

• रुचिरः: Rucira
• रुचिरः: Karta (Speaker/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुचिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; वक्ता-नाम

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• परिग्रहः: possession; acquisition; attachment
• परिग्रहः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परि + ग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अति-दुःखाय: for great sorrow
• अति-दुःखाय: Sampradana/Purpose (for/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अति (अव्यय) + दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: अति-दुःख (अव्ययीभाव: ‘excessive sorrow’); चतुर्थी (4th case), एकवचन; प्रयोजन/सम्प्रदानार्थे (for great sorrow)

• पापायाः: of sin; of evil
• पापायाः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पापा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (of sin/evil)

• अधोगतेः: of downward destiny
• अधोगतेः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधः (अव्यय) + गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: अधो-गति (अव्ययीभाव: ‘downward course’); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन

• तथा: likewise; and so
• तथा: Connector/Adverbial (अव्ययार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/प्रकारार्थ (and likewise)

• भवति: is; becomes
• भवति: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• अतः: therefore
• अतः: Connector (Reason/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ (therefore)

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana/Karta (Agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन

• पूर्वम्: formerly; earlier
• पूर्वम्: Kriya-visheshana (Temporal adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्वम् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (formerly/before)

• न: not
• न: Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation)

• कृतः: done; made
• कृतः: Kriya (Predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘done/made’ (elliptic with भवति/अस्ति)

• दारसंग्रहः: acquisition of a wife; marriage/household attachment
• दारसंग्रहः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दार + संग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: दार-संग्रह (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: दाराणां संग्रहः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Rucira (a character speaking in the narrative)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Parigraha (possessiveness/hoarding) breeds duḥkha and papa leading to adho-gati; restraint supports inner freedom.

Vedantic Theme: Vairāgya as a prerequisite for jñāna/bhakti maturation; attachment (rāga) fuels bondage.

Application: Practice aparigraha: simplify possessions, reduce hoarding, set ethical boundaries around wealth and relationships; if choosing household life, cultivate non-possessive love and generosity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: moral teachings on attachment, greed, and their post-mortem consequences; Garuda Purana: dharma vs renunciation discussions in didactic dialogues

FAQs

What is the importance of parigraha (possessiveness) in Garuda Purana?

This verse frames parigraha as a direct cause of intense suffering and moral-spiritual decline (adho-gati), making restraint and non-attachment a core dharmic safeguard.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By linking possessiveness to ‘downward movement,’ it implies that attachment-driven actions generate negative karma that pulls one toward lower states and continued suffering rather than upliftment.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice non-hoarding, simplify needs, and treat relationships and property as responsibilities rather than possessions—reducing harmful karma rooted in greed and clinging.