Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

प्रक्षालयामीति भवान्यदेतन्मन्यते वरम् / विहिताकरणोद्भूतैः पापैस्त्वमपि दह्यसे

Transliteration

prakṣālayāmīti bhavānyadetanmanyate varam / vihitākaraṇodbhūtaiḥ pāpaistvamapi dahyase

Translation

If you think, “I shall wash it away,” and take that to be the best course—know that even you are scorched by sins born of failing to perform the duties that are enjoined.

Word by Word

• प्रक्षालयामि: I wash/clean
• प्रक्षालयामि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + क्षल् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद; अर्थः—प्रक्षालनं करोमि (I wash/clean)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Quotation marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/वाक्यसमाप्तिसूचक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• भवान्: you (honorific)
• भवान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; आदरसूचक सर्वनाम-प्रयोग (honorific ‘you’)

• यत्: which/that (thing)
• यत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; संकेतवाचक (demonstrative)

• मन्यते: thinks/considers
• मन्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; अर्थः—मन्यते (thinks/considers)

• वरम्: better (as preferable)
• वरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; विशेष्यरूपेण (as ‘better’)

• विहिताकरणोद्भूतैः: by (sins) arising from non-performance of prescribed duties
• विहिताकरणोद्भूतैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विहित + अकरण + उद्भूत (प्रातिपदिक); विहित (कृदन्त/ppp) + अकरण (नञ्-समास) + उद्भूत (कृदन्त/ppp)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन; समासः—(विहितस्य अकरणात्) उद्भूतैः = ‘arisen from non-performance of prescribed (acts)’; विशेषणं ‘पापैः’

• पापैः: by sins
• पापैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन

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

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपेक्षासूचक अव्यय (also/even)

• दह्यसे: you are burned/tormented
• दह्यसे: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग/भावे—‘दह्यसे’ (you are burned/tormented)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pratyavaya (sin from non-performance of enjoined duties) cannot be neutralized by mere intention to 'wash it away'; omission itself scorches the doer.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-bandha through avidhi/akaraṇa; necessity of right action (vihita-karma) as purificatory preparation for higher pursuit.

Application: Identify obligatory duties (daily worship, ethical obligations, life-stage rites) and remove the habit of postponing them under the excuse of later expiation; adopt a consistent routine of prescribed practice.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: repeated emphasis that neglect of prescribed rites and śrāddha leads to suffering for self and ancestors (general thematic parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of prescribed duties (vihita-karma) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse stresses that omitting enjoined duties itself generates pāpa; spiritual life is not only about avoiding wrong acts but also about fulfilling dharma.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul and karmic consequences?

By stating that sins arise from non-performance, it frames the soul’s suffering as tied to both actions and omissions—shaping post-death consequences described elsewhere in the Garuda Purana.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Don’t rely on “I’ll fix it later” thinking; instead, steadily perform your rightful responsibilities—ethical, familial, and spiritual—so omissions do not accumulate as avoidable guilt and harm.