Shloka 12

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

Devanagari script

प्रक्षाल्यते ऽनुदिवसं य आत्मा निष्परिग्रहः / मम त्वपङ्कदिग्धो ऽपि विद्याम्भोभिर्वरं हि तत्

Transliteration

prakṣālyate 'nudivasaṃ ya ātmā niṣparigrahaḥ / mama tvapaṅkadigdho 'pi vidyāmbhobhirvaraṃ hi tat

Translation

Le Soi de celui qui est sans esprit de possession se lave et se purifie jour après jour. Mais pour moi—même sans être couvert de boue—il vaut mieux être purifié par les eaux de la vraie connaissance.

Word by Word

• प्रक्षाल्यते: is washed/cleansed
• प्रक्षाल्यते: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + क्षल् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपदम्; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (Passive)

• अनुदिवसम्: day by day
• अनुदिवसम्: Adhikarana (Temporal/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनु + दिवस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; क्रियाविशेषण (Adverb)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• आत्मा: the self
• आत्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• निष्परिग्रहः: free from possessions
• निष्परिग्रहः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निः + परिग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of आत्मा)

• मम: of me / my
• मम: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन; स्वत्व/सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थ (contrast/emphasis)

• अपङ्कदिग्धः: not smeared with mud
• अपङ्कदिग्धः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + पङ्क (प्रातिपदिक) + दिग्ध (कृदन्त; दिह् धातोः क्त)
• Form: नञ्-तत्पुरुष; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; विशेषण (of आत्मा)

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अपि = even/also

• विद्याम्भोभिः: with the waters of knowledge
• विद्याम्भोभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्भस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (विद्यायाः अम्भः); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन (Instrumental plural)

• वरम्: better
• वरम्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Predicate complement/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicative)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), हेत्वर्थ/निश्चय (indeed/for)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Predicate complement/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; संकेत (demonstrative)

Speaker

Garuda (Vinātā-putra), addressing Lord Viṣṇu in a teaching dialogue on dharma and inner purification

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Aparigraha (non-possessiveness) purifies daily, yet the superior cleansing is by vidya—knowledge that removes subtle impurity.

Vedantic Theme: Antahkarana-shuddhi as prerequisite to Self-knowledge; jnana as the ultimate purifier beyond external cleanliness.

Application: Cultivate non-possessiveness and daily self-inquiry; treat study/meditation as ‘ablution’ that removes subtle egoic residue.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.88.13-16 (karma-mire, sense-control, nishkama karma, non-bondage)

Characters & Entities

• Ātmā
• Vidyā (spiritual knowledge)

FAQs

What is the importance of detachment (niṣparigraha) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames non-possessiveness as a daily purifier of the inner self, suggesting that letting go of grasping steadily refines one’s character and spiritual clarity.

How does this verse explain inner purification compared to external cleanliness?

It contrasts ordinary “cleanliness” (not being outwardly stained) with a deeper cleansing—being washed by vidyā, the insight that removes subtle ignorance and attachment.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice restraint in accumulation, reduce possessive thinking, and pair outward discipline with study, reflection, and self-inquiry so the mind is “washed” by understanding, not merely kept outwardly clean.