Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

विहिताकरणानर्थो न सद्भिः क्रियते तु यः / संयमो मुक्तये यो ऽन्यः प्रत्युताधोगतिप्रदः

Transliteration

vihitākaraṇānartho na sadbhiḥ kriyate tu yaḥ / saṃyamo muktaye yo 'nyaḥ pratyutādhogatipradaḥ

Translation

善き人は、定められた行いを怠らせるがゆえに害となるような「制御（サンヤマ）」を行わない。解脱のためでない他のいかなる「制御」も、かえって下方への堕落の因となる。

Word by Word

• विहिताकरणानर्थः: the harm of not doing what is prescribed
• विहिताकरणानर्थः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विहित (कृदन्त/क्त, √धा/वि+धा ‘to prescribe’) + अकरण (प्रातिपदिक) + अनर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः (विहितस्य अकरणम् = non-performance of what is enjoined) तस्य अनर्थः = harm; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-प्रायः

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• सद्भिः: by the good (people)
• सद्भिः: Kartr-karana (Agent in passive/कर्तृ-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• क्रियते: is done
• क्रियते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive), आत्मनेपद

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (Contrast)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेष-निपात (adversative particle)

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

• संयमः: self-restraint, discipline
• संयमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संयम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• मुक्तये: for liberation
• मुक्तये: Sampradana (Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• यः: which/that (restraint)
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक (relative pronoun)

• अन्यः: other, different
• अन्यः: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (संयमस्य)

• प्रत्युत: on the contrary
• प्रत्युत: Sambandha (Discourse)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रत्युत (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle) — ‘on the contrary’

• अधोगतिप्रदः: giving a downward fate
• अधोगतिप्रदः: Predicative adjective (Predicate complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधो-गति (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अधोगतेः प्रदः = giver of downward course)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in dialogue with Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Restraint that causes neglect of enjoined duties is not practiced by the good; restraint not aimed at liberation can lead to downfall.

Vedantic Theme: Right renunciation is teleological (moksha-oriented) and integrated with dharma; false asceticism becomes tamasic and binding, producing adverse results.

Application: Avoid performative or harmful austerities; keep obligatory responsibilities while cultivating genuine self-control; align discipline with liberation (reduced ego, reduced craving).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana admonitions against adharma in the guise of tapas/niyama (general thematic parallel)

FAQs

What is the importance of saṃyama (restraint) in Garuda Purana?

This verse frames restraint as meaningful only when aligned with mokṣa and dharma; discipline that causes neglect of prescribed duties is not praised by the virtuous.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It links intention and correctness of practice to karmic direction: restraint aimed at liberation uplifts, while misguided austerity or duty-neglect contributes to adhogati (a downward karmic trajectory).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice self-control without abandoning rightful responsibilities—let discipline support ethical living, service, and inner purification rather than becoming performative or harmful.