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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

جس کی روح مَمَتا اور پرِگْرہ سے پاک ہو وہ روز بروز دھل کر نِرمل ہوتی جاتی ہے۔ مگر میرے لیے—اگرچہ میں کیچڑ سے آلودہ نہیں—سچے گیان کے آبِ حیات سے پاک ہونا ہی بہتر ہے۔

Word by Word
प्रक्षाल्यतेis washed/cleansed
प्रक्षाल्यते:
Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootप्र + क्षल् (धातु)
Formलट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपदम्; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (Passive)
अनुदिवसम्day by day
अनुदिवसम्:
Adhikarana (Temporal/अधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअनु + दिवस (प्रातिपदिक)
Formअव्ययीभाव-समास; क्रियाविशेषण (Adverb)
यःwho
यः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootयद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)
आत्माthe self
आत्मा:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootआत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन
निष्परिग्रहःfree from possessions
निष्परिग्रहः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootनिः + परिग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of आत्मा)
ममof me / my
मम:
Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootअस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formषष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन; स्वत्व/सम्बन्ध (genitive)
तुbut
तु:
Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु (अव्यय)
Formनिपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थ (contrast/emphasis)
अपङ्कदिग्धःnot smeared with mud
अपङ्कदिग्धः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootअ + पङ्क (प्रातिपदिक) + दिग्ध (कृदन्त; दिह् धातोः क्त)
Formनञ्-तत्पुरुष; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; विशेषण (of आत्मा)
अपिeven/also
अपि:
Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि (अव्यय)
Formनिपात (particle), अपि = even/also
विद्याम्भोभिःwith the waters of knowledge
विद्याम्भोभिः:
Karana (Instrument/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootविद्या (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्भस् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formषष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (विद्यायाः अम्भः); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन (Instrumental plural)
वरम्better
वरम्:
Kriya-visheshaṇa (Predicate complement/विधेय)
TypeAdjective
Rootवर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicative)
हिindeed
हि:
Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि (अव्यय)
Formनिपात (particle), हेत्वर्थ/निश्चय (indeed/for)
तत्that
तत्:
Kriya-visheshaṇa (Predicate complement/विधेय)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, 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
Ā
Ātmā
V
Vidyā (spiritual knowledge)

FAQs

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.

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

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.

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