Shloka 19

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

Devanagari script

रुचिरुवाच / अविद्या पच्यते वेदे कर्ममार्गात्पितामहाः / तत्कथं कर्मणो मार्गे भवन्तो योजयन्ति माम्

Transliteration

ruciruvāca / avidyā pacyate vede karmamārgātpitāmahāḥ / tatkathaṃ karmaṇo mārge bhavanto yojayanti mām

Translation

رُچِر نے کہا: وید میں سنا جاتا ہے کہ اَوِدیا ‘پک’ کر دور ہو جاتی ہے، اور کرم مارگ سے پِتامہاؤں کی رسائی ہوتی ہے۔ پھر آپ لوگ مجھے کرم کے راستے پر کیوں لگاتے ہیں؟

Word by Word

• रुचिरुः: Ruciru (proper name)
• रुचिरुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुचिरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अविद्या: ignorance
• अविद्या: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अविद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• पच्यते: is cooked/processed (ripens)
• पच्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive), आत्मनेपद

• वेदे: in the Veda
• वेदे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• कर्ममार्गात्: from the path of ritual action
• कर्ममार्गात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कर्मणः मार्गः)

• पितामहाः: O grandfathers/ancestors
• पितामहाः: Sambodhana/Karta (Addressed group as speakers)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• तत्: therefore/that
• तत्: Sambandha (Discourse deictic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (therefore/that)

• कथम्: how?
• कथम्: Kriya-visheshana (Interrogative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• कर्मणः: of action/karma
• कर्मणः: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• मार्गे: on the path
• मार्गे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• भवन्तः: you (honored ones)
• भवन्तः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; आदरार्थक-प्रयोग (honorific ‘you’)

• योजयन्ति: engage, connect, place
• योजयन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: युज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

Speaker

Rucira

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: General reference to Vedic karmamarga leading to pitrs; not a specific calendrical instruction.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: A seeker questions the relation between Vedic teaching on removing ignorance and the karmic/ritual path leading to ancestors, challenging why karma-marga is prescribed.

Vedantic Theme: Tension between karma-kanda and jnana-kanda; inquiry (vicara) as the doorway to right understanding of means (sadhana) and ends (purushartha).

Application: Ask precise questions about goals and methods; distinguish proximate benefits (pitrloka/ancestral reach) from ultimate liberation; seek clarification before committing to a path.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana sections contrasting ritual action and knowledge, and discussions of pitrs (general thematic parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Veda
• Pitāmahas (Ancestors/Pitṛs)

FAQs

What is the importance of karma-mārga in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames karma-mārga as a Veda-rooted discipline connected with ancestral (pitṛ) attainment and the gradual removal of ignorance, prompting inquiry into why one is directed toward ritual action.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it links Vedic practice and ritual duty with purification (removal of avidyā) and connection to the ancestral realm, suggesting that disciplined action is part of the soul’s moral-spiritual trajectory.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform duties and ethically grounded rituals with understanding—treat action as a means of inner purification rather than mere formality, while seeking clarity about the ultimate spiritual goal.