Shloka 10

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

Devanagari script

रुचिरुवाच / परिग्रहो ऽतिदुः खाय पापाया धोगतेस्तथा / भवत्यतो मया पूर्वंन कृतो दारसंग्रहः

Transliteration

ruciruvāca / parigraho 'tiduḥ khāya pāpāyā dhogatestathā / bhavatyato mayā pūrvaṃna kṛto dārasaṃgrahaḥ

Translation

Rucira nói: “Tâm chiếm hữu và tích trữ dẫn đến khổ đau tột cùng, lại trở thành con đường sa đọa đầy tội lỗi. Vì thế, ngay từ ban đầu, ta không gom lấy vợ, không bước vào đời sống gia thất.”

Word by Word

• रुचिरः: Rucira
• रुचिरः: Karta (Speaker/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुचिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; वक्ता-नाम

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• परिग्रहः: possession; acquisition; attachment
• परिग्रहः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परि + ग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अति-दुःखाय: for great sorrow
• अति-दुःखाय: Sampradana/Purpose (for/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अति (अव्यय) + दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: अति-दुःख (अव्ययीभाव: ‘excessive sorrow’); चतुर्थी (4th case), एकवचन; प्रयोजन/सम्प्रदानार्थे (for great sorrow)

• पापायाः: of sin; of evil
• पापायाः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पापा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (of sin/evil)

• अधोगतेः: of downward destiny
• अधोगतेः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधः (अव्यय) + गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: अधो-गति (अव्ययीभाव: ‘downward course’); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन

• तथा: likewise; and so
• तथा: Connector/Adverbial (अव्ययार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/प्रकारार्थ (and likewise)

• भवति: is; becomes
• भवति: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• अतः: therefore
• अतः: Connector (Reason/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ (therefore)

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana/Karta (Agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन

• पूर्वम्: formerly; earlier
• पूर्वम्: Kriya-visheshana (Temporal adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्वम् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (formerly/before)

• न: not
• न: Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation)

• कृतः: done; made
• कृतः: Kriya (Predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘done/made’ (elliptic with भवति/अस्ति)

• दारसंग्रहः: acquisition of a wife; marriage/household attachment
• दारसंग्रहः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दार + संग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: दार-संग्रह (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: दाराणां संग्रहः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Rucira (a character speaking in the narrative)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Parigraha (possessiveness/hoarding) breeds duḥkha and papa leading to adho-gati; restraint supports inner freedom.

Vedantic Theme: Vairāgya as a prerequisite for jñāna/bhakti maturation; attachment (rāga) fuels bondage.

Application: Practice aparigraha: simplify possessions, reduce hoarding, set ethical boundaries around wealth and relationships; if choosing household life, cultivate non-possessive love and generosity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: moral teachings on attachment, greed, and their post-mortem consequences; Garuda Purana: dharma vs renunciation discussions in didactic dialogues

FAQs

What is the importance of parigraha (possessiveness) in Garuda Purana?

This verse frames parigraha as a direct cause of intense suffering and moral-spiritual decline (adho-gati), making restraint and non-attachment a core dharmic safeguard.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By linking possessiveness to ‘downward movement,’ it implies that attachment-driven actions generate negative karma that pulls one toward lower states and continued suffering rather than upliftment.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice non-hoarding, simplify needs, and treat relationships and property as responsibilities rather than possessions—reducing harmful karma rooted in greed and clinging.