Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

पितर ऊचुः / वत्स कस्मात्त्वया पुण्यो न कृतो दार संग्रहः / स्वर्गापवर्गहे (से)तुत्वाद्वन्धस्तेनानिशं (निमिषं) विना

Transliteration

pitara ūcuḥ / vatsa kasmāttvayā puṇyo na kṛto dāra saṃgrahaḥ / svargāpavargahe (se)tutvādvandhastenāniśaṃ (nimiṣaṃ) vinā

Translation

Các Pitṛ nói: “Hỡi con yêu, sao con không làm việc phước lành là kết duyên thê thất? Vì hôn phối là chiếc cầu đưa đến cõi trời và cả giải thoát, nên từng sát-na con vẫn thiếu chỗ nương ấy.”

Word by Word

• पितरः: the fathers (Pitṛs)
• पितरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• ऊचुः: said
• ऊचुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• वत्स: dear child
• वत्स: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वत्स (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

• कस्मात्: why, for what reason
• कस्मात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावप्रयोग/हेतुवाचक अव्यय (ablatival adverb: 'from what cause/why')

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/सर्वनाम, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• पुण्यः: meritorious, virtuous
• पुण्यः: Karta (Subject-qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (दारसंग्रहः)

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• कृतः: done, performed
• कृतः: Kriya (Predicative action/क्रियाविशेष)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Past Passive Participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः (predicate with दारसंग्रहः)

• दार: wife, marriage
• दार: Karma (Object within compound/समासार्थ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (बहुवचनार्थे नित्य), प्रातिपदिक-रूपेण पूर्वपद (समासपूर्वपद)

• संग्रहः: taking a wife; marriage
• संग्रहः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (दाराणां संग्रहः)

• स्वर्गापवर्गहेतुत्वात्: because it is a cause of heaven and liberation
• स्वर्गापवर्गहेतुत्वात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग + अपवर्ग + हेतु + त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (स्वर्गापवर्गयोः हेतुत्वम्)

• वन्धः: bond, tie (bondage/connection)
• वन्धः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तेन: by that; therefore
• तेन: Karana/Hetu (Instrument/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (referring to that marriage/that cause)

• अनिशम्: constantly
• अनिशम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनिश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: 'constantly')

• विना: without
• विना: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विना (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; वियोगार्थक उपपद (preposition 'without'); सामान्यतः तृतीया/द्वितीया-सह

Speaker

Pitṛs (ancestors)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dāra-saṅgraha (marriage) as a ‘setu’—a bridge enabling svarga (heavenly merit) and apavarga (liberation) through regulated duty, sacrifice, and progeny/rites.

Vedantic Theme: Purification through pravṛtti-dharma as preparation for apavarga; the idea that disciplined action (karma-yoga within gṛhastha) can become a means toward liberation.

Application: Treat committed partnership/family life as a field for yajña-like responsibility: mutual support, hospitality, charity, and ancestral duties—rather than mere enjoyment.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: dialogue space (visionary/ancestral encounter)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: extensive śrāddha/pitṛ satisfaction teachings where progeny and rites are repeatedly praised as supports for Pitṛs (contextual).

Characters & Entities

• Pitṛs

FAQs

What is the importance of marriage in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames marriage (dāra-saṃgraha) as a puṇya that acts like a “bridge” supporting both worldly merit (svarga) and spiritual progress (apavarga), and as a key duty connected with Pitṛ obligations.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in relation to Pitṛs?

By placing the Pitṛs as speakers, the verse highlights that a person’s life-choices—especially entering gṛhastha-dharma—are viewed as providing ongoing support to ancestral continuity and merit, which is relevant to post-death welfare and rites.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat family and household responsibilities as a dharmic discipline: live ethically, support dependents, and maintain ancestral duties (e.g., śrāddha/offerings where appropriate) with sincerity.