Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

अनत्पाद्य सुतान्देवानसन्तर्प्य पितॄस्तथा / अकृत्वा च कथं माण्ड्यं स्वर्गतिं प्राप्तुमिच्छसि

Transliteration

anatpādya sutāndevānasantarpya pitṝstathā / akṛtvā ca kathaṃ māṇḍyaṃ svargatiṃ prāptumicchasi

Translation

Không sinh con trai, không phụng thờ chư Thiên cho đúng phép, cũng không làm cho các Pitṛ (tổ tiên) được thỏa lòng—lại không thực hành các nghi lễ đã định—hỡi kẻ biếng nhác, sao ngươi có thể mong đạt con đường lên cõi trời?

Word by Word

• अनुत्पाद्य: without begetting/producing
• अनुत्पाद्य: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial participle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उत् + पद् (धातु) → उत्पाद्य (ल्यप्/क्त्वा-समकक्ष कृदन्त) with नञ्
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-प्रायः कृदन्त (ल्यप्/क्त्वा-प्रत्ययार्थ), नञ्-पूर्वक; ‘without producing’

• सुतान्: sons
• सुतान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), बहुवचन

• देवान्: the gods
• देवान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), बहुवचन

• असन्तर्प्य: without satisfying
• असन्तर्प्य: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial participle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम् + तृप् (धातु) → सन्तर्प्य (ल्यप् कृदन्त) with नञ्
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-प्रायः कृदन्त (ल्यप्), नञ्-पूर्वक; ‘without satisfying/propitiating’

• पितॄन्: the ancestors (pitṛs)
• पितॄन्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), बहुवचन

• तथा: likewise; also
• तथा: Connector/Adverbial (अव्ययार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थ (in like manner/also)

• अकृत्वा: without doing
• अकृत्वा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial participle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कृत्वा (क्त्वा) with नञ्
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त, नञ्-पूर्वक; ‘without doing’

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

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

• माण्ड्यम्: laziness; sloth
• माण्ड्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माण्ड्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• स्वर्गतिम्: the path/attainment of heaven
• स्वर्गतिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग + गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: स्वर्ग-गति (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: स्वर्गस्य गतिः); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• प्राप्तुम्: to attain
• प्राप्तुम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + आप् (धातु) → प्राप्तुम् (तुमुन्)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), ‘to obtain’

• इच्छसि: you desire
• इच्छसि: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Svarga is not attained by wishfulness; it requires fulfilling prescribed obligations: procreation/lineage duties, deva-yajña, and pitṛ-kriyā.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa causality: desired results (svarga) arise from ordained action; mere intention without karma does not fructify.

Application: If in gṛhastha-āśrama, perform pañca-mahāyajñas, maintain śrāddha/tarpaṇa, and uphold family responsibilities; if renouncing, do so by proper eligibility and without neglecting prior duties.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: extensive śrāddha prescriptions and pitṛ-satisfaction as a key duty; Garuda Purana: discussions on svarga/naraka outcomes tied to ritual and conduct

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of satisfying the Pitṛs (ancestors) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that neglecting Pitṛ-tarpaṇa and related duties obstructs one’s claim to svarga; honoring ancestors is treated as a core dharmic obligation.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana?

It frames the ‘path to heaven’ as dependent on dharma—specifically, fulfilling duties to Devas and Pitṛs through rites—rather than mere wish or belief.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain regular gratitude and duty-based practices—ancestral remembrance (tarpan/śrāddha as per tradition), ethical living, and disciplined worship—avoiding spiritual “shortcut” thinking.