Karma and Knowledge — The Dialogue of Ruchi and the Ancestors

Verse 1 (garuda.1.88.1)

सूत उवाच । हरिर्मन्वन्तराण्याह ब्रह्मादिभ्यो हराय च । मार्कण्डेयः पितृस्तो त्रं क्रौञ्चुकिं प्राह तच्छृणु

sūta uvāca harirmanvantarāṇyāha brahmādibhyo harāya ca mārkaṇḍeyaḥ pitṛsto traṁ krauñcukiṁ prāha tacchṛṇu

Suta said: Hari declared the Manvantaras to Brahma and the others, and to Hara. Now hear what Markandeya spoke to Krounchuki concerning the hymn of the ancestors.

Verse 2 (garuda.1.88.2)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच । रुचिः प्रजापतिः पूर्वं निर्ममो निरहंकृतिः । अत्रस्तोऽमितमायी च चचार पृथिवीमिमाम्

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca ruciḥ prajāpatiḥ pūrvaṁ nirmamo nirahaṁkṛtiḥ atrasto'mitamāyī ca cacāra pṛthivīmimām

Markandeya said: Formerly, Ruchi, a Prajapati, free of possessiveness and ego, unafraid, and of boundless ascetic power, wandered over this earth.

Verse 3 (garuda.1.88.3)

अनग्निमनिकेतं तमेकाहारमनाश्रमम् । विमुक्तसङ्गं तं दृष्ट्वा प्रोचुः स्वपितरो मुनिम्

anagnimaniketaṁ tamekāhāramanāśramam vimuktasaṅgaṁ taṁ dṛṣṭvā procuḥ svapitaro munim

Seeing that sage — without ritual fire, without a dwelling, taking but one meal, without a fixed order of life, and free of all attachment — his ancestors spoke to him —

Verse 4 (garuda.1.88.4)

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

pitara ūcuḥ vatsa kasmāttvayā puṇyo na kṛto dāra saṁgrahaḥ svargāpavargahe (se)tutvādvandhastenāniśaṁ (nimiṣaṁ) vinā

The ancestors said: 'Child, why have you not undertaken the meritorious act of marriage? It is the bridge to both heaven and liberation; without it, there is bondage without cease.'

Verse 5 (garuda.1.88.5)

गृही समस्तदेवानां पितॄणां च तथार्हणम् । ऋषीणामर्थिनां चैव कुर्वल्लो कानवाप्नुयात्

gṛhī samastadevānāṁ pitṝṇāṁ ca tathārhaṇam ṛṣīṇāmarthināṁ caiva kurvallo kānavāpnuyāt

'The householder, duly honoring all the gods, the ancestors, the sages, and those who come seeking, attains all the worlds.'

Verse 6 (garuda.1.88.6)

स्वाहोच्चारणतो देवान्स्वधोच्चारणतः पितृन् । विभजत्यन्नदानेन भृत्याद्यानतिथीनपि

svāhoccāraṇato devānsvadhoccāraṇataḥ pitṛn vibhajatyannadānena bhṛtyādyānatithīnapi

'By uttering svaha, he honors the gods; by uttering svadha, the ancestors; and by giving food, he provides for servants and guests as well.'

Verse 7 (garuda.1.88.7)

सत्त्वं दैवादृणाद्वन्धमिममस्मदृणादपि । अवाप्तोऽसि मनुष्यर्षे भूतेभ्यश्च दिनेदिने

sattvaṁ daivādṛṇādvandhamimamasmadṛṇādapi avāpto'si manuṣyarṣe bhūtebhyaśca dinedine

'O best among men, you have incurred this bond of debt to the gods, likewise to us, and, day after day, to other beings as well.'

Verse 8 (garuda.1.88.8)

अनुत्पाद्य सुतान्देवानसन्तर्प्य पितॄस्तथा । अकृत्वा च कथं मौण्ड्यं स्वर्गतिं प्राप्तुमिच्छसि

anutpādya sutāndevānasantarpya pitṝstathā akṛtvā ca kathaṁ mauṇḍyaṁ svargatiṁ prāptumicchasi

'Without begetting sons, without satisfying the gods and the ancestors, and without fulfilling this duty, how do you wish to attain the path to heaven?'

Verse 9 (garuda.1.88.9)

क्लेशबोधैककं पुत्रं अन्यायेन भवेत्तव । मृतस्य नरकं त्यक्त्वा क्लेशं एवान्यजन्मनि

kleśabodhaikakaṁ putraṁ anyāyena bhavettava mṛtasya narakaṁ tyaktvā kleśaṁ evānyajanmani

'Wrongfully, only suffering will remain your lot; leaving this life in death, only suffering awaits you in another birth as well.'

Verse 10 (garuda.1.88.10)

रुचिरुवाच । परिग्रहोऽतिदुः खाय पापाया धोगतेस्तथा । भवत्यतो मया पूर्वं न कृतो दारसंग्रहः

ruciruvāca parigraho'tiduḥ khāya pāpāyā dhogatestathā bhavatyato mayā pūrvaṁ na kṛto dārasaṁgrahaḥ

Ruchi said: 'Attachment leads to great suffering, to sin, and to a downward path; therefore I have not, until now, taken a wife.'

Verse 11 (garuda.1.88.11)

आत्मनः संशयोपायः क्रियते क्षणमन्त्रणात् । स्वमुक्तिहेतुर्न भवत्यसावपि परिग्रहात्

ātmanaḥ saṁśayopāyaḥ kriyate kṣaṇamantraṇāt svamuktiheturna bhavatyasāvapi parigrahāt

'From a momentary attachment, one creates the very means of doubt about oneself; from possessiveness, one's own liberation never comes.'

Verse 12 (garuda.1.88.12)

प्रक्षाल्यतेऽनुदिवसं य आत्मा निष्परिग्रहः । मम त्वपङ्कदिग्धोऽपि विद्याम्भोभिर्वरं हि तत्

prakṣālyate'nudivasaṁ ya ātmā niṣparigrahaḥ mama tvapaṅkadigdho'pi vidyāmbhobhirvaraṁ hi tat

'The self that is free of possessions is cleansed day by day; for me, even though unstained by mud, it is still better to be cleansed by the waters of knowledge.'

Verse 13 (garuda.1.88.13)

अनेकभवसंभूतकर्मपङ्काङ्कितो बुधैः । आत्मा तत्त्वज्ञानतोयैः प्रक्षाल्यो नियतेन्द्रियैः

anekabhavasaṁbhūtakarmapaṅkāṅkito budhaiḥ ātmā tattvajñānatoyaiḥ prakṣālyo niyatendriyaiḥ

'The self, marked by the mire of karma accumulated over many births, should be cleansed by the wise, with senses controlled, through the waters of the knowledge of truth.'

Verse 14 (garuda.1.88.14)

पितर ऊचुः । युक्तं प्रक्षालनं कर्त्तुमात्मनोऽपि यतेन्द्रियैः । किं तु नोपायमार्गोऽयं यतस्त्वं पुत्र वर्त्तसे

pitara ūcuḥ yuktaṁ prakṣālanaṁ karttumātmano'pi yatendriyaiḥ kiṁ tu nopāyamārgo'yaṁ yatastvaṁ putra varttase

The ancestors said: 'It is right that one of controlled senses should cleanse the self; but this path on which you are proceeding, son, is not the correct method.'

Verse 15 (garuda.1.88.15)

पञ्चयज्ञैस्तपोदानैरशुभं नुदतस्तव । फलाभिसन्धिरहितैः पूर्वकम शुभाशुभैः

pañcayajñaistapodānairaśubhaṁ nudatastava phalābhisandhirahitaiḥ pūrvakama śubhāśubhaiḥ

'By the five daily sacrifices, by austerity and giving performed without attachment to fruit, your inauspicious karma, and the auspicious and inauspicious karma of past lives, are dispelled —'

Verse 16 (garuda.1.88.16)

एवं न बन्धो भवति कुर्वतः कारणात्मकम् । न च बन्धाय तत्कर्म भवत्यनतिसन्निभम्

evaṁ na bandho bhavati kurvataḥ kāraṇātmakam na ca bandhāya tatkarma bhavatyanatisannibham

'thus, for one who acts with understanding of its cause, there is no bondage; and such action, being free of excessive attachment, does not lead to bondage.'

Verse 17 (garuda.1.88.17)

पूर्वकर्म कृतं भोगैः क्षीयते ह्यनिशन्तथा । सुखदुः खात्मकैर्वत्स पुण्या पुण्यात्मकं नृणाम्

pūrvakarma kṛtaṁ bhogaiḥ kṣīyate hyaniśantathā sukhaduḥ khātmakairvatsa puṇyā puṇyātmakaṁ nṛṇām

'O child, the previous meritorious and sinful karma of men is continually exhausted through the experiences of pleasure and pain.'

Verse 18 (garuda.1.88.18)

एवं प्रक्षाल्यते प्राज्ञैरात्मा बन्धाच्च रक्ष्यते । रक्ष्यश्च स्वविवेकैर्न पापपङ्केन दह्यते

evaṁ prakṣālyate prājñairātmā bandhācca rakṣyate rakṣyaśca svavivekairna pāpapaṅkena dahyate

'Thus the self is cleansed by the wise and protected from bondage; protected by one's own discernment, it is not consumed by the mire of sin.'

Verse 19 (garuda.1.88.19)

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

ruciruvāca avidyā pacyate vede karmamārgātpitāmahāḥ tatkathaṁ karmaṇo mārge bhavanto yojayanti mām

Ruchi said: 'O ancestors, in the Veda it is said that ignorance is dispelled through the path of ritual action — how then would you have me follow the path of such action?'

Verse 20 (garuda.1.88.20)

पितर उचुः । अविद्या सर्वमेवैतत्कर्मणैतन्मृषा वचः । किं तु विद्यापरिप्राप्तौ हेतुः कर्म न संशयः

pitara ucuḥ avidyā sarvamevaitatkarmaṇaitanmṛṣā vacaḥ kiṁ tu vidyāpariprāptau hetuḥ karma na saṁśayaḥ

The ancestors said: 'That all this ritual action is mere ignorance is a false statement; rather, action is indeed the cause for attaining knowledge — of this there is no doubt.'

Verse 21 (garuda.1.88.21)

विहिताकरणानर्थो न सद्भिः क्रियते तु यः । संयमो मुक्तये योऽन्यः प्रत्युताधोगतिप्रदः

vihitākaraṇānartho na sadbhiḥ kriyate tu yaḥ saṁyamo muktaye yo'nyaḥ pratyutādhogatipradaḥ

'The good do not commit the wrong of neglecting enjoined duty; rather, restraint of any other kind, undertaken for liberation without this grounding, instead leads to a downward state.'

Verse 22 (garuda.1.88.22)

प्रक्षालयामीति भवान्यदेतन्मन्यते वरम् । विहिताकरणोद्भूतैः पापैस्त्वमपि दह्यसे

prakṣālayāmīti bhavānyadetanmanyate varam vihitākaraṇodbhūtaiḥ pāpaistvamapi dahyase

'As for your belief that "I am cleansing myself" — that which you consider best — even by this you are being consumed by the sins that arise from neglecting your enjoined duty.'

Verse 23 (garuda.1.88.23)

अविद्याप्युपकाराय विषवज्जायते नृणाम् । अनुष्ठानाभ्युपायेन बन्धयोग्यापि नो हि सा

avidyāpyupakārāya viṣavajjāyate nṛṇām anuṣṭhānābhyupāyena bandhayogyāpi no hi sā

'Even ignorance becomes, like a medicinal poison, of benefit to men, when performed through the proper means; used thus, it does not lead to bondage.'

Verse 24 (garuda.1.88.24)

तस्माद्वत्स कुरुष्व त्वं विधिवद्दारसंग्रहम् । आजन्म विफलन्तेऽस्तु असम्प्राप्यान्यलौकिकम्

tasmādvatsa kuruṣva tvaṁ vidhivaddārasaṁgraham ājanma viphalante'stu asamprāpyānyalaukikam

'Therefore, child, duly undertake marriage; let not your birth remain fruitless throughout life, unable to attain the world beyond.'

Verse 25 (garuda.1.88.25)

रुचिरुवाच । वृद्धोऽहं साम्प्रतं को मे पितरः सम्प्रिदास्यति । भार्यान्तथा दरिद्रस्य दुष्करो दारसंग्रहः

ruciruvāca vṛddho'haṁ sāmprataṁ ko me pitaraḥ sampridāsyati bhāryāntathā daridrasya duṣkaro dārasaṁgrahaḥ

Ruchi said: 'I am now old; who will give me a wife? And for a poor man, marriage is very difficult indeed.'

Verse 26 (garuda.1.88.26)

पितर ऊचुः । अस्माकं पतनं वत्स भवतश्चाप्यधोगतिः । नूनं भावि भवित्री च नाभिनन्दसि नो वचः

pitara ūcuḥ asmākaṁ patanaṁ vatsa bhavataścāpyadhogatiḥ nūnaṁ bhāvi bhavitrī ca nābhinandasi no vacaḥ

The ancestors said: 'Child, our fall, and your descent to a lower state too, shall surely come to pass — since you do not heed our words.'

Verse 27 (garuda.1.88.27)

इत्युक्त्वा पितरस्तस्य पश्यतो मुनिसत्तम । बभूवुः सहसाऽदृश्या दीपा वातहता इव

ityuktvā pitarastasya paśyato munisattama babhūvuḥ sahasā'dṛśyā dīpā vātahatā iva

Having said this, O best of sages, the ancestors, even as he watched, suddenly became invisible, like lamps blown out by the wind.

Verse 28 (garuda.1.88.28)

मुनिः क्रौंचुकये प्राह मार्कण्डेयो महातपाः । रुचिवृत्तान्तमखिलं पितृसंवादलक्षणम्

muniḥ krauṁcukaye prāha mārkaṇḍeyo mahātapāḥ rucivṛttāntamakhilaṁ pitṛsaṁvādalakṣaṇam

The great ascetic sage Markandeya thus told Krounchuki the entire story of Ruchi, in the form of this dialogue with the ancestors.