88 -Story of Ruchi

Suta said: 

1. Lord Hari narrated the Manvantaras to Lord Shiva, Brahma and others. The sage Markandeya narrated to Kraunchuki the hymn of the Manes. Listen to that. 

Markandeya said: 

2. Formerly, Ruchi, an elderly sage, free from attachment to the world, devoid of egotism and for whom Maya (Ignorance) was well-nigh put to rest, was roaming about in the world here and there. 

3. Seeing the sage not nursing the sacrificial fires, not staying in a permanent abode, not fulfilling the duties of (householder's) Ashrama (stage in life) and satisfied with a single meal (anywhere), his ancestors addressed him. 

The Manes said: 

4-5. "Dear Son, wherefore has the holy wedlock not been entered into by you? Of course, it is a binding fetter since it is the bridge that unites Heaven and earth. Hence, a householder performing due and deserving hospitality to deities, manes, sages and suppliants without meat, shall attain the higher worlds. 

6. By repeating Svaha, the householder propitiates the deities; by repeating Svadha he propitiates the manes, by gifts of food he propitiates servants and guests. 

7. O mortal Sage! You too have fallen into a bondage by incurring debts to gods, to us and to all living beings day after day. 

8. Without begetting sons, without performing Tarpanas to the manes and without shaving off your head (in Sannyasa) how can you wish for heaven? 

9. O son, know that only pain will befall you and that too by your unjustifiable act. If you die, either you go to hell or suffer pain in the next birth. 

Ruchi said: 

10. Wedlock is conducive to greater distress, sin or fall. Hence, I did not marry sire. 

11. One is held in suspense by a momentary consultation; there seems to be no way out for salvation; this will be the result if I enter into matrimony. 

12-13. The soul which is tarnished by the multifarious acts of innumerable births has to be washed by the water of knowledge of reality with a full curb on the sense-organs. A soul free from the ties of wedlock may still be tainted with the feeling of "my-ness"-an obsession of possession. Yet it is better and easier to wash it off by the water of learning. 

The Manes said: 

14. "Dear son, no doubt, the soul has to be scrubbed of its impurities by curbing the sense-organs. Yet the path you have chosen as the remedy is not the suitable one. 

15.16. Dispelling the effects of good and bad actions of the previous births by means of five sacrifices (Pancha-yajnas) austerities and charitable gifts and performing the duties (enjoined by sacred circles) one is not fettered by that action like the one resulting from transgressing the same. There will never be any obstacle. 

17. Dear son, sin, or merit accumulated by previous actions is wasted away steadily when one experiences the fruits thereof whether pleasure or sorrow. 

18. It is thus that intelligent men wash off their souls and save them from bondage. If they protect themselves with discretion, they are not sullied by the taint of sin.

Ruchi said: 

19. Noble sires! The paths of activities are condemned in the Vedas as the sequel of ignorance. Still, wherefore do you enjoin the same on me? 

The Manes said: 

20. It is wrong to say that everything is the result of ignorance and actions constitute the cause of the same. But there is no doubt that action is the cause of extension of learning (or true knowledge). 

21. The good never invite trouble by not doing the rites mandatorily enjoined. A self-restraint coupled with it is conducive to salvation, otherwise it leads to fall. 

22. What you consider to be the excellent way out with the attitude "O I am washing off" (is wrong); you will be burnt by the sins of dereliction of duty. 

23. Even the illusion, like poison (which nullifies other poisons and helps) is conducive to good; as a means for the performance of duties it is not fettering though capable of it. 

24. Hence, dear son, find out a suitable girl and marry her. Let not your life be in vain without the assurance of attaining the other world and its benefit. 

Ruchi said: 

25. O sires, I am now an old man. Who will provide me with a wife? It is difficult for a poor wretch to go in for marriage. 

The Manes said: 

26. O son, If you do not appreciate our advice, our degradation and your fall is certain. You should render our advice into practice. 

27. After saying this, O noble sage (Kraunchuki), the manes suddenly vanished like lamps blown out by the wind, even as Ruchi stood gazing at them. 

28. Thus Markandeya narrated to Kraunchuki the entire episode of Ruchi involving his conversation with the manes.