Garuda Purana

रुचिरुवाच तत्कथं कर्मणो मार्गे भवन्तो योजयन्ति माम् ॥ 88.

Ruci said: Then how do you, sirs, involve me in the path of action?

पितर उचुः किं तु विद्यापरिप्राप्तौ हेतुः कर्म न संशयः ॥ 88.

The ancestors said: Yet, there is no doubt that action is the cause for the attainment of knowledge.

विहिताकरणानर्थो न सद्भिः क्रियते तु यः 88.

The harm from neglecting prescribed duties is not committed by the good.

प्रक्षालयामीति भवान्यदेतन्मन्यते वरम् 88.

Bhavani considers this to be the best: 'Let me cleanse myself.'

अविद्याप्युपकाराय विषवज्जायते नृणाम् 88.

Even ignorance, like poison, sometimes serves a purpose for people.

तस्माद्वत्स कुरुष्व त्वं विधिवद्दारसंग्रहम् 88.

Therefore, my child, you should properly undertake the acquisition of a wife.

वृद्धोऽहं साम्प्रतं को मे पितरः सम्प्रिदास्यति 88.

I am now old—who will give me their daughter in marriage?

अस्माकं पतनं वत्स भवतश्चाप्यधोगतिः 88.

For us, my child, there is downfall, and for you as well, a decline.

इत्युक्त्वा पितरस्तस्य पश्यतो मुनिसत्तम 88.

Having spoken thus, his father, as the sage looked on, O best of sages—

मुनिः क्रौंचुकये प्राह मार्कण्डेयो महातपाः 88.

The great ascetic Markandeya then addressed Kraumcuka.

इति श्रागारुडे महापुराणे पूर्वखण्डे प्रथमांशाख्ये आचारकाण्डे कर्मज्ञानमा नामाष्टाशीतितमोऽध्यायः

Thus ends the eighty-eighth chapter, called 'Knowledge of Action,' in the Conduct Section of the first part of the great Purana, Srimad Garuda.

पृष्टः क्रौञ्चुकिनोवाच मार्कण्डेयः पुनश्च तम् 89.

When questioned, Markandeya again spoke to Krauñcuki.

कन्याभिलाषी विप्रर्षिः परिबभ्राम मेदिनीम् चिन्तामवाप महीतमतीवोद्विग्नमानसः ॥ 89.

Desiring a maiden, the sage wandered the earth, falling into deep anxiety, his mind greatly troubled.

किं करोमि क्व गच्छामि कथं मे दारसंग्रहः 89.

'What shall I do? Where shall I go? How will I obtain a wife?'

इति चिन्तयतस्तस्यमतिर्जाता महात्मनः 89.

As he pondered thus, a resolve arose in the mind of that great soul.

ततो वर्षशतं दिव्यं तपस्तेपे महामनाः आराधनाय स तदा परं नियममास्थितः ॥ 89.

Then, with a focused mind, he performed severe austerity for a hundred divine years, undertaking strict vows to propitiate the Supreme.

ततः प्रदर्शयामास ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः 89.

Then Brahma, the grandsire of the worlds, appeared before him.

ततोऽसौ प्रणिपत्याह ब्रह्माणं जगतो गतिम् 89.

He then bowed down and addressed Brahma, the guide of the universe.

प्रजापतिस्त्वं भविता स्रष्टव्या भवता प्रजाः 89.

'You will become a Prajapati; you must create beings.'

कृत्वा कृताधिकारस्त्वं ततः सिद्धिमवाप्यसि 89.

Having fulfilled your duty, you will then attain perfection.

कामं चेममभिध्याय क्रियतां पितृपूजनम् पत्नीं सुतांश्च सन्तुष्टाः किं न दद्युः पितामहाः ॥ 89.

Desiring this, perform the rites for the ancestors; if you are satisfied with a wife and sons, why would the forefathers not grant them to you?

इत्यृषिर्वचनं श्रुत्वा ब्रह्मणोऽव्यक्तजन्मनः 89.

Hearing these words of the sage, spoken about Brahma, the one of unmanifest birth—

तुष्टाव च पितॄन्विप्रः स्तवैरेभिरथादृतः 89.

The brahmin then praised the ancestors with these hymns, reverently.

नमस्येऽहं पितॄन् भक्त्या ये वसन्त्यधिदेवतम् 89.

I bow to the ancestors with devotion, those who dwell among the presiding deities.

नमस्येऽहं पितॄन् स्वर्गे ये तर्प्यन्ते महर्षिभिः 89.

I bow to the ancestors in heaven, who are satisfied by the great sages.

नमस्येऽहं पितॄन्स्वर्गे सिद्धाः सन्तर्पयन्ति यान् 89.

I bow to the ancestors in heaven, whom the perfected beings gratify.

नमस्येऽहं पितॄन् भक्त्या येऽर्च्यन्ते गुह्यकैर्दिवि 89.

I bow to the ancestors with devotion, who are worshipped by the celestial beings in the heavens.

नमस्येऽहं पितॄन्मर्त्यैरर्च्यन्ते भुवि ये सदा 89.

I bow to the ancestors who are always worshipped on earth by mortals.

नमस्येऽहं पितॄन्विप्रैरर्च्यन्ते भुवि ये सदा 89.

I bow to the ancestors who are always worshipped on earth by brahmins.