Tririnas
The moment a human being is born on this earth, he inherits certain divine eternal debts. Hindu scriptures refer to these as the Tririnas. Tri means three and Rina means Debt. These are, respectively, Deva Rina (the debt to the gods), Pitru Rina, (the debt to the ancestors), and Rishi Rina (the debt to the sages0. To repay these debts, Hindus must follow Chaturashrama Dharmas (the four phases of life). These three debts cannot be repaid in monetary or material form. These are divine debts. Let’s see what the Manusmriti says about these three debts:
महर्षि पितृदॆवानां गत्वा नृण्यं यधाविधि
पुत्रॆ सर्वं समासज्य व सॆन्माध्यस्ध्यमाश्रितः
maharShi pitRudEvAnAM gatvA nRuNyaM yadhAvidhi
putrE sarvaM samAsajya va sEnmAdhyasdhyamASritaH
Meaning: One should repay the debt to the sages by studying the Vedas as a celibate student, the debt to the ancestors by begetting children as a householder, and the debt to the gods by performing sacrifices and conducting Yajnas. After one fulfils his householder duties one should live a peaceful life, remaining detached and uninvolved in worldly affairs entrusting all family responsibilities to a worthy son.
Deva Rinas
Since God is the root cause of human birth, man must first repay his debt to the deities! Performing yajnas and sacrifices has been described as a means to repay these divine debts. In the ritual of the yajna, Vedic deities such as Indra, Varuna, Agni, the Ashwini deities, and others are worshipped. Various substances and offerings, primarily cow’s ghee, are offered as oblations to the fire in the sacrificial pit. Subsequently, offerings are made to the deities after performing rituals for the elemental beings. It should be noted that through the yajna ritual, social service is also performed by providing feasts to fellow human beings and those who are hungry. Following the adage that service to humanity is service to God, yajnas and sacrifices also fall under the category of social service. This is the way by which man must repay his divine debts.
Pitru rinas
The respect that Hindus give to their parents is reflected in this poem.
मातापितरौन्नित्यम जन्मनॊ ममकारिणॆ
धर्माधि पुरुषार्ढॆभ्यः प्रधमं प्रणामाम्यहम
mAtApitaraunnityam janmanO mamakAriNE
dharmAdhi puruShArDhEByaH pradhamaM praNAmAmyaham
Meaning: I first offer my salutations to my mother, who gave me birth, created the ego in my mind, that is ‘I’, and bestowed existence upon me; and likewise, to my father, for preparing me for the pursuit of Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha. I offer my salutations to both my parents first.
Only a portion of the debt is repaid by respecting and serving one’s parents. The verse from the Manusmriti mentioned above explains what needs to be done to truly repay the divine eternal debt to one’s parents and ancestors. Let’s look at another verse.
धर्म प्रजा संपत्यर्धं रति सुख सिध्यर्धं स्त्रियमुद्वहे”.
dharm prajA saMpatyardhaM rati suK sidhyardhaM striyamudvahe”.
The meaning of this statement is: One should take a woman’s hand for the purpose of upholding righteousness, bearing children, and experiencing the carnal pleasure.
The scriptures state that developing the lineage of our ancestors is the primary duty of every human being. Accordingly, every person should marry a woman during their youth and have a male offspring. This offspring should then be raised in accordance with the family and societal culture and traditions.
By continuing the family lineage, one repays the debt to their ancestors, and in the same process, human welfare is also ensured. That is, the existence of the human race continues uninterrupted. That is why it is said, प्रजयाः मनुश्य पूर्नाः “Prajayāhi manuṣyā pūrṇāḥ,” meaning that one who propagates their lineage is a complete human being. Therefore, according to the scriptures, after completing his education, a celibate student, the Brahmachari should offer a suitable gift to his teacher, obtain his teacher’s permission, and then enter the householder’s stage of life.
आचार्याय प्रियम धनमह्रुत्य प्रजातम्तुम मव्यवत्सेत्सिः”.
AcAryAy priyam dhanamahruty prajAtamtum mavyavatsetsiH”.
Rishi Rinas
Animals also give birth to offspring and raise them. So, what is the difference between a human being and ordinary animals? It is education. Education is what distinguishes a human being from an animal. That is why it is said that an uneducated person is a strange beast. Who imparts this education? Teachers and preceptors. And the books they have written. Ah! We are buying books with money, aren’t we? We are paying salaries to the teachers, aren’t we? That is not enough. Because no one can put a value on the debt we owe to the teachers who differentiate us from animals. Therefore, the debt to the sages is also a divine debt. What is the solution to this?
शक्तितॊ पचमानॆभ्यॊ दातव्यं गृहमॆधिना
संविभागश्च भूतॆभ्यः कर्तव्यॊ नुपरॊधतः
SaktitO pacamAnEByO dAtavyaM gRuhamEdhinA
saMviBAgaSca BUtEByaH kartavyO nuparOdhataH
Meaning: One should give alms according to their capacity to bachelors, teachers, ascetics, and others who obtain their food without cooking, ensuring that there is no deficiency in the sustenance of one’s own family. All living beings, including trees, should be satisfied by providing them with water and other necessities. After studying the Vedas, a bachelor Brahmachari student should enter the householder’s stage of life (Grihasthashrama) and share the Vedic knowledge he has learned with others.
See the following verse from the Atharva Veda.
ब्रह्मचर्यॆति समिधा समीद्धः कार्ष्णं वसानॊ दीक्ष्तितॊ
दीर्घ श्मृश्रुः स सद्य ऎति पूर्वस्मादुत्तरं
समुद्रं लॊकान्त्सम गृभ्य मुहूराचरिक्रत
brahmacaryEti samidhA samIddhaH kArShNaM vasAnO dIkShtitO
dIrGa SmRuSruH sa sadya Eti pUrvasmAduttaraM
samudraM lOkAntsam gRuBya muhUrAcarikrat
Meaning: A celibate student who has completed his education should discard the upper garment and matted hair that he had been wearing until then, and enter the ordinary life of a householder. From then on, he should invite people and explain to them the special knowledge of the Vedas and Vedangas that he learned in the gurukul (school).
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