Shloka 10
बालश्चाथ परञ्ज्ञेय आमाससप्तविंशति / आ पञ्च वर्षात्कौमारः पौगण्डो नवहांयनः
bālaścātha parañjñeya āmāsasaptaviṃśati / ā pañca varṣātkaumāraḥ paugaṇḍo navahāṃyanaḥ
Know further that the stage called bāla (infant) lasts for twenty-seven months. Up to five years is termed kaumāra (early childhood), and up to nine years is termed paugaṇḍa (boyhood).
Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)
Concept: Life-stage taxonomy (bāla/kaumāra/paugaṇḍa) as a basis for determining obligations and ritual handling.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma operates through nāma-rūpa distinctions in vyavahāra; orderly social-ritual categories support ethical and ritual decision-making.
Application: Use the stated month/year thresholds to classify a child’s stage when determining appropriate rites, responsibilities, and exceptions.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.25.9-13 (continuous age-stage and rite rules)
FAQs
This verse sets clear age-brackets for childhood stages, which helps determine context-sensitive dharma and the appropriate framing of rites and discussions in the Preta Kanda.
In the Preta Kanda, age distinctions are used to interpret how obligations, ritual procedures, and customary considerations may differ when the deceased is an infant or a child.
Use the verse as a traditional reference for understanding classical Hindu age-stages, especially when consulting family priests about age-specific conventions in antyeṣṭi/śrāddha discussions.