Shloka 5

Devanagari script

एकादशाहं द्वादशाहं वृषं वृषविधिं विना / महादानविहीनं च कुमारे कृत्यमादिशेत्

Transliteration

ekādaśāhaṃ dvādaśāhaṃ vṛṣaṃ vṛṣavidhiṃ vinā / mahādānavihīnaṃ ca kumāre kṛtyamādiśet

Translation

For a boy who has died young, one should prescribe the required post-death rites—such as the eleventh-day and twelfth-day observances—without performing the bull-rite (vṛṣa-vidhi) and its procedure, and without the great gifts (mahādāna).

Word by Word

• एकादशाहम्: the eleventh day (rite)
• एकादशाहम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकादश + अह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (एकादश अहः)

• द्वादशाहम्: the twelfth day (rite)
• द्वादशाहम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वादश + अह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (द्वादश अहः)

• वृषम्: a bull
• वृषम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वृषविधिम्: the bull-rite/procedure
• वृषविधिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृष + विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—वृषस्य विधिः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• विना: without
• विना: Apadana (Separation/अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विना (अव्यय)
• Form: अपादानार्थक-अव्यय (preposition/particle: without)

• महादानविहीनम्: devoid of great gifts
• महादानविहीनम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + दान + विहीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—महच्च तत् दानम् (कर्मधारय) + तेन विहीनम् (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष/नञ्-विहीनार्थ)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• कुमारे: in the case of a boy
• कुमारे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• कृत्यम्: the prescribed act
• कृत्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत्य (कृदन्त; √कृ (धातु) + यत्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (that which is to be done/obligation)

• आदिशेत्: should prescribe/ordain
• आदिशेत्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √आ + दिश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: 11th and 12th day after death

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Age-based modification of antyeṣṭi/uttara-kriyā; omission of vṛṣotsarga and mahādāna for kumāra-maraṇa.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma is contextual; ritual efficacy depends on proper scope (yathā-vidhi) rather than maximal performance.

Application: Perform 11th/12th-day observances as prescribed for the case, but omit bull-rite and large-scale gifting when the deceased is a young boy.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: funerary-ritual setting

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana śrāddha-kalpa rules on vṛṣotsarga eligibility; Garuda Purana sections listing mahādāna and when they are enjoined

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Kumara (young deceased)
• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of the ekādaśāha and dvādaśāha rites in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats the 11th- and 12th-day observances as core required post-death duties (kṛtya), even when other elaborate components are omitted for specific cases.

Why does this verse say to perform the rites “without the bull-rite (vṛṣa-vidhi)” and “without mahādāna” for a kumāra?

It indicates a case-based modification of funeral obligations: for a young boy, the tradition prescribes the essential day-based rites while excluding certain heavier/extended rites like vṛṣotsarga and major donations.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Follow the principle of dharma as context-sensitive: perform essential remembrance and duty-based rites sincerely, and adapt optional/expansive rituals according to eligibility, capacity, and family guidance from qualified tradition-bearers.