Shloka 5

Akalamṛtyu-kāraṇa and Bāla Antyeṣṭi: Age-graded Funeral Rites, Śrāddha Types, and Sonship Duties

Devanagari script

एकादशाहं द्वादशाहं वृषं वृषविधिं विना / महादानविहीनं च कुमारे कृत्यमादिशेत्

Transliteration

ekādaśāhaṃ dvādaśāhaṃ vṛṣaṃ vṛṣavidhiṃ vinā / mahādānavihīnaṃ ca kumāre kṛtyamādiśet

Translation

Pour un garçon mort en bas âge, on doit prescrire les rites requis après le décès—tels que les observances du onzième et du douzième jour—sans accomplir le rite du taureau (vṛṣa-vidhi) ni sa procédure, et sans les grands dons (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.