Shloka 35
अविवाहा तथा कन्या द्विजो मौञ्जीविवर्जितः / जतदन्तश्च बालश्च कुमारी च त्रिवर्षिका
avivāhā tathā kanyā dvijo mauñjīvivarjitaḥ / jatadantaśca bālaśca kumārī ca trivarṣikā
Seorang gadis muda yang belum berkahwin; seorang anak dara; seorang dvija yang belum menerima benang suci (mauñjī); seorang anak yang baru tumbuh gigi; seorang budak lelaki; dan seorang budak perempuan berumur tiga tahun—semuanya termasuk dalam golongan ini.
Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)
Concept: Categorization by life-stage and saṃskāra-status (unmarried girl, uninitiated dvija, very young children) for determining applicable śauca/āśauca rules.
Vedantic Theme: Vyavahāra-nīti: dharma operates through precise definitions; saṃskāra marks transitions in adhikāra.
Application: When applying śauca rules, verify whether the person falls into special categories (age, initiation, marital status) before fixing duration and restrictions.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Type: household/social setting
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.222.36 (their purification period specified)
FAQs
This verse identifies specific social/ritual categories—unmarried females, very young children, and a dvija without upanayana—often used in Garuda Purana discussions on who is treated differently in samskāras and post-death rites.
By classifying persons such as very young children and those without certain initiations, the text frames how ritual responsibility and prescribed rites may vary, which in turn connects to the broader narrative of orderly dharmic procedure surrounding death and after-death transitions.
When performing family rites (antyeṣṭi/śrāddha), consult qualified tradition-bearers for age- and status-specific procedures; the takeaway is to apply dharma with sensitivity to life-stage and eligibility rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach.