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Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

शिशुरा दन्तजननाद्बालः स्याद्यावदाशिखम् / कथ्यते सर्वशास्त्रेषु कुमारो मौञ्जिबन्धनात्

Transliteration

śiśurā dantajananādbālaḥ syādyāvadāśikham / kathyate sarvaśāstreṣu kumāro mauñjibandhanāt

Translation

పళ్లు మొలకెత్తడం మొదలైనప్పటి నుండి ‘శిశు’ అని అంటారు; అక్కడి నుండి చౌళ/శిఖా స్థాపన వరకు ‘బాల’ అని పిలుస్తారు. అన్ని శాస్త్రాలలో మౌంజీబంధనం (ఉపనయనం) నుండి అతడు ‘కుమార’ుడని చెప్పబడింది.

Word by Word
शिशुःan infant
शिशुः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootशिशु (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
आup to
आ:
Avadhi (Limit/अवधि)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootआ (अव्यय)
Formअवधि/मर्यादा-वाचक-अव्यय (particle: up to)
दन्तजननात्from the eruption/birth of teeth
दन्तजननात्:
Apadana (Source/अपादान)
TypeNoun
Rootदन्त + जनन (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; समासः—दन्तानां जननम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)
बालःa child
बालः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootबाल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
स्यात्would be/is considered
स्यात्:
Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√अस् (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद
यावत्until
यावत्:
Avadhi (Limit/अवधि)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयावत् (अव्यय)
Formअवधि-वाचक-अव्यय (correlative adverb: as long as/until)
आशिखम्up to the (growth of) the topknot
आशिखम्:
Avadhi (Limit/अवधि)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootशिखा (प्रातिपदिक)
Formअव्ययीभाव-समासः: आ + शिखम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (up to the topknot)
कथ्यतेis said
कथ्यते:
Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√कथ् (धातु)
Formलट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive: is said)
सर्वशास्त्रेषुin all scriptures
सर्वशास्त्रेषु:
Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootसर्व + शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन; समासः—सर्वाणि शास्त्राणि (कर्मधारय)
कुमारःa boy (kumāra)
कुमारः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootकुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
मौञ्जिबन्धनात्from the tying of the muñja-girdle (initiation)
मौञ्जिबन्धनात्:
Apadana (Source/अपादान)
TypeNoun
Rootमौञ्जी + बन्धन (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; समासः—मौञ्ज्याः बन्धनम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)
Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Āśrama/saṃskāra-linked life-stage definitions: teeth eruption, first head-shaving, and muñja-girdle (upanayana) mark transitions.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma organizes embodied life through saṃskāra; names and duties arise from ritual qualification (adhikāra).

Application: Use saṃskāra milestones (not merely chronological age) to determine appropriate duties, education, and ritual eligibility.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: śāstric/saṃskāra framework (social-ritual space)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana saṃskāra discussions (cūḍākaraṇa, upanayana) and eligibility for rites; Garuda Purana age/stage-based śauca and śrāddha rules

Characters & Entities
S
Shastra
M
Muñja (sacred grass)
Ś
Śikhā (topknot)

FAQs

It clarifies dharmic life-stages tied to samskāras (rites of passage), indicating when specific duties and ritual eligibility begin according to śāstra.

The Preta Kanda often links correct ritual conduct to spiritual welfare; defining life-stages by samskāras supports the broader message that orderly dharma and rites (like upanayana) shape one’s religious responsibilities and merit.

Use it as a guideline to understand traditional milestones (śikhā/tonsure customs and upanayana) and to approach family rituals with awareness of their intended timing and purpose in dharmic life.

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