Shloka 13

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

Devanagari script

स्वल्षाद्वपुषि वस्त्राच्च क्रियां स्वल्पामपीच्छति / यावदुपचयो जन्तुर्यावद्विषयवेष्टितः

Transliteration

svalṣādvapuṣi vastrācca kriyāṃ svalpāmapīcchati / yāvadupacayo janturyāvadviṣayaveṣṭitaḥ

Translation

แม้ผู้มีร่างกายผ่ายผอมและนุ่งห่มน้อยนิด ก็ยังวอนขอให้ทำพิธีแม้เพียงเล็กน้อยเพื่อเขา ตราบเท่าที่การเจริญเติบโตอันละเอียดของเขายังดำเนินอยู่ และตราบเท่าที่เขายังถูกพันรัดด้วยอารมณ์ทั้งหลาย.

Word by Word

• स्वल्पात्: due to smallness/limited means
• स्वल्पात्: Apadana (Cause/अपादान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; हेतौ (ablative of cause)

• वपुषि: in the body
• वपुषि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वपुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; देशाधिकरणे (locative)

• वस्त्रात्: because of (lack of) clothing
• वस्त्रात्: Apadana (Cause/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; हेतौ (ablative of cause)

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

• क्रियाम्: a rite/action
• क्रियाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• स्वल्पाम्: small / minimal
• स्वल्पाम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्रिया-विशेषण (qualifying ‘kriyā’)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अप्यर्थक-अव्यय (even)

• इच्छति: desires
• इच्छति: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• यावत्: as long as
• यावत्: Avadhi (Limit/अवधि)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधिपर्यन्तार्थक-अव्यय (as long as / until)

• उपचयः: growth / increase
• उपचयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपचय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• जन्तुः: the creature/child
• जन्तुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्तु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• यावत्: as long as
• यावत्: Avadhi (Limit/अवधि)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधिपर्यन्तार्थक-अव्यय (as long as / until)

• विषयवेष्टितः: enveloped by sense-objects
• विषयवेष्टितः: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विषय + वेष्टित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP) ‘wrapped/encircled by sense-objects’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Implied ongoing/needed while the being remains in upacaya and viṣaya-veṣṭana; supports the period before stabilization/transition.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The subtle being remains conditioned by growth/accumulation (upacaya) and viṣaya-entanglement; even small ritual acts can be meaningful support.

Vedantic Theme: Sūkṣma-śarīra and vāsanā: post-death experience is shaped by residual impressions; compassionate ritual action addresses karmic continuity.

Application: Offer even modest rites/śrāddha support for the departed (especially minors or those with ‘small’ worldly involvement), recognizing their continued subtle needs and attachments.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.25.12 (reason for performing daśapiṇḍaka); Garuda Purana Pretakalpa narratives describing preta’s hunger/thirst and dependence on offerings (general parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Preta
• Jantu

FAQs

What is the importance of kriyā (funerary rites) in Garuda Purana?

This verse states that the preta, having very little of its own support, still longs for even small rites performed by the living, because such rites aid it during the period of its post-death growth and transition.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

It highlights an interim state where the being is still developing a subtle form and remains entangled in worldly impressions; during this phase, supportive rites (kriyā) are sought to help it move onward.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform prescribed post-death observances (as per one’s tradition) with sincerity and reduce attachment to sense-pleasures in life, since such entanglement is portrayed as continuing beyond death.