Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 1
Akalamṛtyu-kāraṇa and Bāla Antyeṣṭi: Age-graded Funeral Rites, Śrāddha Types, and Sonship Duties
ऽल्पायुर्मरणहे तुबालान्त्येष्ट्योर्निरूपणं नाम चतुर्विशो ऽध्यायः श्रीविष्णुरुवाच / अतः परं प्रवक्ष्यामि पुरुषस्त्री विनिर्णयम् / जीवन्वापि मृतो वापि पञ्चवर्षाधिको ऽपि वा
'lpāyurmaraṇahe tubālāntyeṣṭyornirūpaṇaṃ nāma caturviśo 'dhyāyaḥ śrīviṣṇuruvāca / ataḥ paraṃ pravakṣyāmi puruṣastrī vinirṇayam / jīvanvāpi mṛto vāpi pañcavarṣādhiko 'pi vā
Đây là chương thứ hai mươi bốn, mang tên “Sự trình bày nguyên nhân của cái chết yểu và nghi lễ hậu sự cho trẻ nhỏ.” Đức Viṣṇu phán: “Từ đây về sau, Ta sẽ giảng rõ sự định liệu đúng đắn về bé trai và bé gái—dù đứa trẻ còn sống hay đã mất, và cả khi tuổi đã quá năm năm.”
Lord Vishnu
Beneficiary: Pitr
Timing: Contextual: rites determined for child death/life status; includes cases above five years (age threshold).
Concept: Proper determination (vinirṇaya) of rites depends on age/status (living/dead; above five years), emphasizing precision in saṃskāra and antyeṣṭi duties.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma as a preparatory discipline: correct saṃskāra supports order (loka-saṅgraha) and the deceased’s onward journey; acknowledges impermanence (anityatā).
Application: Follow age-appropriate funeral protocols; consult competent tradition-bearers; avoid improvisation in sensitive rites for children.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Related Themes: Garuda Purana: Antyeshti and shraddha procedural chapters (child rites, ekoddishta/sapindana distinctions); Garuda Purana: discussions on alpāyu and causes of untimely death in related adhyayas
FAQs
This verse introduces a dedicated chapter that systematizes how last rites should be decided for children, treating proper ritual determination (vinirṇaya) as a dharmic necessity.
It states that the rules depend on clear categories—male/female and living/deceased status—and it specifically notes an age-threshold (above five years), implying differentiated procedures by age.
When a death occurs in a family—especially involving a child—seek guidance to follow age-appropriate and tradition-consistent antyeṣṭi decisions rather than applying a single uniform ritual to all cases.