Untimely Death and the Rites for Children

Verse 1 (garuda.2.24.1)

गरुड उवाच । नाकाले म्रियते कश्चिदिति वेदानुशासनम् । कस्मान्मृत्युमवाप्नोति राजा वा श्रोत्रियोपि वा

garuḍa uvāca | nākāle mriyate kaściditi vedānuśāsanam | kasmānmṛtyumavāpnoti rājā vā śrotriyopi vā

Garuda said: 'No one dies before his time' — this is the teaching of the Veda. Then why does even a king, or even one learned in the Veda, come to meet death?

Verse 2 (garuda.2.24.2)

यदुक्तं ब्राह्मणा पूर्वमनृतं तद्धि दृश्यते । वेदैरुक्तं तु यद्वाक्यं शतं जीवति मानुषे

yaduktaṁ brāhmaṇā pūrvamanṛtaṁ taddhi dṛśyate | vedairuktaṁ tu yadvākyaṁ śataṁ jīvati mānuṣe

What the brahmins have said before appears to be false; for according to what is declared in the Vedas, a man lives a hundred years.

Verse 3 (garuda.2.24.3)

जीवन्ति मानुषे लोके सर्वे वर्णा द्विजातयः । अन्त्यजाम्लेच्छजाश्चैव खण्डे भारतसंज्ञके

jīvanti mānuṣe loke sarve varṇā dvijātayaḥ | antyajāmlecchajāścaiva khaṇḍe bhāratasaṁjñake

In the world of men, all the varnas, the twice-born, the outermost castes, and even the mlecchas, in the land called Bharata, live for that same span.

Verse 4 (garuda.2.24.4)

न दृश्यते कलौ तच्च कस्माद्देव समादिश । आधानान्मृत्युमाप्नोति बालो वा स्थविरो युबा

na dṛśyate kalau tacca kasmāddeva samādiśa | ādhānānmṛtyumāpnoti bālo vā sthaviro yubā

Yet in the Kali Yuga this is not seen; tell me the reason for this, O God. Why does one, whether a child, an old man, or a youth, meet death after mere conception?

Verse 5 (garuda.2.24.5)

सधनो निर्धनो वापि सुकुमारः सुरूपवान् । अविद्वांश्चैव विद्वांश्च ब्राह्मणस्त्वितरो जनः

sadhano nirdhano vāpi sukumāraḥ surūpavān | avidvāṁścaiva vidvāṁśca brāhmaṇastvitaro janaḥ

The wealthy or the poor, the delicate or the handsome, the ignorant as well as the learned, the brahmin and other men,

Verse 6 (garuda.2.24.6)

तपोरतो योगशीलो महाज्ञानी च यो नरः । सर्वज्ञानरतः श्रीमान्धर्मात्मातुलविक्रमः

taporato yogaśīlo mahājñānī ca yo naraḥ | sarvajñānarataḥ śrīmāndharmātmātulavikramaḥ

one devoted to austerity, given to yoga, of great wisdom, versed in all knowledge, prosperous, righteous-souled, of matchless valor —

Verse 7 (garuda.2.24.7)

सर्वमेतदशेषेण जायते वसुधातले । कस्मान्मृत्युमवाप्नोति राजा वा श्रोत्रियोऽपि वा

sarvametadaśeṣeṇa jāyate vasudhātale | kasmānmṛtyumavāpnoti rājā vā śrotriyo'pi vā

all such beings, without exception, are born upon this earth. Why then does even a king, or even one learned in the Veda, come to meet death?

Verse 8 (garuda.2.24.8)

श्रीभगवानुवाच । साधुसाधु महाप्राज्ञ यस्त्वं भक्तोऽसि मे प्रियः । श्रूयतां वचनं गुह्यं नानादेशविनाशनम्

śrībhagavānuvāca | sādhusādhu mahāprājña yastvaṁ bhakto'si me priyaḥ | śrūyatāṁ vacanaṁ guhyaṁ nānādeśavināśanam

The Blessed Lord said: O most wise one, well spoken, well spoken — you are my devotee and my beloved. Hear this secret word, which reveals the cause of destruction across many lands.

Verse 9 (garuda.2.24.9)

विधातृविहितो मृत्युः शीघ्रमादाय गच्छति । ततो वक्ष्यामि पक्षीन्द्र काश्यपेय महाद्युते

vidhātṛvihito mṛtyuḥ śīghramādāya gacchati | tato vakṣyāmi pakṣīndra kāśyapeya mahādyute

Death, as ordained by the Creator, comes swiftly and takes the being away. I shall tell you further of this, O lord of birds, O son of Kashyapa, O most radiant one.

Verse 10 (garuda.2.24.10)

मानुषः शतजीवीति पुरा वेदेन भाषितम् । विकर्मणः प्रभावेण शीघ्रं चापि विनश्यति

mānuṣaḥ śatajīvīti purā vedena bhāṣitam | vikarmaṇaḥ prabhāveṇa śīghraṁ cāpi vinaśyati

'Man lives a hundred years' — this was declared before by the Veda; but through the power of forbidden deeds, he perishes swiftly.

Verse 11 (garuda.2.24.11)

वेदानभ्यसनेनैव कुलाचारं न सेवते । आलस्यात्कर्मणां त्यागो निषिद्धेऽप्यादरः सदा

vedānabhyasanenaiva kulācāraṁ na sevate | ālasyātkarmaṇāṁ tyāgo niṣiddhe'pyādaraḥ sadā

Through the very neglect of Vedic study, he fails to observe the customs of his family; through indolence, duties are abandoned, and there is ever reverence shown for what is forbidden.

Verse 12 (garuda.2.24.12)

यत्र तत्र गृहेऽश्राति परक्षेत्ररतस्तथा । एतैरन्यैर्महादोषैर्जायते चायुषः क्षयः

yatra tatra gṛhe'śrāti parakṣetraratastathā | etairanyairmahādoṣairjāyate cāyuṣaḥ kṣayaḥ

Eating in whatever unworthy house comes along, being devoted to another's field — through these and other great faults, the span of life is shortened.

Verse 13 (garuda.2.24.13)

अश्रद्दधानमशुचिं नास्तिकं त्यक्तमङ्गलम् । परद्रोहानृतरं ब्राह्मणं यत (म) मन्दिरम्

aśraddadhānamaśuciṁ nāstikaṁ tyaktamaṁgalam | paradrohānṛtaraṁ brāhmaṇaṁ yata (ma) mandiram

The house of a brahmin who is without faith, impure, an unbeliever, devoid of auspiciousness, given to harming others and to falsehood,

Verse 14 (garuda.2.24.14)

अरक्षितारं राजानं नित्यं धर्मविवर्जितम् । क्रूरं व्यसनिनं मूर्खं वेदवादबहिष्कृतम् । प्रजापीडनकर्तारं राजानं यमशासनम्

arakṣitāraṁ rājānaṁ nityaṁ dharmavivarjitam | krūraṁ vyasaninaṁ mūrkhaṁ vedavādabahiṣkṛtam | prajāpīḍanakartāraṁ rājānaṁ yamaśāsanam

and that king who does not protect his subjects, who is ever devoid of dharma, cruel, given to vice, foolish, and cast out from the word of the Veda, who torments his subjects — such a king is brought

Verse 15 (garuda.2.24.15)

प्रापयन्ति वशं मृत्योस्ततो याति च यातनाम् । स्वकर्माणि परित्यज्य मुख्यवृत्तानि यानि च

prāpayanti vaśaṁ mṛtyostato yāti ca yātanām | svakarmāṇi parityajya mukhyavṛttāni yāni ca

under Yama's rule by death, and he attains torment. Abandoning his own proper duties, those which are the primary conduct [of his station],

Verse 16 (garuda.2.24.16)

परकर्मरतो नित्यं यमलोकं स गच्छति । शूद्रः करोतिः यत्किञ्चिद्विजशुश्रूषणं विना

parakarmarato nityaṁ yamalokaṁ sa gacchati | śūdraḥ karotiḥ yatkiñcidvijaśuśrūṣaṇaṁ vinā

he who is ever devoted to another's occupation goes to the world of Yama. The shudra who, without service to brahmins, does anything else at all,

Verse 17 (garuda.2.24.17)

उत्तमाधममध्ये वा यमलोके स पच्यते । स्नानं दानं जपो होमो स्वाध्यायो दवर्ताच्चनम्

uttamādhamamadhye vā yamaloke sa pacyate | snānaṁ dānaṁ japo homo svādhyāyo davartāccanam

whether excellent, base, or middling — he is boiled in the world of Yama. Bathing, giving, recitation, oblation, self-study, and the worship of the deity —

Verse 18 (garuda.2.24.18)

यस्मिन्दिने न सेव्यन्ते स वृथा दिवसो नृणाम् । अनित्यमध्रुवं देहमनाधारं रसोद्भवम्

yasmindine na sevyante sa vṛthā divaso nṛṇām | anityamadhruvaṁ dehamanādhāraṁ rasodbhavam

on whatever day these are not observed by men, that day passes for them in vain. This body is impermanent, unstable, without foundation, born of fluid essence —

Verse 19 (garuda.2.24.19)

अन्नोदकमये देहे गुणानेतान्वदाम्यहम् । यत्प्रातः संस्कृतं सायं नूनमन्नं विनश्यति

annodakamaye dehe guṇānetānvadāmyaham | yatprātaḥ saṁskṛtaṁ sāyaṁ nūnamannaṁ vinaśyati

of a body made of food and water, I now describe its qualities. Food that was cooked fresh in the morning is certainly spoiled by evening,

Verse 20 (garuda.2.24.20)

तदीयरससम्पुष्टकाये का बत नित्यता । गतं ज्ञात्वा तु पक्षीन्द्र वपुरर्धं स्वकर्मभिः

tadīyarasasampuṣṭakāye kā bata nityatā | gataṁ jñātvā tu pakṣīndra vapurardhaṁ svakarmabhiḥ

then what permanence can there be in a body nourished by the very essence of that food? O lord of birds, knowing that half of it is already lost through one's own deeds,

Verse 21 (garuda.2.24.21)

नरः पापविनाशाय कुर्वीत परमौषधम् । देहः किमन्नदातुः स्विन्निषेक्तुर्मातुरेव वा

naraḥ pāpavināśāya kurvīta paramauṣadham | dehaḥ kimannadātuḥ svinniṣekturmātureva vā

a man should apply the supreme remedy for the destruction of sin. Does this body belong to the one who gave the food, or to the mother who conceived it?

Verse 22 (garuda.2.24.22)

उभयोर्वा प्रभोर्वापि बालनोग्नेः शुनोऽपि वा । कस्तत्र परमो यज्ञः कृमिविड्भस्मसंज्ञके

ubhayorvā prabhorvāpi bālanogneḥ śuno'pi vā | kastatra paramo yajñaḥ kṛmiviḍbhasmasaṁjñake

Or does it belong to both, or to a master, or even to a child, to fire, or to a dog? Amid this — called worm, excrement, and ash — what is the greatest sacrifice of all?

Verse 23 (garuda.2.24.23)

कर्तव्यः परमो यत्नः पातकस्य विनाशने । अनेकभवसम्भूतं पातकं तु त्रिधा कृतम्

kartavyaḥ paramo yatnaḥ pātakasya vināśane | anekabhavasambhūtaṁ pātakaṁ tu tridhā kṛtam

The greatest effort should be made for the destruction of sin. Sin accumulated over many births is declared to be threefold —

Verse 24 (garuda.2.24.24)

यदा प्राप्नोति मानुष्यं तदा सर्वं तपत्यपि । सर्वजन्मानि संस्मृत्य विषादी कृतचेतनः

yadā prāpnoti mānuṣyaṁ tadā sarvaṁ tapatyapi | sarvajanmāni saṁsmṛtya viṣādī kṛtacetanaḥ

when human birth is obtained, then all of it begins to burn away. Remembering all his former births, grief-stricken, gaining awareness,

Verse 25 (garuda.2.24.25)

अवेक्ष्य गर्भवासांश्च कर्मजा गतयस्तथा । मानुषोदरवासी चेत्तदा भवति पातकी

avekṣya garbhavāsāṁśca karmajā gatayastathā | mānuṣodaravāsī cettadā bhavati pātakī

beholding the dwelling in the womb and the destinies born of his deeds, if he still resides within the human womb, then that sinner suffers greatly.

Verse 26 (garuda.2.24.26)

अण्डजादिषु भूतेषु यत्रयत्र प्रसर्पति । आधयो व्याधयः क्लेशा जरारूपविपर्ययः

aṇḍajādiṣu bhūteṣu yatrayatra prasarpati | ādhayo vyādhayaḥ kleśā jarārūpaviparyayaḥ

Among the egg-born and other creatures, wherever the soul goes, there mental afflictions, bodily diseases, distress, and the reversal of one's form through old age occur.

Verse 27 (garuda.2.24.27)

गर्भवासाद्विनिर्मुक्तस्त्वज्ञानतिमिरावृतः । न जानातिः खगश्रेष्ठ बालभावं समाश्रितः

garbhavāsādvinirmuktastvajñānatimirāvṛtaḥ | na jānātiḥ khagaśreṣṭha bālabhāvaṁ samāśritaḥ

Even freed from the dwelling in the womb, still shrouded in the darkness of ignorance, O best of birds, he, taking refuge in childhood, knows nothing at all.

Verse 28 (garuda.2.24.28)

यौवने तिमिरान्धश्च यः पश्यति स मुक्तिभाक् । आधानान्मृत्युमाप्नोति बालो वा स्थविरो युवा

yauvane timirāndhaśca yaḥ paśyati sa muktibhāk | ādhānānmṛtyumāpnoti bālo vā sthaviro yuvā

Even in youth, blinded by that darkness, he who does manage to see [the truth] alone becomes fit for liberation. After mere conception, a child, an old man, or a youth may attain death —

Verse 29 (garuda.2.24.29)

सधनो निर्धनश्चैव सुकुमारः कुरूपवान् । अविद्वांश्चैव विद्वांश्च ब्राह्मणास्त्वितरो जनः

sadhano nirdhanaścaiva sukumāraḥ kurūpavān | avidvāṁścaiva vidvāṁśca brāhmaṇāstvitaro janaḥ

the wealthy or the poor, the delicate or the ill-formed, the ignorant as well as the learned, the brahmin and other men,

Verse 30 (garuda.2.24.30)

तपोरतो योगशीलो महाज्ञानी च यो नरः । महादानरतः श्रीमान्धर्मात्मातुलविक्रमः । विना मानुपदेहं तु सुखं दुः खं न विन्दति

taporato yogaśīlo mahājñānī ca yo naraḥ | mahādānarataḥ śrīmāndharmātmātulavikramaḥ | vinā mānupadehaṁ tu sukhaṁ duḥ khaṁ na vindati

one devoted to austerity, given to yoga, of great wisdom, devoted to great giving, prosperous, righteous-souled, of matchless valor — without the human body, none experiences pleasure or pain.

Verse 31 (garuda.2.24.31)

प्राकृतैः कर्मपाशैस्तु मृत्युमाप्नोति मानवः । आधानात्पञ्च वर्षाणि स्वल्पपापैर्विपच्यते

prākṛtaiḥ karmapāśaistu mṛtyumāpnoti mānavaḥ | ādhānātpañca varṣāṇi svalpapāpairvipacyate

Man attains death only through the fetters of deeds inherent in his nature. From conception up to five years, the fruit of minor sins alone is experienced;

Verse 32 (garuda.2.24.32)

पञ्चवर्षाधिको भूत्वा महापापैर्विपच्यते । योनिं पूरयते यस्मान्मृतोऽप्यायाति याति च

pañcavarṣādhiko bhūtvā mahāpāpairvipacyate | yoniṁ pūrayate yasmānmṛto'pyāyāti yāti ca

beyond five years, the fruit of great sins is experienced. For the very reason that a being fills a womb, for that same reason, even after death, he comes and goes again.

Verse 33 (garuda.2.24.33)

मृतो दानप्रभावेण जीवन्मर्त्यश्चिरं भुवि । सूत उवाच । इति कृष्णवचः श्रुत्वा गरुडो वाक्यमब्रवीत्

mṛto dānaprabhāveṇa jīvanmartyaściraṁ bhuvi | sūta uvāca | iti kṛṣṇavacaḥ śrutvā garuḍo vākyamabravīt

Through the power of giving, even one who has died lives on for a long time upon the earth in mortal form. Suta said: Hearing these words of Krishna, Garuda spoke thus.

Verse 34 (garuda.2.24.34)

गरुड उवाच । मृते बाले कथं कुर्यात्पिण्डदानादिकाः क्रियाः । गर्भेषु च विपन्नानामाचूडाकरणाच्छिशोः

garuḍa uvāca | mṛte bāle kathaṁ kuryātpiṇḍadānādikāḥ kriyāḥ | garbheṣu ca vipannānāmācūḍākaraṇācchiśoḥ

Garuda said: When a child dies, how should the pinda-offering and other rites be performed? For one who perished in the womb, and for an infant who died before the tonsure ceremony,

Verse 35 (garuda.2.24.35)

कथं किं केन दातव्यं मृतान्ते को विधिः स्मृतः । गरुडोक्तमिति श्रुत्वा विष्णुर्वाक्यमथाब्रवीत्

kathaṁ kiṁ kena dātavyaṁ mṛtānte ko vidhiḥ smṛtaḥ | garuḍoktamiti śrutvā viṣṇurvākyamathābravīt

what, how, and by whom should it be given? What procedure is prescribed at the end of death?' Hearing this speech of Garuda, Vishnu spoke thus.

Verse 36 (garuda.2.24.36)

श्रीविष्णुरुवाच । यदि गर्भो विपद्यते स्त्रवते वापि योषितः । यावन्मासं स्थितो गर्भस्तावद्दिनमशौचकम्

śrīviṣṇuruvāca | yadi garbho vipadyate stravate vāpi yoṣitaḥ | yāvanmāsaṁ sthito garbhastāvaddinamaśaucakam

Shri Vishnu said: If the fetus perishes, or a woman miscarries, then impurity lasts for as many days as the fetus remained in the womb, in months.

Verse 37 (garuda.2.24.37)

तस्य किञ्चिन्न कर्तव्यमात्मनः श्रेय इच्छता । ततो जाते विपन्ने तु आ चूडाकरणाच्छिशोः

tasya kiñcinna kartavyamātmanaḥ śreya icchatā | tato jāte vipanne tu ā cūḍākaraṇācchiśoḥ

One desiring his own welfare should perform nothing further for this. After that, for one born and then dying before the tonsure ceremony,

Verse 38 (garuda.2.24.38)

दुग्धं भोज्यं ताशक्ति बालानां च प्रदीयते । आ चूडात्पञ्चवर्षे तु देहदाहो विधीयते

dugdhaṁ bhojyaṁ tāśakti bālānāṁ ca pradīyate | ā cūḍātpañcavarṣe tu dehadāho vidhīyate

milk and food should be given according to one's means. From the tonsure ceremony up to five years, cremation of the body is prescribed.

Verse 39 (garuda.2.24.39)

दुग्धं तस्य प्रदेयं स्याद्बालानां भोजनं शुभम् । पञ्चवर्षाधिके प्रेते स्वजातिविहितानि च

dugdhaṁ tasya pradeyaṁ syādbālānāṁ bhojanaṁ śubham | pañcavarṣādhike prete svajātivihitāni ca

Milk should be given for him, and auspicious food for children. For one who died past five years of age, all the rites prescribed

Verse 40 (garuda.2.24.40)

कुर्यात्कर्माणि सर्वाणि चोदकुम्भादि पायसम् । दातव्यं तु खगश्रेष्ठ ऋणसम्बन्धकस्तु सः

kuryātkarmāṇi sarvāṇi codakumbhādi pāyasam | dātavyaṁ tu khagaśreṣṭha ṛṇasambandhakastu saḥ

for one's own caste should be performed — the water-pot and the rest, and rice-pudding too should be given. O best of birds, that deceased one stands in a relationship of debt.

Verse 41 (garuda.2.24.41)

जातस्य हि ध्रुवो मृत्युर्ध्रुवं जन्म मृतस्य च । कर्तव्यं पक्षिशार्दूल पुनर्देहक्षयाय वै

jātasya hi dhruvo mṛtyurdhruvaṁ janma mṛtasya ca | kartavyaṁ pakṣiśārdūla punardehakṣayāya vai

For the one born, death is certain, and for the dead, rebirth too is certain. O tiger among birds, this rite should be performed precisely for the sake of the body's eventual dissolution.

Verse 42 (garuda.2.24.42)

तस्मै यद्रोचते देयमदत्त्वा निर्धने कुले । स्वल्पायुर्निर्धनो भूत्वा रतिभक्तिविवर्जितः

tasmai yadrocate deyamadattvā nirdhane kule | svalpāyurnirdhano bhūtvā ratibhaktivivarjitaḥ

Whatever is pleasing to him should be given; without this being given, born into a poor family,

Verse 43 (garuda.2.24.43)

पुनर्जन्माप्नुयान्मर्त्यस्तस्माद्देयमृते शिशोः । पुराणे गीयते गाथा सर्वथा प्रतिभाति मे

punarjanmāpnuyānmartyastasmāddeyamṛte śiśoḥ | purāṇe gīyate gāthā sarvathā pratibhāti me

short-lived and poor, devoid of love and devotion, that mortal being attains rebirth; therefore this must certainly be given even for an infant. A verse is sung in the Purana, which seems to me wholly fitting —

Verse 44 (garuda.2.24.44)

मिष्टान्नं भोजनं देयं दाने शक्तिस्तु दुर्लभा । भोज्ये भोजनशक्तिश्च रतिशक्तिर्वरस्त्रियः

miṣṭānnaṁ bhojanaṁ deyaṁ dāne śaktistu durlabhā | bhojye bhojanaśaktiśca ratiśaktirvarastriyaḥ

'sweet food should be given; the capacity for giving is rare. The strength to eat in matters of food, and the power for love among excellent women,

Verse 45 (garuda.2.24.45)

विभवे दानशक्तिश्च नाल्पस्य तपसः फलम् । दानाद्भोगानवाप्नोति सौख्यं तीर्थस्य सेवनात् । सुभाषणान्मृतो यस्तु स विद्वान्धर्मवित्तमः

vibhave dānaśaktiśca nālpasya tapasaḥ phalam | dānādbhogānavāpnoti saukhyaṁ tīrthasya sevanāt | subhāṣaṇānmṛto yastu sa vidvāndharmavittamaḥ

the power to give in the midst of prosperity — this is not the fruit of trifling austerity. From giving comes enjoyment, from serving a tirtha comes happiness; he who dies amid virtuous speech is learned and the very best knower of dharma.'

Verse 46 (garuda.2.24.46)

अदत्तदानाच्च भवेद्दरिद्रो दरिद्रभावाच्च करोतिपापम् । पापप्रभावान्नरकं प्रयाति पुनर्दरिद्रः पुनरेव पापी

adattadānācca bhaveddaridro daridrabhāvācca karotipāpam | pāpaprabhāvānnarakaṁ prayāti punardaridraḥ punareva pāpī

By not giving, one becomes poor, and from poverty one commits sin; through the power of that sin, one goes to hell, and becomes poor again, and sinful once more.