The Rites for Children, and the Ten Kinds of Sons

Verse 1 (garuda.2.25.1)

श्रीविष्णुरुवाच । अतः परं प्रवक्ष्यामि पुरुषस्त्री विनिर्णयम् । जीवन्वापि मृतो वापि पञ्चवर्षाधिकोऽपि वा

śrīviṣṇuruvāca | ataḥ paraṁ pravakṣyāmi puruṣastrī vinirṇayam | jīvanvāpi mṛto vāpi pañcavarṣādhiko'pi vā

Shri Vishnu said: Beyond this, I shall now describe the distinction concerning man and woman — whether living, or dead, or even past five years of age.

Verse 2 (garuda.2.25.2)

पूर्णे तु पञ्चमे वर्षे पुमांश्चैव प्रतिष्ठितः । सर्वैन्द्रियाणि जानाति रूपारूपविपर्ययौ

pūrṇe tu pañcame varṣe pumāṁścaiva pratiṣṭhitaḥ | sarvaindriyāṇi jānāti rūpārūpaviparyayau

Upon the completion of the fifth year, a male is held to be established; he knows all his senses, and the distinction between form and formlessness too.

Verse 3 (garuda.2.25.3)

पूर्वकर्मविपाकेन प्राणिनां वधबन्धनम् । विप्रादीनन्त्यजान्सर्वान्पापं मारयति ध्रुवम्

pūrvakarmavipākena prāṇināṁ vadhabandhanam | viprādīnantyajānsarvānpāpaṁ mārayati dhruvam

It is through the ripening of former deeds alone that beings suffer death and bondage; from the brahmin down to every outcaste, it is sin alone that certainly brings death.

Verse 4 (garuda.2.25.4)

गर्भे नष्टे क्रिया नास्ति दुग्धं देयं मृते शिशौ । परं च पायसं क्षीरं दद्याद्वलविपत्तितः

garbhe naṣṭe kriyā nāsti dugdhaṁ deyaṁ mṛte śiśau | paraṁ ca pāyasaṁ kṣīraṁ dadyādvalavipattitaḥ

When the fetus perishes, no rite is performed; for a dead infant, milk should be given, and, should misfortune befall the family, excellent milk and rice-pudding should also be given.

Verse 5 (garuda.2.25.5)

एकादशाहं द्वादशाहं वृषं वृषविधिं विना । महादानविहीनं च कुमारे कृत्यमादिशेत्

ekādaśāhaṁ dvādaśāhaṁ vṛṣaṁ vṛṣavidhiṁ vinā | mahādānavihīnaṁ ca kumāre kṛtyamādiśet

Without the bull and the vrishotsarga rite, and without the great gifts, only the observance of the eleventh and twelfth days is prescribed for a child.

Verse 6 (garuda.2.25.6)

कुमाराणां चैव बालानां भोजनं वस्त्रवेष्टनम् । बाले वा तरुणे वृद्धे घटो भवति वै मृते

kumārāṇāṁ caiva bālānāṁ bhojanaṁ vastraveṣṭanam | bāle vā taruṇe vṛddhe ghaṭo bhavati vai mṛte

For young children and infants, food and a wrapping garment suffice. Upon the death of a child, a youth, or an old man, the gift of the water-pot is nonetheless required.

Verse 7 (garuda.2.25.7)

भूमौ विनिः क्षिपेद्बालं द्विमासोनं द्विवार्षिकम् । ततः परं खगश्रेष्ठ देहदाहो विधोयते

bhūmau viniḥ kṣipedbālaṁ dvimāsonaṁ dvivārṣikam | tataḥ paraṁ khagaśreṣṭha dehadāho vidhoyate

A child under two months, up to two years of age, should be buried in the earth. O best of birds, beyond that, cremation of the body is prescribed.

Verse 8 (garuda.2.25.8)

शिशुरा दन्तजननाद्बालः स्याद्यावदाशिखम् । कथ्यते सर्वशास्त्रेषु कुमारो मौञ्जिबन्धनात्

śiśurā dantajananādbālaḥ syādyāvadāśikham | kathyate sarvaśāstreṣu kumāro mauñjibandhanāt

'Shishu' is the term up to the appearance of teeth; 'bala' up to the tonsure ceremony; in all the shastras, 'kumara' refers to the period up to the investiture of the sacred thread.

Verse 9 (garuda.2.25.9)

शूद्रादीनां कथं कुर्यात्संशयो मौञ्जिवर्जनात् । गर्भाच्च नवमं हित्वा शिशुरामासषोडशम्

śūdrādīnāṁ kathaṁ kuryātsaṁśayo mauñjivarjanāt | garbhācca navamaṁ hitvā śiśurāmāsaṣoḍaśam

For the shudra and others, since the sacred thread is absent, there is doubt as to how this should be reckoned. From the ninth month after conception up to the sixteenth month, one is called 'shishu',

Verse 10 (garuda.2.25.10)

बालश्चाथ परञ्ज्ञेय आमाससप्तविंशति । आ पञ्च वर्षात्कौमारः पौगण्डो नवहांयनः

bālaścātha parañjñeya āmāsasaptaviṁśati | ā pañca varṣātkaumāraḥ paugaṇḍo navahāṁyanaḥ

and thereafter, up to the twenty-seventh month, one should be known as 'bala'. Up to five years is the 'kaumara' stage, up to nine years 'paugaṇḍa',

Verse 11 (garuda.2.25.11)

किशोरः षोडशाब्दः स्यात्ततो यौवनमादिशेत् । मृतोऽपि पञ्चमे वर्षे अवृतः सवृतोऽपि वा

kiśoraḥ ṣoḍaśābdaḥ syāttato yauvanamādiśet | mṛto'pi pañcame varṣe avṛtaḥ savṛto'pi vā

up to sixteen years the 'kishora' stage, and after that comes what is called youth. Even if death occurs in the fifth year, whether invested with the sacred thread or not,

Verse 12 (garuda.2.25.12)

पूर्वोक्तमेव कर्तव्यमीहते दशपिण्डकम् । स्वल्पकर्मप्रसङ्गाच्च स्वल्पाद्विषयबन्धनात्

pūrvoktameva kartavyamīhate daśapiṇḍakam | svalpakarmaprasaṁgācca svalpādviṣayabandhanāt

the previously stated procedure should be followed, which requires the ten pindas. Owing to his slight involvement in deeds, owing to his slight bondage to sense-objects,

Verse 13 (garuda.2.25.13)

स्वल्षाद्वपुषि वस्त्राच्च क्रियां स्वल्पामपीच्छति । यावदुपचयो जन्तुर्यावद्विषयवेष्टितः

svalṣādvapuṣi vastrācca kriyāṁ svalpāmapīcchati | yāvadupacayo janturyāvadviṣayaveṣṭitaḥ

owing to the slightness of his body and the slightness of his garment, he requires only a slight rite. So long as a being is still growing, so long as he remains bound by sense-objects,

Verse 14 (garuda.2.25.14)

यद्यद्यस्योपजीव्यं स्यात्तत्तद्देयमिहेच्छति । ब्रह्मबीजोद्भवाः पुत्रा देवर्षोणां च वल्लभाः

yadyadyasyopajīvyaṁ syāttattaddeyamihecchati | brahmabījodbhavāḥ putrā devarṣoṇāṁ ca vallabhāḥ

whatever thing sustained him in life, that very thing should be given here — this is his desire. Sons born of the sacred seed are dear to the gods and to the sages,

Verse 15 (garuda.2.25.15)

यमेन यमदूतैश्च शास्यन्ते निश्चितं खग । बालो वृद्धो युबा वापि घटमिच्छन्ति देहिनः

yamena yamadūtaiśca śāsyante niścitaṁ khaga | bālo vṛddho yubā vāpi ghaṭamicchanti dehinaḥ

and are certainly disciplined by Yama and his servants, O bird. Child, old man, or youth — every embodied being longs for the water-pot.

Verse 16 (garuda.2.25.16)

सुखं दुः खं सदा वेत्ति देही वै सर्वगस्त्विह । परित्यज्य तदात्मानं जीर्णां त्वचमिवोरगः

sukhaṁ duḥ khaṁ sadā vetti dehī vai sarvagastviha | parityajya tadātmānaṁ jīrṇāṁ tvacamivoragaḥ

The embodied soul ever knows pleasure and pain, and it is here truly all-pervading. Abandoning its own body, just as a serpent sheds its old skin,

Verse 17 (garuda.2.25.17)

अङ्गुष्ठमात्रः पुरुषो वायुभृतः क्षुधान्वितः । तस्माद्देयानि दानानि मृते बाले सुनिश्चितम्

aṁguṣṭhamātraḥ puruṣo vāyubhṛtaḥ kṣudhānvitaḥ | tasmāddeyāni dānāni mṛte bāle suniścitam

that being, the size of a thumb, sustained by wind, filled with hunger, moves on. Therefore, gifts should certainly be given even for a deceased child; this is well established.

Verse 18 (garuda.2.25.18)

जन्मतः पञ्च वर्षाणि भुङ्क्ते दत्तमसंस्कृतम् । पञ्चवर्षाधिके बाले विपत्तिर्यदि जायते

janmataḥ pañca varṣāṇi bhuṁkte dattamasaṁskṛtam | pañcavarṣādhike bāle vipattiryadi jāyate

From birth up to five years, he partakes only of what is given in unconsecrated form. If a child past five years of age dies,

Verse 19 (garuda.2.25.19)

वृषोत्सर्गादिकं कर्म सपिण्डीकरणं विना । द्वादशे हनि सम्प्राप्ते कुर्याच्छ्राद्धानि षोडश

vṛṣotsargādikaṁ karma sapiṇḍīkaraṇaṁ vinā | dvādaśe hani samprāpte kuryācchrāddhāni ṣoḍaśa

then the vrishotsarga and other rites, without the sapindikarana, and the sixteen shraddhas, should be performed once the twelfth day arrives.

Verse 20 (garuda.2.25.20)

पायसेन गुडेनापि पिण्डान्दद्याद्यथाक्रमम् । उदकुम्भप्रदानं च पद (उप) दानानि यानि च

pāyasena guḍenāpi piṇḍāndadyādyathākramam | udakumbhapradānaṁ ca pada (upa) dānāni yāni ca

Pindas should be given, in order, with rice-pudding and jaggery; the gift of a water-pot, and whatever foot-gifts there may be,

Verse 21 (garuda.2.25.21)

भोजनानि द्विजे दद्यान्महादानादि शक्तितः । दीपदानादि यत्किञ्चित्पञ्चवर्षाधिके सदा

bhojanāni dvije dadyānmahādānādi śaktitaḥ | dīpadānādi yatkiñcitpañcavarṣādhike sadā

food should be given to a brahmin, and the great gifts too, according to one's means. The gift of a lamp and whatever else, for one past five years of age, should always

Verse 22 (garuda.2.25.22)

कर्तव्यं च खगश्रेष्ठ व्रतात्प्राक्प्रेततृप्तये । यदा नक्रियते सर्वं मुद्गलत्वं स गच्छति

kartavyaṁ ca khagaśreṣṭha vratātprākpretatṛptaye | yadā nakriyate sarvaṁ mudgalatvaṁ sa gacchati

be performed, O best of birds, before the vow [i.e., the sapindikarana] for the satisfaction of the departed. When all this is not done, he attains the state of a mudgala (a lesser spirit).

Verse 23 (garuda.2.25.23)

व्रतात्प्राङ्गेव देयं तु ततः पितृगणस्य च । स्वाहाकारेण वै कुर्यादेकोद्दिष्टानि षोडश

vratātprāṁgeva deyaṁ tu tataḥ pitṛgaṇasya ca | svāhākāreṇa vai kuryādekoddiṣṭāni ṣoḍaśa

This should be given before the vow, and then for the ancestral class as well. Sixteen ekoddishta shraddhas, accompanied by the exclamation svaha, should be performed,

Verse 24 (garuda.2.25.24)

ऋजुदर्भैस्तिलैः शुक्लैः प्राचीनावीति निश्चितम् । अपसव्यं च कर्तव्यं कृते यान्ति परां गतिम्

ṛjudarbhaistilaiḥ śuklaiḥ prācīnāvīti niścitam | apasavyaṁ ca kartavyaṁ kṛte yānti parāṁ gatim

with straight kusha grass and white sesame, wearing the sacred thread over the left shoulder (prachinaviti). This should be done by the apasavya procedure; by performing it, they attain the highest state.

Verse 25 (garuda.2.25.25)

पुनश्चिरायुषो भूत्वा जायन्ते स्वकुले ध्रुवम् । सर्वसौख्यप्रदः पुत्रः पित्रोः प्रीतिविवर्धनः

punaścirāyuṣo bhūtvā jāyante svakule dhruvam | sarvasaukhyapradaḥ putraḥ pitroḥ prītivivardhanaḥ

Then, attaining long life, they are certainly born again within their own lineage — as a son who brings every happiness, increasing the affection of their parents.

Verse 26 (garuda.2.25.26)

आकाशमेकं हि यथा चन्द्रादित्यौ यथैकतः । घटादिषु पृथक्सर्वं पश्य रूपं च तत्समम्

ākāśamekaṁ hi yathā candrādityau yathaikataḥ | ghaṭādiṣu pṛthaksarvaṁ paśya rūpaṁ ca tatsamam

Just as space is one, and the sun and moon too proceed from one source, yet their reflection appears separately in pots and the like, even though the form remains the same —

Verse 27 (garuda.2.25.27)

आत्मा तथैव सर्वेषु पुत्त्रेषु विचरेत्सदा । या यस्य प्रकृतिः पूर्वं शुक्रशोणितसङ्गमे

ātmā tathaiva sarveṣu puttreṣu vicaretsadā | yā yasya prakṛtiḥ pūrvaṁ śukraśoṇitasaṁgame

in just the same way, the Self too ever dwells within all one's sons. Whatever nature belonged, at the outset, to the union of seed and blood,

Verse 28 (garuda.2.25.28)

सा (स) तेन भावयोगेन पुत्त्रास्तत्कर्मकारिणः । पितृरूपं समादाय कस्यचिज्जायते सुतः

sā (sa) tena bhāvayogena puttrāstatkarmakāriṇaḥ | pitṛrūpaṁ samādāya kasyacijjāyate sutaḥ

by that very disposition, the sons too become doers of deeds corresponding to it. Taking on the very form of the father, a son of someone is born,

Verse 29 (garuda.2.25.29)

पितृतः कोऽपि रूपाढ्यो गुणज्ञो दानतत्परः । सदृशः कोऽपि लोकेऽस्मिन्न भूतो न भविष्यति

pitṛtaḥ ko'pi rūpāḍhyo guṇajño dānatatparaḥ | sadṛśaḥ ko'pi loke'sminna bhūto na bhaviṣyati

and someone may, like his father, be handsome, discerning, devoted to giving; yet wholly identical to another, in this world, none has been, nor ever shall be.

Verse 30 (garuda.2.25.30)

अन्धादन्धो न भवति मूकान्मूको न जायते । बधिराद्बधिरो नैव विद्यावान्विदुषो न हि । अनुरूपा न दृश्यन्ते मदीयं वचनं शृणु

andhādandho na bhavati mūkānmūko na jāyate | badhirādbadhiro naiva vidyāvānviduṣo na hi | anurūpā na dṛśyante madīyaṁ vacanaṁ śṛṇu

From a blind man a blind son is not born, from a mute a mute is not born, from a deaf man a deaf son is not born, from a learned man a learned son is not born — offspring exactly resembling the parent are not seen; hear this word of mine.

Verse 31 (garuda.2.25.31)

गरुड उवाच । औरसक्षेत्रजाद्याश्च पुत्त्रा दशविधाः स्मृताः । संगृहीतः सुतो यस्तु दासीपुत्त्रश्च तेन किम्

garuḍa uvāca | aurasakṣetrajādyāśca puttrā daśavidhāḥ smṛtāḥ | saṁgṛhītaḥ suto yastu dāsīputtraśca tena kim

Garuda said: Sons of ten kinds are declared — the natural-born, the field-born, and the rest. What benefit is there from an adopted son, or from the son of a slave-woman?

Verse 32 (garuda.2.25.32)

काङ्कां गतिमवाप्नोति जायो मृत्युवशं गतः । भवेन्न दुहिता यस्य न दौहित्रो न वा सुतः

kāṁkāṁ gatimavāpnoti jāyo mṛtyuvaśaṁ gataḥ | bhavenna duhitā yasya na dauhitro na vā sutaḥ

For one who has no daughter, no daughter's son, nor any son — when she falls under the sway of death, what state does that wife attain?

Verse 33 (garuda.2.25.33)

श्राद्धं तस्य कथं कार्यं विधिना केन तद्भवेत् । श्रीभगवानुवाच । मुखं दृष्ट्वा तु पुत्रस्य मुच्यते पैतृकादृणात्

śrāddhaṁ tasya kathaṁ kāryaṁ vidhinā kena tadbhavet | śrībhagavānuvāca | mukhaṁ dṛṣṭvā tu putrasya mucyate paitṛkādṛṇāt

How should her shraddha be performed, and by what procedure should it be done? The Blessed Lord said: By seeing the face of a son, the father is released from the debt owed to his ancestors.

Verse 34 (garuda.2.25.34)

पौत्त्रस्य दर्शनाज्जन्तुर्मुच्यते चः ऋणत्रयात् । लोकानन्त्यं दिवः प्राप्तिः पुत्त्रपौत्त्र प्रपौत्त्रकैः

pauttrasya darśanājjanturmucyate caḥ ṛṇatrayāt | lokānantyaṁ divaḥ prāptiḥ puttrapauttra prapauttrakaiḥ

By the sight of a grandson, the being is released from all three debts; through son, grandson, and great-grandson comes the endlessness of the worlds and the attainment of heaven.

Verse 35 (garuda.2.25.35)

अन्यक्षेत्रोद्भवाद्या ये भुक्तिमात्रप्रदाः सुताः । कुर्वीत पार्वणं श्राद्धमारैसो विधिवत्सुतः

anyakṣetrodbhavādyā ye bhuktimātrapradāḥ sutāḥ | kurvīta pārvaṇaṁ śrāddhamāraiso vidhivatsutaḥ

Other sons, born of another's field, are merely providers of sustenance. Such a son should duly perform the parvana shraddha, proceeding in due order.

Verse 36 (garuda.2.25.36)

कुर्वन्त्यन्ये सुताः श्राद्धमे कोद्दिष्टं न पार्वणम् । ब्राह्मोढाजस्तून्नयति संगृहीतस्त्वधो नयेत् । श्राद्धं सांवत्सरं कुर्वञ्जायते नरकाय वै

kurvantyanye sutāḥ śrāddhame koddiṣṭaṁ na pārvaṇam | brāhmoḍhājastūnnayati saṁgṛhītastvadho nayet | śrāddhaṁ sāṁvatsaraṁ kurvañjāyate narakāya vai

Other sons perform only the ekoddishta shraddha, not the parvana. The son of a properly married brahmin wife raises the lineage upward; an adopted son draws it downward. He who performs only the yearly shraddha attains hell alone.

Verse 37 (garuda.2.25.37)

सर्वदानानि देयानि ह्यन्न दानादृते खग । संगृहीतः सुतः कुर्यादेकोद्दिष्टं न पार्वणम्

sarvadānāni deyāni hyanna dānādṛte khaga | saṁgṛhītaḥ sutaḥ kuryādekoddiṣṭaṁ na pārvaṇam

O bird, every other gift should be given, apart from the gift of food. The adopted son should perform only the ekoddishta shraddha, not the parvana.

Verse 38 (garuda.2.25.38)

प्रत्यब्दं पितृमातृभ्यां श्राद्धं दत्त्वा न लिप्यते । एकोद्दिष्टं परित्यज्य पार्वणं कुरुते यदि

pratyabdaṁ pitṛmātṛbhyāṁ śrāddhaṁ dattvā na lipyate | ekoddiṣṭaṁ parityajya pārvaṇaṁ kurute yadi

By giving the yearly shraddha for his parents, a man is not stained by fault. But if, abandoning the ekoddishta, he performs the parvana instead,

Verse 39 (garuda.2.25.39)

आत्मानं च पितॄंश्चैव स नयेद्यममन्दिरम् । संगृहीतस्तु यः केचिद्दासीपुत्त्रादयश्च ये

ātmānaṁ ca pitṝṁścaiva sa nayedyamamandiram | saṁgṛhītastu yaḥ keciddāsīputtrādayaśca ye

then he leads both himself and his ancestors to the abode of Yama. Whoever is an adopted son, or the son of a slave-woman and the like,

Verse 40 (garuda.2.25.40)

तीर्थे कुर्युः पितृश्राद्धं दानं (मासं) दद्युर्द्विजन्मने । संगृहीतसुतो भूत्वा पाकं वा यः प्रयच्छति

tīrthe kuryuḥ pitṛśrāddhaṁ dānaṁ (māsaṁ) dadyurdvijanmane | saṁgṛhītasuto bhūtvā pākaṁ vā yaḥ prayacchati

should perform the ancestral shraddha at a tirtha, and give a month's provision in gift to a brahmin. Even an adopted son who offers cooked food,

Verse 41 (garuda.2.25.41)

वृथा श्राद्धं विजानीयाच्छूद्रान्नेन यथा द्विजः । न प्रीणयति तच्छ्राद्धं पितामहमुखान्पितॄन् । एवं ज्ञात्वा स्वगश्रेष्ठ हीनजातीन्सुतांस्त्यजेत्

vṛthā śrāddhaṁ vijānīyācchūdrānnena yathā dvijaḥ | na prīṇayati tacchrāddhaṁ pitāmahamukhānpitṝn | evaṁ jñātvā svagaśreṣṭha hīnajātīnsutāṁstyajet

his shraddha should be known as fruitless, just as a twice-born's shraddha is fruitless if performed with a shudra's food. That shraddha does not gladden the ancestors headed by the grandfather. Knowing this, O best of birds, sons born of a lowly caste should be set aside.

Verse 42 (garuda.2.25.42)

(ब्राह्मण्यां ब्राह्मणाज्जातश्चाण्डालादधमः स्मृतः ) । यस्तु प्रव्रजिताज्जातो ब्राह्मण्यां शूद्रतश्च यः

(brāhmaṇyāṁ brāhmaṇājjātaścāṇḍālādadhamaḥ smṛtaḥ ) | yastu pravrajitājjāto brāhmaṇyāṁ śūdrataśca yaḥ

(A son born of a brahmin and a brahmin woman, if born improperly, is held to be lower even than a chandala.) He who is born of a renunciant and a brahmin woman, and he who is born of a shudra,

Verse 43 (garuda.2.25.43)

द्वावेतौ विद्धि चाण्डालौ सगोत्राद्यस्तु जायते । स्वर्यातिविहितान्पुत्रः समुत्पाद्य खगेश्वर

dvāvetau viddhi cāṇḍālau sagotrādyastu jāyate | svaryātivihitānputraḥ samutpādya khageśvara

know both of these to be equal to a chandala. He who is born of a woman of the same gotra,

Verse 44 (garuda.2.25.44)

तैः सुवृत्तैः सुखं प्राप्यं कुवृत्तैर्नरकं व्रजेत् । हीनजातिसमुद्भूतैः सुवृत्तैः सुखमेधते

taiḥ suvṛttaiḥ sukhaṁ prāpyaṁ kuvṛttairnarakaṁ vrajet | hīnajātisamudbhūtaiḥ suvṛttaiḥ sukhamedhate

O lord of birds, know him too likewise. Having begotten sons duly prescribed for the attainment of heaven, happiness is obtained through well-conducted sons, but hell through ill-conducted ones.

Verse 45 (garuda.2.25.45)

कलिकलुषविमुक्तः पूजितः सिद्धसङ्घैरमरचमरमालावीज्यमानोऽप्सरोभिः । पितृशतमपि बन्धून्पुत्त्रपौत्त्रप्रपौत्त्रानपि नरकनिमग्नानुद्धरेदेक एव

kalikaluṣavimuktaḥ pūjitaḥ siddhasaṁghairamaracamaramālāvījyamāno'psarobhiḥ | pitṛśatamapi bandhūnputtrapauttraprapauttrānapi narakanimagnānuddharedeka eva

Even those born of a lowly caste, if of good conduct, bring an increase of happiness. Freed from the taint of the Kali age, honored by the hosts of the perfected, fanned by the garlands of the immortals' fly-whisks, attended by apsaras — such a son, alone, can deliver a hundred ancestors, kinsmen, and even sons, grandsons, and great-grandsons, sunk in hell.