Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 10
Dharma–Adharma Marks; Daśāha, Piṇḍa Formation, Śrāddha Calendar, Śayyā-dāna, and Sapiṇḍīkaraṇa Rules
अतो देयञ्च पुत्रेण श्राद्धमाजी वितावधि / अतिवाहस्तदा प्रेतो भोगान् वै लभते हि सः
ato deyañca putreṇa śrāddhamājī vitāvadhi / ativāhastadā preto bhogān vai labhate hi saḥ
لذلك ينبغي للابن أن يُقيم شرادها (Śrāddha) إلى نهاية عمره؛ فعندئذٍ ينال الـ«بريتا» الذي يُساق بواسطة «أتيفاه» (ativāha، الحامل اللطيف) المنافعَ والتمتّعات حقًّا.
Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni
Ritual Type: Parvana
Beneficiary: Pitr
Timing: From post-death onward; enjoined ‘up to the end of the son’s life’ (lifelong continuity, including annual śrāddha).
Concept: Lifelong śrāddha by the son sustains karmic benefit to the departed; the ‘ativāha’ functions as a subtle carrier enabling receipt of offerings’ essence.
Vedantic Theme: Subtle-body mechanics (liṅga-śarīra) and karma’s trans-realm fruition; ritual action as a bridge between gross and subtle domains.
Application: Maintain regular ancestral observances (annual śrāddha, tarpaṇa, charity/feeding) consistently over one’s life, not only immediately after death.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Related Themes: Garuda Purana: descriptions of ativāha as subtle conveyance for preta; repeated injunctions for annual/periodic śrāddha
FAQs
This verse states that a son should continue Śrāddha as long as he lives, because these offerings directly sustain and benefit the departed in the preta-condition.
It indicates that the departed preta receives ‘bhoga’ (support/benefit) through an ‘ativāha’—a subtle conveyance by which ritual offerings are transmitted to the post-death being.
Maintain regular ancestral rites (Śrāddha/tarpaṇa) with sincerity and ethical living, treating remembrance of ancestors as a continuing duty rather than a one-time ceremony.