Shloka 146
Dharma–Adharma Marks; Daśāha, Piṇḍa Formation, Śrāddha Calendar, Śayyā-dāna, and Sapiṇḍīkaraṇa Rules
उपतिष्ठेन्न वे तेषां पुत्रैर्दत्तमनेकधा / हन्तकारस्तदुद्देशे श्राद्धं नैव जलाञ्जलिः
upatiṣṭhenna ve teṣāṃ putrairdattamanekadhā / hantakārastaduddeśe śrāddhaṃ naiva jalāñjaliḥ
حقًّا إنّ القرابين التي يقدّمها الأبناء على وجوه شتّى لا تصل إلى أولئك إذا كان الميت قاتلًا؛ فمثل هذا لا ينفعه شَرادها تُقام باسمه، ولا حتى سكبُ ماءٍ للتقدمة (jalāñjali).
Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vainateya)
Afterlife Stage: Naraka
Beneficiary: Pitr
Timing: General śrāddha/udakāñjali context; verse stresses ineffectiveness for a killer rather than timing.
Concept: Certain extreme pāpa (here, killing) blocks the efficacy of descendants’ offerings; karmic obstruction overrides quantity/variety of rites.
Vedantic Theme: Karma has gradations; heavy pāpa creates prārabdha-like impediments within ritual economy; ethical conduct is foundational to ritual benefit.
Application: Recognize that ritual cannot be used as a blanket eraser for grave wrongdoing; prioritize ethical restraint and, where tradition allows, specific prāyaścitta rather than assuming śrāddha alone suffices.
Primary Rasa: bibhatsa
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Related Themes: Garuda Purana discussions on pāpa, narakas, and limits of śrāddha efficacy for mahāpātakas (elsewhere in Pretakalpa)
FAQs
It teaches that śrāddha is not merely a formality: its efficacy depends on the moral-karmic condition of the deceased; grave sins like killing can obstruct the benefit of offerings.
By stating that offerings may not reach a “hantakāra,” it links post-death support (tarpana/śrāddha) to karma—serious हिंसा (harming/killing) creates barriers to receiving ritual aid.
Live with ahiṃsā and ethical restraint, and perform rites with sincerity; the verse emphasizes that spiritual outcomes are strengthened by dharma, not only by ritual performance.