Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 51
Nārada’s Instructions: Śrāddha, True Dharma, Contentment, Yoga, and Devotion-Centered Renunciation
द्रव्यसूक्ष्मविपाकश्च धूमो रात्रिरपक्षय: । अयनं दक्षिणं सोमो दर्श ओषधिवीरुध: ॥ ५० ॥ अन्नं रेत इति क्ष्मेश पितृयानं पुनर्भव: । एकैकश्येनानुपूर्वं भूत्वा भूत्वेह जायते ॥ ५१ ॥
dravya-sūkṣma-vipākaś ca dhūmo rātrir apakṣayaḥ ayanaṁ dakṣiṇaṁ somo darśa oṣadhi-vīrudhaḥ
Ô cher roi Yudhiṣṭhira, lorsque l’on offre dans le sacrifice du ghee et des grains tels que l’orge et le sésame, leur résultat subtil devient une fumée céleste qui mène, de degré en degré, à des sphères comme Dhūma, Rātri, Kṛṣṇapakṣa, Dakṣiṇāyana, et finalement à la Lune. Mais ensuite les sacrifiants redescendent sur la terre, devenant herbes, lianes, légumes et grains; ceux-ci, mangés par les êtres, se changent en semence, déposée dans le corps de la femme, et l’on renaît ainsi sans cesse.
This is explained in Bhagavad-gītā (9.21) :
FAQs
This verse outlines a karmic post-death progression through smoke, night, the dark fortnight, the sun’s southern course, the moon, and then into vegetation—indicating a return toward rebirth rather than liberation.
Parīkṣit was hearing essential teachings before death; Śukadeva explains karmic routes like pitṛyāna to show how material piety still leads to rebirth, encouraging exclusive devotion for liberation.
Do not rely only on ritual merit or worldly virtue; cultivate bhakti and detachment so one’s consciousness aims for liberation rather than cyclical return.