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
അതുകൊണ്ട് പുത്രൻ ജീവിതാന്ത്യം വരെ ശ്രാദ്ധം അർപ്പിക്കണം; അപ്പോൾ അതിവാഹം വഴി കൊണ്ടുപോകപ്പെടുന്ന പ്രേതൻ നിശ്ചയമായി ഭോഗഫലങ്ങൾ പ്രാപിക്കുന്നു।
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.