Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 14
Praise of Vṛṣotsarga (Bull-release), Worthy Dāna, and the Procedure for Kṣayāha & Ūrdhva-daihika Rites
अकृत्वा म्रियते यस्तु अपुत्रो नैव मुक्तिभाक् / अपुत्रो ऽपि हि यः कुर्यात्सुखं याति महापथे
akṛtvā mriyate yastu aputro naiva muktibhāk / aputro 'pi hi yaḥ kuryātsukhaṃ yāti mahāpathe
ଯେ ଆବଶ୍ୟକ କର୍ତ୍ତବ୍ୟ କରିନଥାଇ ମରେ ଏବଂ ପୁତ୍ରହୀନ, ସେ ମୁକ୍ତିର ଭାଗୀ ହୁଏନା। କିନ୍ତୁ ପୁତ୍ରହୀନ ହେଲେ ମଧ୍ୟ ଯେ ତାହା କରେ, ସେ ମହାପଥରେ ସୁଖରେ ଯାଏ।
Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey
Beneficiary: Self (future preta) and pitṛ order indirectly
Timing: Implied: duties/rites to be completed before death; also implies need to ensure post-death rites when sonless
Concept: Neglect of required duties/rites, especially when sonless, obstructs liberation; yet proper performance enables smooth passage even without a son.
Vedantic Theme: Tension between gṛhastha obligations and liberation; suggests that saṃskāra/rites and dharmic completion remove obstacles, preparing for higher ends.
Application: Do not rely solely on descendants for post-death rites; personally fulfill prescribed duties and arrange rites responsibly.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: liminal journey-path (metaphor)
Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: importance of rites/dāna for the departed; son/śrāddha linkage appears across śrāddha discussions; Nearby 2.14.12–13: ‘great path’ and ‘provisions’ logic continued
FAQs
This verse links the traditional support of a son with post-death welfare, yet emphasizes that performing prescribed rites and duties is the decisive factor for progressing toward liberation.
It refers to the 'mahāpatha'—the great path traversed by the departed—stating that proper performance of prescribed acts makes that journey easier, even for one without a son.
Do not rely only on family circumstances for spiritual security; instead, uphold dharma and ensure appropriate end-of-life and post-death observances (as per one’s tradition) along with ethical living.