Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 50
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
यदा घृतं यव-तिलाद्यन्नं च यज्ञे जुहूयते, तदा तस्य सूक्ष्मविपाकः धूमरूपो भूत्वा धूम-रात्रि-अपक्षय-दक्षिणायनादि लोकान् क्रमशः नयति, अन्ते च सोमलोकं प्रापयति। ततः पुनः अधः पतित्वा ओषधि-वीरुध-शाक-धान्यरूपेण भूमौ भवति; तदन्नं भुक्तं रेतो भवति, तत् स्त्रीदेहे निक्षिप्यते, एवं पुनः पुनर्भवः।
This is explained in Bhagavad-gītā (9.21) :
FAQs
This verse outlines the Pitṛyāna sequence after death—smoke, night, the dark fortnight, the sun’s southern course, the moon, the new-moon day—leading to rebirth through vegetation and food.
Parīkṣit was preparing for death and liberation; Śukadeva taught him how karmic routes bind the soul to repeated birth, contrasting them with the liberating path of devotion.
It encourages detachment from karma-based goals and motivates steady bhakti—hearing and chanting—so one does not return to repeated rebirth.