Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 31
Śāva-āśauca and Sūtikā-śauca: Death/Childbirth Impurity, Preta-śuddhi, and Śrāddha Procedure
Chapter 157
देवत्वे यातनास्थाने प्रेतः श्राद्धं कृतं लभेत् नोपकुर्यान्नरः शोचन् प्रेतस्यात्मन एव वा
devatve yātanāsthāne pretaḥ śrāddhaṃ kṛtaṃ labhet nopakuryānnaraḥ śocan pretasyātmana eva vā
ไม่ว่าผู้ล่วงลับจะไปสู่ภาวะทิพย์หรือจะตกสู่สถานที่ทรมาน พิธีศราทธ์ที่ประกอบแล้ว ย่อมถึงแก่เปรตนั้น ดังนั้นบุคคลไม่พึงงดเว้นพิธีอันเกื้อกูล ด้วยความโศกต่อผู้ตายหรือแม้ต่อตนเอง
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Perform śrāddha and preta-kriyā regardless of uncertainty about the departed’s post-mortem state; treat it as obligatory aid to the departed and protection for the living.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Śrāddha reaches the preta in all post-death states","lookup_keywords":["shraddha","preta","yatanasthana","devatva","antyeshti"],"quick_summary":"Whether the departed is in a divine condition or in torment, the offering of śrāddha is received; hence one should not omit the rite out of grief or doubt."}
Alamkara Type: Arthāntaranyāsa (reasoned reinforcement)
Concept: Ritual efficacy of śrāddha is not contingent on knowing the preta’s exact gati; omission harms both departed and performer.
Application: Do timely śrāddha (ekoddiṣṭa/sapīṇḍīkaraṇa as applicable) and associated dāna; convert grief into dharmic action.
Khanda Section: Śrāddha & Preta-kriyā (Post-death rites and ancestral offerings)
Primary Rasa: Karuna
Secondary Rasa: Shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A householder performs piṇḍa and water offerings; above, two contrasting realms are shown—deva-like radiance and a dark torment-place—yet the offering stream reaches the preta in both.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: split-register composition—upper luminous deva-loka, lower yātanā realm; central preta receiving a thread of offering from a brāhmaṇa performing śrāddha near a riverbank; muted yet sacred palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: richly adorned śrāddha scene with gold vessels, banana leaves, piṇḍas; a subtle haloed preta figure receiving; ornate frame, gold embossing on ritual items.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: instructional depiction of śrāddha setup—āsana, darbha, piṇḍa placement, water pot; small inset showing preta benefiting; precise, diagram-like clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: domestic courtyard śrāddha with priests; delicate clouds above showing deva/torment vignettes; fine textiles, realistic vessels, subdued grief on faces."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: nopakuryān → na + upakuryāt (final -t assimilated before n in metrical text); pretasyātmanaḥ → pretasya + ātmanaḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: śrāddha-vidhi and preta-gati discussions in the same adhyāya cluster; Agni Purana: dāna and piṇḍa-pradāna rules in śrāddha sections
FAQs
It teaches the operative principle of śrāddha: the offering reaches the preta regardless of whether the departed is in a divine condition (devatva) or in a punitive realm (yātanā-sthāna), so the rite should not be omitted.
It preserves a practical rule of dharma-ritual procedure within a broader compendium that spans many disciplines—here, codifying a concise guideline for funerary/ancestral rites and their efficacy across differing post-mortem states.
Performing śrāddha is presented as a duty that benefits the departed and stabilizes the living; grief should not become a cause for neglect, since the act is meritorious and supportive irrespective of the preta’s current fate.