Shloka 131
Dharma–Adharma Marks; Daśāha, Piṇḍa Formation, Śrāddha Calendar, Śayyā-dāna, and Sapiṇḍīkaraṇa Rules
यस्यैतानि न दत्तानि प्रेतश्राद्धानि षोडश / पिशाचत्वंस्थिरं तस्य कृतैः श्राद्धशतैरपि
yasyaitāni na dattāni pretaśrāddhāni ṣoḍaśa / piśācatvaṃsthiraṃ tasya kṛtaiḥ śrāddhaśatairapi
ผู้ใดมิได้ทำศราทธะสำหรับผู้ล่วงลับทั้งสิบหกประการให้ เขาย่อมมีภาวะเป็นปิศาจฝังแน่น; แม้ภายหลังทำศราทธะนับร้อยก็ยากจะถอนคืน
Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni
Ritual Type: Ekoddishta
Beneficiary: Pitr
Timing: The prescribed set of sixteen preta-śrāddhas within their proper post-death period; omission is portrayed as hard to remedy later.
Concept: Non-performance of the sixteen preta-śrāddhas results in a fixed piśāca-condition; later excess rites may not easily reverse the entrenched consequence.
Vedantic Theme: Karma’s time-sensitivity and niyama: certain saṃskāras must be done in their proper window; negligence hardens saṃskāra and suffering.
Application: Prioritize timely completion of the prescribed sixteen preta-śrāddhas; treat omissions as serious and seek immediate corrective guidance rather than relying on later bulk performance.
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: descriptions of preta condition and the necessity of specific śrāddhas for release (contextual continuity within 2.34)
FAQs
This verse states that neglecting the prescribed set of sixteen preta-śrāddhas can result in the departed becoming fixed in a piśāca-like, restless condition, highlighting the rites as essential supports for the post-death transition.
It implies that without timely post-death rites (preta-śrāddha), the departed may not stabilize into a proper ancestral or onward state and can remain stuck as a troubled spirit, indicating the ritual framework is meant to aid orderly passage after death.
Perform post-death rites responsibly and on time (or ensure they are arranged through family/priestly guidance), and cultivate remembrance, charity, and dharmic living—so obligations to the departed are not neglected.