Shloka 146
Dharma–Adharma Marks; Daśāha, Piṇḍa Formation, Śrāddha Calendar, Śayyā-dāna, and Sapiṇḍīkaraṇa Rules
उपतिष्ठेन्न वे तेषां पुत्रैर्दत्तमनेकधा / हन्तकारस्तदुद्देशे श्राद्धं नैव जलाञ्जलिः
upatiṣṭhenna ve teṣāṃ putrairdattamanekadhā / hantakārastaduddeśe śrāddhaṃ naiva jalāñjaliḥ
แม้บุตรจะถวายทานนานาประการก็ไม่ไปถึงเขา; เพราะสำหรับผู้เป็นฆาตกร ศราทธ์ที่ทำอุทิศให้—แม้แต่น้ำอัญชลี—ก็ไม่สัมฤทธิผล
Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vainateya)
Afterlife Stage: Naraka
Beneficiary: Pitr
Timing: General śrāddha/udakāñjali context; verse stresses ineffectiveness for a killer rather than timing.
Concept: Certain extreme pāpa (here, killing) blocks the efficacy of descendants’ offerings; karmic obstruction overrides quantity/variety of rites.
Vedantic Theme: Karma has gradations; heavy pāpa creates prārabdha-like impediments within ritual economy; ethical conduct is foundational to ritual benefit.
Application: Recognize that ritual cannot be used as a blanket eraser for grave wrongdoing; prioritize ethical restraint and, where tradition allows, specific prāyaścitta rather than assuming śrāddha alone suffices.
Primary Rasa: bibhatsa
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Related Themes: Garuda Purana discussions on pāpa, narakas, and limits of śrāddha efficacy for mahāpātakas (elsewhere in Pretakalpa)
FAQs
It teaches that śrāddha is not merely a formality: its efficacy depends on the moral-karmic condition of the deceased; grave sins like killing can obstruct the benefit of offerings.
By stating that offerings may not reach a “hantakāra,” it links post-death support (tarpana/śrāddha) to karma—serious हिंसा (harming/killing) creates barriers to receiving ritual aid.
Live with ahiṃsā and ethical restraint, and perform rites with sincerity; the verse emphasizes that spiritual outcomes are strengthened by dharma, not only by ritual performance.