FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.10.22

कुरु त्वं प्रेतकृत्यानि पितु: पूतस्य सर्वश: । मदङ्गस्पर्शनेनाङ्ग लोकान्यास्यति सुप्रजा: ॥ २२ ॥
kuru tvaṁ preta-kṛtyāni
[kuru tvam preta-krityaani]
pituḥ pūtasya sarvaśaḥ
[pituh pootasya sarvashah]
mad-aṅga-sparśanenāṅga
[mad-anga-sparshanenaanga]
lokān yāsyati suprajāḥ
[lokaan yaasyati suprajaah]
Word-for-word
kuru — perform tvam — you preta-kṛtyāni — the ritualistic ceremony performed after death pituḥ — of your father pūtasya — already purified sarvaśaḥ — in all respects mat-aṅga — My body sparśanena — by touching aṅga — My dear child lokān — to planets yāsyati — he will be elevated su-prajāḥ — to become a devotee-citizen.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
kuru tvaṁ preta-kṛtyāni
kuru
perform
tvam
you
preta-kṛtyāni
the ritualistic ceremony performed after death
pituḥ pūtasya sarvaśaḥ
pituḥ
of your father
pūtasya
already purified
sarvaśaḥ
in all respects
mad-aṅga-sparśanenāṅga
mat-aṅga
My body
sparśanena
by touching
aṅga
My dear child
lokān yāsyati suprajāḥ
lokān
to planets
yāsyati
he will be elevated
su-prajāḥ
to become a devotee-citizen.
My dear child, your father has already been purified just by the touch of My body at the time of his death. Nonetheless, the duty of a son is to perform the śrāddha ritualistic ceremony after his father’s death so that his father may be promoted to a planetary system where he may become a good citizen and devotee.
Purport

In this regard, Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura says that although Hiraṇyakaśipu was already purified, he had to take birth on a higher planetary system to become a devotee again. Prahlāda Mahārāja was advised to perform the ritualistic ceremony as a matter of etiquette, for the Supreme Personality of Godhead under no circumstances wants to stop the regulative principles. Madhva Muni also instructs:

madhu-kaiṭabhau bhakty-abhāvā dūrau bhagavato mṛtau tama eva kramād āptau bhaktyā ced yo hariṁ yayau

When the demons Madhu and Kaiṭabha were killed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, their kinsmen also observed the ritualistic ceremonies so that these demons could return home, back to Godhead.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
My dear child! Perform the funeral rites for your father, already purified completely by the touch of my body. Having the best son, he will achieve the best planets. Since your father has been purified by the touch of my body, do not fear for his sins. But do the funeral rites simply for maintaining custom.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Although purified at My touch, your father's status as son requires you to perform śrāddha so he is promoted to a planetary system to become a devotee again. Even when the deeper work is done, the formal ceremony has its place. Honor outer rituals even when inner liberation is granted.
Reflection Questions
  • Which ritual obligation have you skipped because you 'know' the inner truth?
  • Where might performing a ceremony serve both the recipient and your own etiquette?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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