What happens to the soul after a person dies, as explained in the Garuda Purana

What occurs after death? The question most frequently asked! The enigma of what occurs after death has fascinated humanity since the beginning of time. Different religious and spiritual healers and traditions provide their own visions of the hereafter and in Hinduism, one of the most detailed and graphic descriptions is given in Garuda Purana. This ancient Sanskrit text, ascribed to the deity Vishnu and told to Garuda (his divine vehicle in the form of an eagle), covers many facets of life and the after life.
Far from a work of mere myth, the descriptions contained within the Garuda Purana are a spiritual and moral text urging people to live a virtuous life and to make ready for the certain transition which occurs at the end of one's bodily life, that is after death

As per the Garuda Purana, is not the end but a process of transformation, the exit of the soul (jīva) from the gross physical body. The soul does not depart alone; it accompanies itself with a subtle body (liṅga śarīra), composed of impressions of its previous existences, its stored karma. At the time when the last breath is taken, the messengers of the god of death (Yamadootas) come to take away the soul. These creatures are said to be strong and commanding, only being visible to the soul and not to others. Even as the soul leaves the body behind, it maintains consciousness.
It is able to hear sense its loved ones, its environment, and feel the emotional pull of affinity for its previous existence.

The initial phase right after death is said to be crucial. During the initial thirteen days, the soul is still attached to the physical world. It is in transit around the body, the house, and where it went during life. But it is not a preta (a ghost), a disembodied spirit in a state of transition and instability between the world of living people and the world beyond. The soul, now, feels hunger and thirst, but since it doesn't have a physical form, it cannot be fulfilled. Therefore, the Garuda Purana places great significance on death rites like Pinda Daan (offering symbolic of food) and Tarpana (offering of libations to the ancestors).
All these offerings give the preta a symbolic body, preta sharir as it is called, so its journey to the next world can proceed.

Once the thirteenth day is over, the soul starts going to Yamaloka, the kingdom of Lord Yama, the god of death and justice. This is not a momentary arrival; it is more like a seventeen-day pilgrimage through different spiritual realms. The Garuda Purana graphically narrates the soul's journey through sixteen cities, each symbolizing levels of karmic assessment and psychological cleansing. The way is full of trials, pains, and periods of reflection.

By the end of 30 days, the soul reaches the court of Yama. There, it faces the divine judge, who dispenses justice with unbiased judgment. At his side is Chitragupta, the heavenly scribe, who maintains precise records of each person's deed, good or ill.
If the good karma of the soul overpowers the evil, it is allowed into Swarga, the heavenly worlds, where it basks in pleasure and tranquility gained through righteousness. Yet if the sin of the soul is greater, it is pushed down to Naraka, the hellish worlds, where it purifies itself through agony

Having undergone the reward or punishment of its karma, either in the heaven of enjoyment or hell of torture, the soul awaits rebirth. The next birth is decided by its leftover karma. It is sent as human, animal, heavenly creature, or even plant or insect depending on the ethical quality of the past life.
This cycle of death, rebirth, and birth is samsara. It goes on ad infinitum unless the soul makes a deliberate effort towards freedom.

For individuals who have achieved moksha, there is no coming back to the cycle of birth and death. The soul joins the Supreme Consciousness (Brahman), feeling eternal joy and unity. Although the Garuda Purana prescribes elaborate funerary rites for the deceased, it also stresses the need for one to live a conscientious and righteous life. It instructs that one should not wait until the end of his life to seek the divine but prepare for it every day by living the path of dharma (righteousness), cultivating compassion, and keeping himself vigilant about the transience of life.