Shloka 91
Santaptaka’s Encounter with Five Pretas and Their Liberation through Viṣṇu’s Presence
तस्य पीडां वपं कुर्मो नैव श्राद्धं न तर्पणम् / यस्य गेहे तदङ्गात्तु मांसञ्च रुधिरं क्रमात्
tasya pīḍāṃ vapaṃ kurmo naiva śrāddhaṃ na tarpaṇam / yasya gehe tadaṅgāttu māṃsañca rudhiraṃ kramāt
«نوقع عليه العذاب؛ فلا śrāddha له ولا tarpaṇa. وفي بيت من كان، يُؤخذ من ذلك الجسد نفسه اللحمُ والدمُ تباعًا على الترتيب.»
Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)
Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni
Beneficiary: Pitr
Concept: Adharmic conditions lead to preta-inflicted suffering and deprivation of ancestral rites; bodily harm imagery underscores karmic consequence.
Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala as experiential suffering; neglect of dharma disrupts both social-ritual order and inner well-being.
Application: Maintain dharmic conduct and do not neglect śrāddha/tarpaṇa; address causes of ritual/ethical lapse to prevent affliction.
Primary Rasa: bibhatsa
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: household
Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: consequences of neglecting śrāddha/tarpaṇa; preta-doṣa and suffering descriptions (contextual parallel)
FAQs
This verse links śrāddha and tarpaṇa with post-death welfare: when these rites are obstructed or become invalid due to grave misconduct, the departed is described as undergoing suffering and being deprived of ritual support.
In the Preta-kāṇḍa context, the deceased (as a preta) depends on prescribed rites; the verse indicates that certain actions cause the preta to face torment and lose the benefit of offerings that would otherwise aid its transition.
Treat death-related duties and the deceased’s body with reverence, avoid exploitative or harmful acts connected with funerary contexts, and perform śrāddha/tarpaṇa with sincerity and proper guidance.