Shloka 63
Explanation of the Sapiṇḍana Rite; Causes of Pretahood; Viṣṇu Worship and Preta-ghaṭa Dāna
तस्माद्वनाद्विनिष्क्रम्य राजापि स्वपुरं ययौ / स्वपुरं स समासाद्य सर्वं तत्प्रेतभाषितम्
tasmādvanādviniṣkramya rājāpi svapuraṃ yayau / svapuraṃ sa samāsādya sarvaṃ tatpretabhāṣitam
Daraufhin verließ auch der König den Wald und begab sich in seine Stadt. Dort angekommen, berichtete er alles, was jener Preta gesprochen hatte.
Sūta/Pauraṇika narrator (within the Viṣṇu–Garuḍa dialogue frame)
Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni
Concept: Witnessing and truthful narration support communal dharma; private supernatural events become public guidance through responsible reporting.
Vedantic Theme: Pramāṇa by lived experience aligned with śāstra; translating the unseen into ethical action within society.
Application: Document and communicate critical events accurately, especially those involving rites, obligations, or public welfare.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: city
Related Themes: Immediate narrative continuation leading to performance of ūrdhva-deha rites (2.27.64)
FAQs
This verse shows the king treating the preta’s words as actionable knowledge—something to be carried back to society—implying that testimony about the post-death condition is meant to guide dharma and proper death-rites.
By explicitly naming the speaker as a preta, it situates the account in the intermediate post-death condition (preta-state), where the departed communicates experiences that the living can use to understand consequences of karma and the need for prescribed rites.
Treat teachings on death and the preta-state as prompts for ethical living and timely observance of funeral/śrāddha duties, and share accurate guidance within the community rather than keeping such lessons private.