Shloka 78
Santaptaka’s Encounter with Five Pretas and Their Liberation through Viṣṇu’s Presence
पुरः पत्तनखर्वाचान् खेटानपि मृतः क्षुधा / एतस्मात्पातकाद्विप्र मृतः प्रेतत्वमागतः
puraḥ pattanakharvācān kheṭānapi mṛtaḥ kṣudhā / etasmātpātakādvipra mṛtaḥ pretatvamāgataḥ
O Brahmane, durch diese Sünde starb er an Hunger—obwohl er das vor ihm Ausgelegte aß und sogar Speichel zu sich nahm; aufgrund dieses Vergehens gelangt der Verstorbene in den Zustand eines Preta, eines ruhelos umherirrenden Geistes.
Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra in the Garuda Purana dialogue frame)
Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni
Concept: Severe sin (pātaka) culminates in degrading death and results in preta-bhāva (restless post-mortem state).
Vedantic Theme: Karmic continuity beyond death; subtle body carries impressions leading to specific post-death states until purification/rites.
Application: Avoid cruelty/neglect that causes starvation; perform remedial dharma and, for the departed, ensure proper rites to prevent preta-condition.
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: definition and symptoms of preta-state; causes including papa and improper death; Garuda Purana Shraddha-khanda: rites that relieve preta and elevate to pitṛ/other states
FAQs
This verse links specific sinful conduct and deprivation around food with becoming a preta, highlighting that unresolved karmic hunger and impurity can bind the departed to a restless intermediate condition.
It indicates that certain sins can obstruct a peaceful post-death transition, causing the deceased to remain as a preta—marked by distress such as hunger—rather than moving onward smoothly in the afterlife journey described in the Preta Kanda.
Cultivate purity and restraint regarding food, avoid degrading or harmful habits, and support dharmic feeding/charity; for the departed, follow prescribed rites like śrāddha and piṇḍa-dāna to aid a peaceful transition.