Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 26
Yajñamālī–Sumālī Upākhyāna: Merit-Transfer through Temple Plastering (Lepa) and the Redemption of a Sinner
ताह्यमानं यमभटैः क्षुत्तृड्भ्यां परिपीडितम् । प्रेतभूतं विवस्त्रं च दुःखितं पाशवेष्टितम् । इतस्ततः प्राधावन्तं विलपंतमनाथवत् ॥ २६ ॥
tāhyamānaṃ yamabhaṭaiḥ kṣuttṛḍbhyāṃ paripīḍitam | pretabhūtaṃ vivastraṃ ca duḥkhitaṃ pāśaveṣṭitam | itastataḥ prādhāvantaṃ vilapaṃtamanāthavat || 26 ||
Von Yamas Dienern fortgeschleift, von Hunger und Durst gepeinigt, ist er zu einem umherirrenden Preta geworden: nackt und elend, in Schlingen gebunden. Er rennt hierhin und dorthin und klagt wie einer ohne Schutz.
Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, within the Purva Bhaga teaching dialogue)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
FAQs
It warns that unrighteous living and lack of spiritual refuge can lead to a helpless post-death condition—torment, bondage, and disorientation—urging adherence to dharma and pursuit of liberating practice.
By portraying the soul as “anāthavat” (without protector) when bereft of true refuge, it implicitly points to taking shelter in the Lord through bhakti as the protective, guiding support that counters fear and post-mortem distress.
No specific Vedanga technique is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is dharma-based conduct and timely performance of smrti-approved rites for the departed (antyeṣṭi/śrāddha) to avoid preta-like suffering described in Purāṇic instruction.