Shloka 13
Svapnādhāya (Dream-Chapter): Causes, Forms, Nourishment, and Liberation of Pretas
एवमादिभिरन्यैश्च कुमृत्युवशगाश्च ये / ते सर्वे प्रेतयोनिस्था विचरन्ति मरुस्थले
evamādibhiranyaiśca kumṛtyuvaśagāśca ye / te sarve pretayonisthā vicaranti marusthale
Those who, in this manner and in other such ways, fall under the power of an inauspicious, untimely death—all of them remain in the state of a preta, a restless departed spirit, and wander through desolate regions like a desert.
Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vainateya)
Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni
Concept: A-kāla-mṛtyu and other ‘kūmṛtyu’ conditions lead to preta-yoni—an intermediate, restless state shaped by unresolved karmic and ritual deficits.
Vedantic Theme: Saṃsāra as bondage through vāsanā and adharma; the jīva’s post-mortem trajectory is conditioned by karma and saṃskāra until proper resolution.
Application: Avoid reckless/adharmic living that invites ‘kūmṛtyu’; ensure timely antyeṣṭi and śrāddha for relatives; cultivate sattva and remembrance of Viṣṇu to reduce fear of transitional states.
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Type: wasteland/desert-like tract
Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: preta-lakṣaṇa and preta-gati passages (adjacent 2.22 context); Garuda Purana: śrāddha/antyeṣṭi sections explaining relief of preta-state
FAQs
This verse highlights that certain kinds of inauspicious or untimely deaths can lead to a restless post-death condition called preta-yoni, characterized by instability and wandering until proper spiritual resolution occurs.
It indicates that not all departures lead immediately to a settled onward journey; some deceased, due to the nature of death described as kumṛtyu, remain as pretas and roam in barren regions rather than progressing smoothly.
It encourages ethical living and mindful preparation for death, and for families it underscores the traditional importance of post-death rites (e.g., śrāddha/pinda-dāna) intended to help the departed move beyond preta-restlessness.